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The Fall of the Qing Dynasty
by Barry Wright
Essay: The Fall of the Qing Dynasty
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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D’Addese 1
The Qing Dynasty prospered well into the 20th century despite the numerous problems the administration faced.
However, during the early days of the 20th century, civil disorders continued to grow in such unmanageable
factions that the administration was pushed to do something about it. The high living standards of the previous
century had contributed to a sharp increase in China’s population, there was approximately 400 million people
living in China around the nineteenth century. This spike increased population density, it also created a surplus of
labour shortages, land shortages, inadequate food production and several famines. As an attempt for a solution,
Empress Dowager Cixi proclaimed a call for proposals for reform from the generals and governors. There were
three reform movements between 1860-1911, “ the Qing court and Chinese provincial officials had tried to adapt
a wide range of Western techniques and ideas to China’s proven needs: artillery, ships, the telegraph, new schools,
factories, chambers of commerce and international law” (Spence, 234). The first reform being the Selfstrengthening Movement the second was the Hundred Days Reform and the last is regarded as the Late Qing
reform. These three reforms were similar in the fact that the main objective was to strengthen China. However,
there were multiple reasons for the failed plans of the reforms. Analyzing certain individuals and events during the
late Qing dynasty will help determine if the Manchus would have been viable leaders for modern China.
The early nineteenth century was the beginning of the Qing Dynasty’s downfall. During this century multiple
issues, including economic pressures, corruption, domestic rebellions and foreign wars, challenged ...