Quiz

3. Weakness of the Manchu Dynasty: The weakness of the Manchu Dynasty was a huge contributing factor to the beginning of the Civil War. China had been ruled by dynasties throughout its history, and (as with other imperialist regimes such as Russia and Germany's) the emperors of China towards the end of the 19th century. The Manchu Dynasty was already unpopular for allowing interference with other countries, such as the United States with the Open Door Policies, to impact life in China. After the Emperor, who wanted to give peasants more right for land, was overthrown by his aunt Empress Chianxi who nixed any hope of reform. This tension culminated in the Boxer Rebellion of 1901, in which martial arts warriors fought against European/Westerners and all Christians inhabiting China. Although the rebellion was muted with the help of other countries, the rebellion made a lasting impression upon the minds of the people. This was furthered when Chianxi was replaced by a 3 year old "emperor" upon her death.

People

Sun Yat-sen - Sun Yat-sen was a doctor and revolutionary who played an instrumental role in overthrowing the Manchu dynasty. He had been exiled for staging several failed coups, and in fact he was not directly involved in the October 10, 1911 Wuchang Rebellion that ousted the Manchus from power; upon hearing of the revolution he returned to China from the United States and was elected President of the Republic of China. Yat-sen was important because he was able to keep a large group of people with differing ideas for the republic united in its early years after the Manchu dynasty was overthrown.