Chinese Revolutions

As in many countries, revolutions in China are a major part of the country’s history.  These events stretch back for centuries and have helped guide China to its current state.  More recently, however, two major conflicts greatly influenced the 20^th century and changed how the country interacts with other countries forever.  These two events took place in 1911 and 1949, and learning about them is key to grasping modern-day China.

The Revolution of 1911

The Revolution of 1911, or the Xinhai conflict, began as a protest against corruption in the Qing government.  It was fueled by racial conflict between the majority group of citizens, called Hans, and the Manchus who ruled the government.  The Manchus were far fewer in number than Hans, and their power earned hatred and violence from their rivals.  As the revolution unfolded, a stable government failed to form.  Instead, fighting produced a set of poor rulers that failed after one year. The Republic of China, as it was called, collapsed on February 12, 1912.

More revolutions in China ensued. State control was widely fractured for several years.  A second conflict tried to unify power and failed, leading to a period of warlord rule.  In time, all out civil war broke out, weakening the country in the lead-up to World War II.  The Xinhai conflict was, however, the first attempt to unify modern-day China under one power.

Conflict in 1949

Modern China was largely built through the conflict of 1949.  Led by Mao Zedong, it saw victory over the ruling party in short order.  Through this success, the People’s Republic of China was born, forcing over 2,500,000 Chinese to flee the country.  Many moved to Taiwan, naming their new country the Republic of China and Taiwan, stealing their name from the Revolution of 1911.

Revolutions in China always lead to some sort of political and cultural change, and the conflict in 1949 resulted in communist rule.  China’s new laws were derived from Mao’s Little Red Book, which was carried daily by many people in the country.  Other smaller events led by the state forced communist rule into full power.  Today, as a result of Mao’s work, a stable, communist state is in place in China, giving a new model to help other communist governments succeed.

Every country in the world has a rich, storied past.  The revolutions in China helped build authentic history for the nation.  Learning about the troubled past of the nation can be crucial to seeing the reasons behind its modern actions and leads to greater understanding across cultures.