Unit - The World After World War II Discontent with the political and economic system resulted in a number of peasant uprisings. The Taiping Rebellion ( – ) was a major rebellion. In the two opium wars of and , China was defeated and was compelled to open its ports to western powers. The opening of China to western imperialism led to economic exploitation and the impoverishment of the Chinese people.
The European presence produced a profound hatred of foreigners. This combined with military defeat, led to more pressing demands for reforms from the Western- educated intellectuals. In , the young Emperor, initiated a series of reforms known as the Hundred Days of Reform. But these reforms aroused tremendous opposition from the powerful conservatives and the Dowager-Empress Tzú Hsi.
She imprisoned the Emperor and reversed the reforms. (b) The Chinese Revolution The disintegration of the Manchu dynasty began with the death of the Dowager-Empress in . The new emperor was two-years old and the provincial governors began to assert their independence. In October the local army mutinied and the revolt spread.
Provincial governors removed the Manchu garrisons and proclaimed their independence. Already there were a few middle-class leaders. Dr. Sun Yat-sen was one among them.
On hearing the news of the rising in a newspaper in the United States Sun Yat-sen arrived in Shanghai and was immediately elected the provisional president of the new Chinese Republic. (c) Yuan Shih-kai and After The unity of China under Yuan Shih-kai lasted for four years. On his death in a new President was appointed for the next twelve years but the government was central only in name. (d) Communist Party of China With the Revolution and the breakup of the old society, Confucian thought was generally side-lined and after the Russian Revolution of , the ideas of Marx and Lenin became popular among intellectuals.
In a Society for the Study of Marxism was formed in Peking University. Among the students who attended was Mao Tse-tung. Yuan Shih-kai Dr.