|
3. The New Imperialism: China and Japan
I. China A. Forcible Opening of China by the West 1. Opium War - unable to expand trade with China, the British began to import opium grown in India into China to offset the trade imbalance caused by the rising demand for tea in Britain - opium was highly addictive for the Chinese and the trade highly profitable for the British - when Chinese authorities attempted to put an end to this trade, the British sent a naval expedition to force China to open its doors to foreign trade - the conflict demonstrated British naval and technological superiority - Treaty of Nanking > five ports opened to the British > limited tariffs on British imports > granted the British extraterritoriality rights > the British received a large indemnity and the island of Hong Kong
2. Scramble for China - unable to effectively resist their demands, China was forced to cede territory and rights similar to those granted the British to other Western powers - 1860 the opium trade was legalized
3. Open Door Policy (1899-1900) - a “gentlemen’s agreement” negotiated by U. S. Secretary of State John Hay with Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy and Japan that guaranteed “equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese Empire” and preservation of “Chinese territorial and administrative” integrity
B. Internal Problems 1. Taiping Rebellion (1853-1864) - a peasant revolt against the inefficient and corrupt administration of the state - goal > to establish a “Heavenly Kingdom of Supreme Peace in China” - movement lost
momentum and was suppressed 2. The Boxer Rebellion - a religious, secret society (“Righteous and Harmonious Fists”) that was anti-foreigner and anti-Christian - primarily a reaction to economic hardship due to drought and high unemployment caused in part by foreign steamships and railroads - attacked foreign residences and legates in Beijing - suppressed by an international force - China was charged to pay a large indemnity and foreign troops remained in Beijing
C. Attempts at Reform 1. Decline of the Qing Dynasty - the Emperor was under the control of his mother, the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi, who feared reform would lead to the loss of their throne - because the regime was unable to oppose foreign intervention and deal effectively with internal concerns, nationalist sentiments that were fostered by Western imperialism were directed against the Manchu rulers - the weakness of the Chinese state contributed to a loss of confidence in traditional Confucian values that were the basis of political authority
2. Reforms - initial reforms aimed at obtaining Western technology without making fundamental changes - popular uprisings led to reforms in education, military and government culminating in the 1908 constitution - significant reform was difficult to achieve
D. Revolution of 1911 1. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) - created the United League bringing together groups that opposed the government - advocated the Three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy and livelihood (improvement in
economic and social conditions) 2. Outbreak of Revolution - discontent peaked over a plan to nationalize the railroads on terms that favored foreigners despite protests from the elected assemblies - 15 provinces declared their independence and provincial military forces overthrew the Qing regime which was abandoned by Imperial forces - the Chinese Republic was established with Sun Yat-sen as provisional president - February 1912 Emperor Puyi, who had ascended to the throne in 1908 at the age of 3, abdicated
3. Aftermath of the Revolution - the Union League became the People’s National Party > Nationalists - Sun Yat-sen was unable to gain control over much of the country which was dominated by local “war lords” - to avoid a civil war in 1913, Sun Yat-sen gave up the presidency to General Yűan Shih- k’ai, former commander of the Imperial forces - but Yűan’s imperial ambitions led to his fall and Sun Yat-sen returned to power in 1916
II. Japan A. The Opening of Japan 1. U. S. Commodore Perry arrived in Edo in 1853 with a fleet of “Black Ships”
2. 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa (Treaty of Peace and Amity) and 1858 Treaty - gave U. S. several ports, allowed the establishment of a U. S. Consulate and exchange of ministers, and granted extraterritoriality rights - similar rights were later give to several European states
B. The Meiji Restoration (1867-1912) 1. The forcible opening of Japan to the West resulted in a loss on confidence in the Tokugawa Shogunate which was overthrown and Emperor Meiji was given authority over the state
2. A program of modernization was undertaken a) political reorganization - Daimyo lost their lands, but were given positions as governors over their former territories - Samurai received a monetary compensation and were forbidden to wear a sword - a modern army and navy was created - Charter Oath of 1868 reorganized the state and brought local administration under the authority of a Council of State - Constitution of 1889: > gave the Emperor supreme authority > established a two house Parliament > allowed for an independent military authority
b) economic development - agriculture > lands were redistributed to those who farmed them and the taxes raised from agriculture were used to support industrial development - industry > developed without foreign loans or investment and with close cooperation between the public and private sectors > women left their homes to work in the new factories
c) education - restructured along the American model, though emphasized traditional Japanese Confucian values - bright students were sent abroad to study and specialists were imported
C. Foreign Policy > Imperialistic Expansion 1. Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) - fought over conflicting interests in Korea - Japan acquired Taiwan, Rijukyu Islands, Kwangtung Peninsula
2. Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) - fought against Russian expansion in Manchuria
3. Korea annexed in 1908
|