Critically evaluate the chinese revolution of 1911.

Or
Was the revolution of 1911 a failure or a success.
Or
Analyse the role of various classes in the chinese revolution of 1911.
Or
Analyse the political background of the 1911 revolution. What were
the reasons for the mergence of Sun Yat sen as the leader of the
revolution.
Or
Assess the role of gentry and bourgeoise in the chinese revolution of
1911.
Or
Evaluate the strength and limitation of the 1911 revolution
Or
Evaluate Xinhai revolution
Revolution is defined as a forcible overthrow of a government or
social order, in favour of a new system.
The Chinese Revolution of 1911 was a major landmark in the history
of modern world. The 1911 revolution is known for the overthrow of
the Qing dynasty, establishment of a republican form of government
and the introduction of a new socioeconomic system. While the first
goal was achieved, the second and third developments have had a
troubled beginning and history. However, the greater importance
and lasting impact were the commitments, efforts, and
developments in the creation of a new path towards political and
economic modernization, including constitutional democracy. ( this
para can be written in achievements also ) It is also known as the Xinhai
Revolution, for the Chinese calendar year in which it occurred.
In this answer we propose to study the background to the causes of
the origin and development of the revolutionary movement as well
as evaluate its consequences.
Political background
In the Nineteenth Century, the Qing Empire faced a number of challenges to its rule,
including a number of foreign incursions into Chinese territory. The two Opium Wars
against Western powers led by Great Britain resulted in the loss of Hong Kong, forced
opening of treaty ports for international trade, and large foreign concessions in major
cities privileged with extraterritorial rule. After its loss in the Sino-Japanese War (1894
95), Imperial China was forced to relinquish control over still more of its territory, losing
Taiwan and parts of Manchuria and ending its suzerainty over Korea. The RussoJapanese War (190405) firmly established Japanese claims to the Northeast and further
weakened Qing rule. The combination of increasing imperialist demands (from both
Japan and the West), frustration with the foreign Manchu Government embodied by the
Qing court, and the desire to see a unified China less parochial in outlook fed a growing
nationalism that spurred on revolutionary ideas.

Impact of the dynastic cycle (to be done from K.t Sarao)

Regionalism (to be done from K.t Sarao)
Nationalism (to be done from K.t Sarao)
Role of different classes (to be done from K.t Sarao)
Evaluation (to be done from K.t Sarao)

Strata and groups[edit]

The Xinhai Revolution was supported by many groups, including students and intellectuals
who returned from abroad, as well as participants of the revolutionary organizations, overseas
Chinese, soldiers of the new army, local gentry, farmers and others.

Overseas Chinese[edit]
Main article: Chinese revolutionary activities in Malaya
Assistance from overseas Chinese was important in the Xinhai Revolution. In 1894, the first
year of the Revive China Society, the first meeting ever held by the group was held in the
home of Ho Fon, an overseas Chinese who was the leader of the first Chinese Church of
Christ.[29] Overseas Chinese supported and actively participated in the funding of revolutionary
activities, especially the Southeast Asia Chinese of Malaya (Singapore and Malaysia).[30] Many
of these groups were reorganized by Sun, who was referred to as the "mother of the Chinese
revolution".[30]

Newly emerged intellectuals[edit]

In 1906, after the abolition of the imperial examinations, the Qing government established
many new schools and encouraged students to study abroad. Many young people attended
the new schools or went abroad to study in places like Japan. [31] A new class of intellectuals
emerged from those students, who contributed immensely to the Xinhai Revolution. Besides
Sun Yat-sen, key figures in the revolution, such as Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren, Hu
Hanmin, Liao Zhongkai, Zhu Zhixin and Wang Jingwei, were all Chinese students in Japan.
Some were young students like Zou Rong, known for writing the book Revolutionary Army, in
which he talked about the extermination of the Manchus for the 260 years of oppression,
sorrow, cruelty and tyranny and turned the sons and grandsons of Yellow
Emperor into George Washingtons.[32]
Before 1908, revolutionaries focused on coordinating these organizations in preparation for
uprisings that these organizations would launch; hence, these groups would provide most of
the manpower needed for the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. After the Xinhai Revolution, Sun
Yat-sen recalled the days of recruiting support for the revolution and said, "The literati were
deeply into the search for honors and profits, so they were regarded as having only secondary

importance. By contrast, organizations like Sanhehui were able to sow widely the ideas of
resisting the Qing and restoring the Ming."[33]

