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Empires Under Siege: The World Tries to Catch Europe

Prompt: from 1750-1914, four major empires were under political, economic, and social pressure. Why did certain empires succeed, while other empires failed? Consider the Qing, Russian, Ottoman, and Meiji Empires in your answer. Document 1 Qing Emperor Writes a Letter to the King of England, 1793 Emperor Qian Long: Letter to King George III of England, 1793 Yesterday your Ambassador petitioned my Ministers to memorialize me regarding your trade with China, but his proposal is not consistent with our dynastic usage and cannot be entertained. Hitherto, all European nations, including your own country's barbarian merchants, have carried on their trade with our Celestial Empire at Canton. Such has been the procedure for many years, although our Celestial Empire possesses all things in abundance and lacks no product within its own borders. There was therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce.

Some people dream of success. Others wake up and work hard for it.
Nevertheless, I do not forget the lonely remoteness of your island, cut off from the world by intervening wastes of sea, nor do I overlook your excusable ignorance of the usages of our Celestial Empire. I have consequently commanded my Ministers to enlighten your Ambassador on the subject, and have ordered the departure of the mission.

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Document 2

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Document 3: Wars and Rebellions in China

Opium War 1839 Nian Rebellion (1851-1868) Tungan Rebellion (1862-1878) Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900) Document 4: Source: Journal published by Liang Qichao, China, 1902. 5

Some people dream of success. Others wake up and work hard for it. d for If we wish to make our nation strong, we must investigate extensively the methods followed by other nations in becoming independent. We should select their superior points and appropriate them to make up our own shortcomings. . . . Economic competition is one of the big problems of the world today. It is the method whereby the powers attempt to conquer us. It is also the method whereby we should fight for our existence. The importance of improving our foreign trade has been recognized by all. But in order to promote foreign trade, it is necessary to protect the rights of our domestic trade and industry; and in order to protect these rights, it is necessary to issue a set of commercial laws. Commercial laws, however, cannot stand by themselves, and so it is necessary to complement them with other laws. . . . If those who violate the law are not punished, laws will become void as soon as they are proclaimed; therefore, the duties of the judiciary must by defined. When all these are carried to the logical conclusion, it will be seen that foreign trade cannot be promoted without a constitution, a parliament, and a responsible government. . . . What, then, is the way to effect our salvation and to achieve progress? The answer is that we must shatter at a blow the despotic and confused governmental system of some thousands of years; we must sweep away the corrupt and sycophantic learning of these thousands of years. From Stearns, World Civilizations, 3rd ed., p. 803. 6

Some people dream of success. Others wake up and work hard for it. Document 5

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Some people dream of success. Others wake up and work hard for it. d for KEY ABOVE: White = British sphere of influence 1914 Darkest color = what remains of Ottoman Empire

Document 6: The Lonely Ottoman

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Document 7: Meiji Japan

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Document 8: The Russian Empire

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Bloody Sunday Massacre in Russia, 1905worker uprising and govt. massacre

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