III. Civilizations in Crisis: Qing Dynasty

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III. Civilizations in CrisisQing Dynasty

• As Ming Dynasty began to decline, Manchu people
  of the north invaded
• 1644 capture city of Beijing, took 20 years to
  take full control China
• Declared themselves Qing Dynasty
• Retained much of the political system from Ming
  dynasty, including focus on Confucianism and the
  exam system
• Social and economic changes were minimal
• Further decline of womens status (more
  feet-binding, infanticide)
• Relaxed isolationist policies of Ming opened
  ports, allowed travel
• Growth of merchant class (compradors)
• Corruption planted seeds of decline
• Examination system failed regional leaders were
  seen as corrupt
• Government positions could be easily bought
• Public works declined, famine and disease
  increased

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III. Continued

• European threat eroded Qing control
• British began trading opium from India for
  Chinese goods
• Chinese realized opium was a threat to society
  (but too late)
• 1 of population addicted (4,000,000)
• Opium Wars (1839-1860) resulted in British
  taking control of Hong Kong as a trading port
  (controlled until 1990s)
• Rebellions and conflicts add to Qings demise
• Taiping Rebellion (1850) led by Hong Xiuquan
  (self-proclaimed Christian prophet), sought to
  overthrow Qing rule and influence of Confucian
  scholar-gentry
• Led to self-strengthening movement - led by
  regional leaders, modernized armies, factories,
  transportation

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III. Continued

• Boxer Rebellion 1898 uprising intended to
  expel foreigners
• Failure led to even greater control/influence by
  Europeans
• End of the dynastic cycle
• Revolutionaries from rising western-educated
  middle class sought to end Qing rule
• Wanted to reorganize China based on western
  models/ideas
• BUT, despised foreign involvement
• 1911 secret society uprisings, student
  demonstrations, and military mutinies erupted
• Regional leaders refused to put down rebellions
• 1912 Last Qing emperor (Puyi) was removed