Gentry and businessmen[edit]

The strength of the gentry in local politics had become apparent. From December 1908, the
Qing government created some apparatus to allow the gentry and businessmen to participate
in politics. These middle-class people were originally supporters of constitutionalism.
However, they became disenchanted when the Qing government created a cabinet
with Prince Qing as prime minister.[34] By early 1911, an experimental cabinet had thirteen
members, nine of whom were Manchus selected from the imperial family. [35]

Foreigners[edit]
Besides Chinese and overseas Chinese, some of the supporters and participants of the
Xinhai Revolution were foreigners; among them, the Japanese were the most active group.
Some Japanese even became members of Tongmenghui. Miyazaki Touten was the closest
Japanese supporter; others included Heiyama Shu andRyhei Uchida. British soldier
Rowland J. Mulkern also took part in the revolution.[36] Some foreigners, such as English
explorer Arthur de Carle Sowerby, led expeditions to rescue foreign missionaries in 1911 and
1912.[37]

Soldiers of the new armies[edit]

The New Army was formed in 1901 after the defeat of the Qings in the First Sino-Japanese
war.[31] They were launched by a decree from eight provinces.[31] New Army troops were by far
the best trained and equipped.[31] The recruits were of a higher quality than the old army and
received regular promotions.[31] Beginning in 1908, the revolutionaries began to shift their call
to the new armies. Sun Yat-sen and the revolutionaries infiltrated the New Army. [38]

International reaction
International reaction to the revolution was guarded. Foreign nations with
investments in China remained neutral throughout the upheaval, though
they were anxious to protect the treaty rights they gained from the Qing
through the first and second opium wars. Still, the United States was
largely supportive of the republican project, and in 1913, the United States
was among the first countries to establish full diplomatic relations with the
new Republic. Britain, Japan, and Russia soon followed.
The Reasons of the Its Failing
1. Poor economic conditions of the government
2. It didn't have a good leader.
3. The person in charge would choose the wrong type of person to lead, and when the
people of China were taxed, they would steal the money.
4. Long years of peace in the early and mid Qing period contributed to a quick rise in
China's population.
5. The limited amount of land/money/food.
6. Businesses were closing down (lack of employment).

7. In order to get more money, the rulers raised the taxes.

8. The people were forbidden by law to move to Manchuria and other places outside China.
9. Country didn't have protection so it was easy for foreign countries to invade.
10. The powerful landowners made their residents pay their taxes.
11. Cultivable land was limited in amount and was concentrated in powerful landlords.
12. There was no large industrial development to absorb the excessive manpower and to
raise the standard of living in society.

The 1911 revolution was only the first steps in a process that would
require the 1949 revolution to complete. Though the new government
created the Republic of China and established the seat of government in
Nanjing, it failed to unify the country under its control. The Qing
withdrawal led to a power vacuum in certain regions, resulting in the rise
of warlords. These warlords often controlled their territories without
acknowledging the nationalist government. Additionally, the reforms set in
place by the news government were not nearly as sweeping as the
revolutionary rhetoric had intended; unifying the country took precedent
over fundamental changes.
The Immediate Effects and Long Lasting Effects
1. End of Dynasties in China
2. Culture of Fear in China caused by Red Guard
3. Failing Economy because the Red Guard put so many workers out of work.
4. Destruction of Schools in pursuit of stamping out any reminder of the past.
5. Large amount of uneducated workers due to the destruction of education- they play
into many countries economies today.
6. Destroyed their art and anything that symbolized the old world- we dont have it today
7. Current tensions between China and Tibet

Historiography
The schools of thought on the 1911 Revolution have evolved and
developed from the early years of the Republic. The Marxist view
saw the events of 1911 as a "Bourgeois Revolution" [4] In the 1920s,
theNationalist Party issued a theory of three political stages based
on Sun Yatsen's writings:

Military unification - 1923 to 1928 (Northern Expedition)

Political tutelage - 1928 to 1947

Constitutional democracy - 1947 onward

The most obvious criticism is the near-identical nature of "political

tutelage" and of a "constitutional democracy" consisting only of oneparty rule until the 1990s. Against this, Chen Shui-bian proposed his
ownfour-stage theory.