The 1911 Revolution

What was the 1911 revolution in China?

The 1911 revolution saw the removal of the Qing dynasty and the creation of the Republic of China.

What caused the 1911 revolution in China?

There were 6 key causes of the 1911 revolution:

• ❖ After the death of Emperor Guangxu and Empress Cixi in November 1908, Emperor Puyi took the throne. He was just 2 years old, which left an inexperienced Prince Chun leading a weak government.
• ❖ The self-strengthening reforms had little impact and people wanted quicker reform.
• ❖ Due to the cost of some reforms, taxes had to be increased. This made the dynasty unpopular.
• ❖ Prince Chun sacked General Yuan Shikai as he believed he was becoming too powerful. This created a strong enemy and who could be an alternative leader to the Qing dynasty.
• ❖ The exiled Sun Yat-sen was promoting ideas of nationalism and republicanism for China. These had become popular with those studying abroad under the reforms.
• ❖ The nationalisation of the railways had proved controversial. Owners were not compensated.

What were the key events of the 1911 revolution in China?

There were 5 key events in the 1911 revolution:

• ❖ 9th October 1911: An accidental explosion caused by revolutionaries in Hankou made people think a revolution had started. This led to outbreaks of discontent across the city and country.
• ❖ 10th October 1911: Wuhan soldiers started a mutiny which spread rapidly across China. It became known as the 'Double Tenth' uprising.
• ❖ Within 6 weeks, all except 3 provinces had declared their independence.
• ❖ 1st November 1911: The Qing dynasty recalled General Yuan Shikai as prime minister and charged him with putting down the rebellion. This failed, as he later switched sides to support the revolution.
• ❖ On 1st January 1912, Sun Yat-sen returned from exile to briefly become president of the new Republic of China.

What was the impact of the 1911 revolution in China?

There were 5 consequences arising from the 1911 revolution:

• ❖ The revolution ended 2,200 years of imperial rule in China.
• ❖ Sun Yat-sen stepped down, with General Yuan Shikai replacing him as president, in return for the removal of the imperial system.
• ❖ General Yuan Shikai forced the abdication of Emperor Puyi on 12th February, 1912.
• ❖ The power vacuum allowed General Yuan Shikai to become the dictator of China, including an attempt to make himself emperor in 1915.
• ❖ The army revolted against General Yuan Shikai due to his acceptance of Japan's demands for influence in China. Shortly after, in June 1916 he died of a stroke, which left China without a designated leader.