The Xinhai Revolution 

The Xinhai revolution’s process

Before we learn the Xinhai revolution we should first know what happened at that time period, what was the problems happened to China that cause that revolution. We should know a dynasty that called Qing dynasty in Chinese history and also it was last dynasty in Chinese history.

Qing was formed on the decline of Ming.  At the beginning, the Qing court carried out a series of policies to revive the social economy and alleviate the class contradiction. In politics, following Ming's ruling pattern, the imperial rulers continued to strengthen the centralized system. Meanwhile, the court resumed the 'Sheng' administrative system that established by Yuan(1271 - 1368).

By the middle of the 18th century, the feudal economy of the Qing Dynasty reached a zenith, spanning the reign of Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong. So that period was usually called 'the golden age of three emperors'. In that period, both culture and science were much more prosperous than any other periods. The notable book, The Imperial Collection of Four, was edited in that period. Also, a group of scholars and artists such as Cao Xueqin (writer of A Dream of Red Mansions), Wu Jingzi (writer of The Scholars) and Kong Shangren (writer of The Peach Blossom Fan) gradually appeared. In the field of science, the achievements in architecture were outstanding.

After the middle period, in the Nineteenth Century, the Qing Empire faced a number of challenges to its rule, including a number of foreign incursions into Chinese territory. The two Opium Wars against Western powers led by Great Britain resulted in the loss of Hong Kong, forced opening of “treaty ports” for international trade, and large foreign “concessions” in major cities privileged with extraterritorial rule. After its loss in the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), Imperial China was forced to relinquish control over still more of its territory, losing Taiwan and parts of Manchuria and ending its suzerainty over Korea. The Russo-Japanese War (1904–05) firmly established Japanese claims to the Northeast and further weakened Qing rule. The combination of increasing imperialist demands (from both Japan and the West), frustration with the foreign Manchu Government embodied by the Qing court, and the desire to see a unified China less parochial in outlook fed a growing nationalism that spurred on revolutionary ideas.

As Qing rule fell into decline, realizing at that time China was robbed and destroyed by others, it was almost ready to decline, and what the people used to do to save the country was useless, a group of foresight Chinese wanted to find a way to save both people and their country. Sun Yat-sen was one of them, he led the amalgam of groups that together formed the Revolutionary Alliance or Tongmenghui. That was the start to form the Xinhai Revolution’s idea.

The problem was Qing Dynasty still wanted to control China so that they tried many ways to interrupt the people who against the Qing dynasty, that is because of they still wanted to control China and have the authority in China. However, finally, in the autumn of 1911, the right set of conditions turned an uprising in Wuchang into a nationalist revolt, and after that the Xinhai revolution really started with the idea of Sun Yat-sen, the Three Principles of the People which is means Principles of Nationalism, Principles of Democracy, Principles of People's Livelihood. After the success of the Wuchang Uprising, many other protests occurred throughout the country for various reasons. Some of the uprisings restored imperial rul. Other uprisings were a step toward independence, and some were protests or rebellions against the local authorities. Regardless the reason for the uprising the outcome was that all provinces in the country renounced the Qing dynasty and joined the ROC.As its losses mounted, the Qing court responded positively to a set of demands intended to transform authoritarian imperial rule into a Constitutional monarchy. Dr. Sun was in the United States on a fundraising tour at the time of the initial revolt; he hastened first to London and Paris to ensure that neither country would give financial or military support to the Qing government in its struggle. By the time he returned to China, the revolutionaries had taken Nanjing, a former capital under the Ming Dynasty, and representatives from the provinces began to arrive for the first national assembly. Together, they elected Dr. Sun the provisional president of the newly declared Republic of China. 

For all its optimism the new government, based in Nanjing, still had to find a way to rid China of the ailing Qing dynasty. Without a military force, it had no means to achieve this. One man who did was Yuan Shikai, who quickly became the figure on whom China’s future hinged. The Qing had attempted to secure Shikai’s loyalty on November 1st by appointing him prime minister. Shikai, however, was more motivated by what he could acquire for himself than what he could do for his country. By December the new Qing prime minister was negotiating with republican agents about the creation of a new government – with Shikai himself as president. China now had a choice of two republican presidents: one a well credentialed nationalist who had dedicated his life to political modernisation, the other a self serving military officer whose only credentials were his control of the army. The struggle between Sun Yixian (Yat-sen) and Yuan Shikai would shape the first years of the new Chinese republic. Above all we have seen, in another hand after that time period it was also means the end of Qing dynasty and the thousands years feudal autocratic monarchy.

In July 1913, Sun Yat-Sen launched a second revolution, armed force against Yuan Shih-kai, but was defeated by Yuan. On October 6, 1913, Yuan Shikai was elected  the President of the Republic of China after the parliamentary elections. After Yuan’s inauguration, he insisted on a strong central Government, broke some of the revolutionaries attempt to gain independence for the province. At the same time, Yuan negotiations with other countries, saved Mongolia and Tibet's sovereignty. But in 1915,Yuan scrap Republic proclaimed himself the emperor, but didn’t agreed by others, then caused the national protection war, so that he immediately announced the abolition of the monarchy. China after that was became the warlord era. Yuan shikai died in June 6, 1916 Yuan Shikai, Li Yuanhong became the President. Sun Yat-Sen in Guangzhou was custodian of the organized government (the "third revolution"), at last North and South of China divided and conquered. This is also became the end of the Xinhai revolution.

Although, Xinhai revolution finally failed because of Yuan Shikai’s defection，Xinhai revolution also had a lot of positive affection to China. First, the most important thing is that it ended the thousands years feudal autocratic monarchy, and made the idea of republic deeply rooted in Chinese people’s mind. Second，it free people from the feudalism. Thirdly, It avoided the imperialisms having the chance to control the whole China and increased the economy of China. At last, it became the pioneer of the National Revolution of China.

The Xinhai revolution became the first step of the reviver of China. It was one of the most important revolution in Chinese history, and lead China to a better future.