The End of China’s Past Qing Dynasty 1644 - 1911

1. The End of China’s PastQing Dynasty 1644 - 1911 Reasons for the Fall of the Dynasties Isolationism Imperialism Rebellions Corruption Failure to Modernize

2. Background InformationChina (East) • As another dynasty “cycles” through, the Qings or Manchus come to power (1644). • Although traditional customs remain, and the Qing have a period of great power (Emperor Qianlong) they are foreigners which makes them susceptible to rebellion from native Chinese and corruption within the imperial court.

3. Background InformationEurope (West) • While the Ming dynasty was collapsing, Europe was going through the Industrial Revolution (IR) and Enlightenment (E). • Europe had modernized (IR) and new technologies meant a shrinking of the globe. • Age of reason (E), it was man’s right to conquer nature and tame the “savages” • IR + E = Imperialism. Technology made expansion possible and new values justified it.

4. Isolationism – Pre 1800 • Usually refers to geography, but in dynastic China’s case, culturally, politically and economically too.

5. Cultural Isolationism – Middle Kingdom Mentality These two characters spell China in Mandarin language 1st character means middle or central 2nd character is the sign for jade (representing emperor), then surrounded by the sign for “proud” together they meannation (you’ve seen part of the second character before, Middle Kingdom mentality) • Long history of being a powerful nation • Considered themselves the center of civilization • China didn’t need goods from the outside world

6. Political Isolationism – Foreigners are Barbarians • 2500 years of traditional customs and culture created an ethnocentric attitude • Distrust of foreigners (Mongols, Manchus) affected interactions with the West • Great Wall of China as example of isolationism

7. Economic Isolationism – Closed Door Policy Just up the Xian R. from Machau and Hong Kong is Canton (modern day Guangzhou) • Economic policy - China did not want to trade with other countries (the door is closed to trade) • Canton System since 1760 meant countries could only trade in one port (Guangzhou) and only at certain times of the year

8. Imperialism • European nations used new technologies (steel / steam) to spread across the globe • Motivated by acquisition of land, goods, money and power and followed by missionaries Map of British Empire in 1713 Compare with 1850 &1914

9. Imperialism – British 1793 • Britain continued to gain new lands (India, N. America) and developed an empire based on trade • From China, they wanted silk, tea and porcelain (china) • To China, they gave silver

10. A Conflict of CulturesEast meets West Double Click Image to Start Video

11. Letter from Emperor Qianlong to King George III of England • You, O King, live . . . beyond many seas . . . impelled by your humble desire to partake of the benefits of our civilization, you have dispatched a mission respectfully bearing your memorial . . . To show your devotion, you have also sent offerings of your country’s produce . . . . your memorial . . . . reveal (s) a respectful humility on your part . . . Your Ambassador and his deputy have come a long way with your memorial and tribute, I have shown them high favor and have allowed them to be introduced into my presence. . . . • Our dynasty’s majestic virtue has penetrated unto every country under heaven, and kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute . . . .As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious and have no use for your country’s manufactures . . . .It behoves (sic) you, O King, to respect my sentiments and to display ever greater devotion and loyalty in the future, so that, by perpetual submission to our Throne, you many secure peace and prosperity for your country . . .

12. Gunboat DiplomacyTradition meets Modernism Double Click Image to Start Video

13. Imperialism - Smuggling British sales of opium in 1000’s of chests and the triangle of trade • Trade deficit $26million into China in 1800 • Decided to smuggle opium from India • The drug’s addictiveness created an enormous demand for the illegal substance, $35million out of China in 1839

14. Imperialism – Opium Wars • 1839 – 1842 Chinese tried to put an end to the illegal trade • Britain declared war to protect “free trade” • Superior technology made for easy British victory

15. Letter to Queen Victoria of England from the Emperor of China • Letter to Queen Victoria (1839) . . . where is your conscience? I have heard that the smoking of opium is very strictly forbidden by your country; that is because the harm caused by opium is clearly understood. Since it is not permitted to do harm to your own country, then even less should you let it be passed on to the harm of other countries – how much less to China! Of all that China exports to foreign countries, there is not a single thing which is not beneficial to people; they are of benefit when eaten, or of benefit when used, or of benefit when resold; all are beneficial. Is there a single article from China which has done any harm to foreign countries? Take tea and rhubarb, for example; the foreign countries can not get along for a single day without them. If China cuts off these benefits which no sympathy for those who are to suffer, then what can the barbarians rely upon to keep themselves alive?”

16. Imperialism - Unequal Treaties • End of Canton System, now an Open Door policy • British gained access to 5 ports, Hong Kong, fixed tariffs (fees), extraterritoriality and $$$ • Same conditions were placed on Japan (opening the door) during this time

17. “The Bund” Shanghai, lined with banks from western countries. It’s where the riches of China left for the west. Foreign powers were allowed “Spheres of Influence” meaning they controlled small areas Railway and commercial interests Russia and Japan followed Britain, US, Germany, France and Portugal in creating their own rules and laws inside of China Imperialism – “Carving up the Melon” The “Bund” in Shanghai, a street lined with western looking buildings. This is where each country had its own “bank” to take the riches out of China

18. Rebellions(Reasons For) • Chinese defeat in the Opium Wars made China ripe for rebellions, because people were angry the Qing’s were doing too little to repel the foreign barbarians • The Qing were Manchus and never really accepted by native Han Chinese • Corruption within the Qing dynasty also made rebellions a possibility

19. Taiping Rebellion 1851-1864 “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace” • Led by Hong Xiuchuan, thought he was Jesus Christ’s brother, great success in the south • Western powers liked Taiping’s Christian values, but wanted the Qing weak, not gone • Showed the weakness of the dynasties by the number of people willing to rebel • 2nd most deaths in human history (WWII) approx. 20 million Area of Taiping control in China

20. Boxer Rebellion 1899 - 1901“Fists of Righteous Harmony” Notice the differences in weapons • Anti foreigner uprising • Native Chinese were upset that Qing dynasty wasn’t fighting foreign influence • Foreign powers joined forces to end the uprising, further weakening the Qing • Essentially, the dynasties could no longer control foreigners or their own people

21. Corruption(Reasons For) • Court officials and military officers often took money for individual benefits • People were more likely to rebel against a corrupt government • Led to further distrust and weakening of the Manchu’s dynasty

22. Corruption – Summer Palace 1888 The Empress “ruled” China for about 50 years and shortly after her death the dynastic cycle ended • Empress Dowager Cixi used money meant to build a modern navy to construct a new imperial palace • To the left is Cixi’s “navy” a marble boat. Now it’s a major tourist attraction

23. Failure to Modernize(Reasons For) • While the western powers, and now Japan, were modernizing several elements of their societies (politics, economics, military), the strength of traditional customs made it difficult for the Chinese to accept and adapt to change.

24. Failure to Modernize – Self-Strengthening Movement • Attempt to modernize and reform the political, educational, military and agricultural structures • Corruption and conservative (holding onto the old) rule doomed reform efforts

25. Failure to Modernize Sino – Japanese War 1894 - 1895 • Japan, once a little “cousin” of China, defeated the Chinese, because Japan had accepted modernized through the Meiji Restoration • Treaty of Shimonoseki gave Korea and the island of Formosa (Taiwan) to the Japanese as well as Spheres of Influence, further weakening China

26. The End of the Dynasties • The Empress Dowager Ci Xi died in 1908 leaving her 2 year old nephew Pu Yi unable to rule making him the “Last Emperor” • In 1911, led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a group of nationalists overthrew the Imperial system that had governed China for over 2000 years