Challenge & Transition in East Asia

Section 1: The Decline of the Qing Dynasty Causes of the Decline The Qing dynasty suffered from corruption, peasant unrest, and incompetence Made worse by rapid growth in population Population growth led to food shortages

The Opium War To limit contact with outsiders, European merchants were restricted to Guangzhou, AKA Canton British wanted to buy tea, silk, and porcelain from China China only wanted silver British want to fix their trade deficit, so they begin trading opium Grown in India, opium is a highly addictive drug

Results of the Treaty of Nanjing Chinese tried to blockade opium boats to stop trade, British responded with force and easily overpowered the Chinese Results of the Treaty of Nanjing Chinese had to open five coastal ports Limit taxes on British imports Pay for costs of war In the 5 ports, Europeans were not subject to Chinese laws

The Taiping Rebellion The goal of the Taiping Rebellion was to destroy the Qing Dynasty Massacred 25,000 people in Nanjing Over 14 years, 20 million people died Europeans finally helped end rebellion Treaty of Tianjin forced Chinese to legalize opium trade and open more ports to foreign trade

Efforts at Reform China attempted reform, adopting western technology, but keeping Confucian values & institutions Europeans began to create spheres of influence Warlords began granting foreign powers exclusive trading rights, railroad, and mining privileges Britain, France, Germany, Russia, & Japan all establish spheres of influence in China Lost war with Japan over influence in Korea

The Impact of European Imperialism During the Hundred Days of Reform, the emperor sought to: Modernize government bureaucracy by following western models New education system to replace civil service exams Western style schools, banks, and a free press Modern weapons for military, and western fighting techniques Emperor gains popular support, but reforms are opposed by Empress Dowager CiXi, who had the emperor imprisoned

Responses to Imperialism In 1899 the US requested an open door policy in China, establishing equal trading opportunities and eliminating spheres of influence dominated by individual countries Boxers were members of a secret organization called the Society of Harmonious Fists, who believed they would not be hurt by bullets Boxers were upset by economic distress and foreign takeover of Chinese lands Wanted to push foreigners out of China Slogan was, “destroy the foreigner” Boxers were openly supported by Empress Dowager Ci Xi

1900- Boxers began slaughtering foreigners & Chinese Christians In response, troops from Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the US, and Japan put down the rebellion Also forced China to pay indemnity Allies execute everyone suspected of being a Boxer, China is humiliated

Section 2: Revolution in China The Fall of the Qing Dowager Empress Cixi finally accepts reforms, but conditions of peasants grew worse as taxes increased Unrest grew as the dynasty ignored deep-seated resentment Sun Yat-Sen, a young radical, developed a 3-stage reform process Military takeover Prepare people for democratic rule Establish a constitutional democracy

His movement formed the Revolutionary Alliance 1911- Dynasty is overthrown by Sun Yat-Sen’s followers Had neither military nor political strength to form a government Ended dynasty, but produced no new political or social order The Revolutionary Alliance was mostly supported by a small middle class, very few peasants supported the movement

General Yuan Shigai takes power because Revolutionary Alliance was unable to compete with his military Traditional ruler, tries to establish new dynasty, didn’t attempt reform, very few supporters Revolutionary Alliance changes name to Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang Kuomintang starts rebellion but fails; civil war erupts, and military warlords seize power

Cultural Changes Chinese industry grows as they develop a market for oil, copper, salt, & tea Western investments modernized China’s economy New crops -> increased food production, encouraged population growth Westerners affected Chinese economy 3 ways: Introduced modern means of transport & communication Created export market Integrated Chinese market into world economy

Imperialism made China dependent on the west, and many Chinese were exploited Despite economic modernization, China was underdeveloped, its local industry was destroyed Profit went to foreign countries, not the Chinese economy Radical reformers wanted to eliminate traditional culture because it was oppressive Wanted to create a new culture based on the modern west Urban areas embraced modernization, but rural areas remained traditional

Section 3: The Rise of Modern Japan Japan responds to foreign pressure In the late 19th century Japan became a modern imperialist power, by following examples of western nations while preserving Japanese values Japan mostly kept an isolationist policy, but western nations wanted to trade with Japan The United States struck first, initially requesting better treatment and trade relations Returned with gunboats to force an agreement

Japan signed similar treaties with other powers Treaty of Kanagawa Return shipwrecked American sailors Open 2 ports to western traders Establish US Consulate in Japan Japan signed similar treaties with other powers Samurai from Satsuma & Choshu try to force Shogun to end relations with the west; he refuses and is defeated The shogunate system collapses, and the Meiji Restoration begins

The Meiji Restoration Sat-Cho leaders mistrusted the west, but knew they must change to survive Began a policy of reform that made Japan a modern industrial nation Meiji means Enlightened Rule 2 factions appeared Liberals wanted a legislative branch to have the most power Progressives wanted the executive branch to have the most power Progressive party won

The Prime Minister, not the emperor, held the real power Government was democratic in form, but authoritarian in practice as power remained in the hands of the Sat-Cho leaders Meiji rulers instituted land reform, taking land from daimyo and giving it to peasants Levied new taxes, was a burden to farmers Old way- tax was based on harvest New way- tax based on value of land Bad harvest -> Can’t pay taxes -> sell land -> become tenant farmer to new owners

Meiji government gave subsidies to promote and expand needy industries New army- all Japanese men served for 3 years Adopted American education model, women are allowed to seek education for the first time Japanese adopted western fashion and culture, as a new generation imitated clothing styles, eating habits, and social practices of westerners Workers were exploited, working up to 20 hours a day in unsafe conditions; escapees were shot The 1889 constitution limited the right to vote to men only

Japanese Expansion Japanese soon copied Western Imperialism to amass wealth and power 1874: Japan claimed control of Chinese-owned Ryuku island 1876: Japan forced Korea to open its ports to trade with Japan 1894: China and Japan went to war; Japan won and Korea was given independence from China Victory over Russia in 1905 showed that Japan was now a major world power

Culture in an era of transition 1910- Japan annexed Korea US began to fear Japan’s power In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt stopped Japanese immigration to the US Japanese nationalism inspired many artists to return to older techniques, focusing on tradition Japanese arts & crafts, porcelain, textiles, fans, folding screens, and woodblock prints became fashionable in the west