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Nationalist version of Chinese history . 1911 was largely the work of the revolutionary movement headed by Sun Zhongshan
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The current interpretation of the events of 1911 have qualified the importance of the revolutionary movement . It is important less for what it contributed to the events of 1900-1913 than for the revolutionary movements it created’.
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Statue of Sun Yat Sen in Tiananmen Square Beijing
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Credit for initiating the movement goes to Sun Zhongshan . He was interested in how China might be reformed. Ideas offered to many including Li Hongzhang.
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Sun eventually abandoned the ideas of reform and in Honolulu formed a revolutionary group referred to as the Revive China Society.
This and other groups set up by him, planned a rebellion following China’s disastrous defeat in the Sino Japanese war.
The plot was discovered and Sun fled to Japan.
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The discovery of a plot to rebel, capture Guangzhou in 1895. Sun had plotted with secret societies and bandit gangs. Sun fled to Japan and did not return for 16 years.
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Sun cut off his queue in London 1896 and adopted Western dress. He was saved from arrest and deportation back to China by Dr Cantlie’s efforts in London. Sun was convinced that Britain would support the revolutionary movement.
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In 1898 Sun made contact with the reformers of the 100 Days: Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei. However, Sun was unable to establish any common ties
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1900 Sun attempted another uprising this time is Huizhou. Did receive some popular support but was easily crushed by the Qing government
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Rise of a number of revolutionaries. Notably Zou Rong.
Zou Rong was upset with the fact that theJapan had occupied Manchuria since 1903
He published anti Manchu pamphlets. He was arrested and tried for his inflammatory pamphlet called the Revolutionary army. He died before he could complete his sentence
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In 1905 Sun Zongshan returned from Europe to Japan. He had discussions with Huang Xing and this resulted in the formation of the Tongmenghui or Revolutionary Alliance.
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Qiu Jin a female revolutionary. The suppression of the Boxer Uprising convinced her that the Qing dynasty had failed and china was on the brink of disaster. Her attempts to end footbinding for women are significant.
She was eventually imprisoned and executed by the Qing government.
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Sun was chosen as the leader of the Tongmenghui not so much for his success as a revolutionary leader or his ideological contribution. He was selected more for his experience of dealing with western powers and his supposed support from Japan.
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Revolutionary groups in Hunan. This was the province that had opposed the Taipings.
This province also saw a number of anti foreign movements and also the adoption of westernising reforms especially in education.
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Sun put forward three key principles. Nationalism, Peoples will and Democracy.
The Revolutionary Alliance adopted these principles and issued a 4 Point Manifesto:
It also declared a 3 stage form of government as a result of the revolution:
Military rule, followed by political tutelage ( army would take a smaller role while people were trained for democracy) and finally a democratic constitution
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In Hunan anti foreign groups colluded ( worked together) with secret societies . However after the last attempt to destabilise the government was put down by Zhang Zhidong’s troops, the Hunan revolutionaries switched their allegiance from the secret societies to conversion of member s of the new Armies to their cause
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The Revolutionary Alliance brought together all earlier revolutionary movements. Under this group a lively debate followed about China’s political future. They however ignored the problems of China’s rural population
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Prominent Hunan revolutionaries were Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren. Song was to play a prominent role in the 1911 revolution
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The Revolutionary Alliance strategy remained as one of promoting secret societies to foment ( develop/create) an uprising which would spread to the provinces.
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The Revolutionary Alliance had little contact with protesters of revolutionary protests in the cities such as in Shanghai and Guangzhou against the US Exclusion Act of 1904 ( immigration to the US by Chinese forbidden)
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The Revolutionary Alliance made 6 more abortive ( failed) attempts. Only in 1910 did they make a more determined effort to subvert the army. Huang Xing made contact with the New Army in Guangzhou.
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Hubei province had its own record of revolutionary activities and some of these involved the soldiers of the New Army.
From 1908 onwards, serious attempts were made to organize and revolutionary movement in the armed forces.
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By 1910 the Revolutionary Alliance was split by internal differences and the Qing Government had persuaded foreign governments to restrict its activities
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From 1911 a group of army revolutionaries called the Literary Institute began to operate out of the Russian Concession in Hankou. It had a loosed connection of a branch of the Revolutionary alliance.
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In 1910 another abortive uprising in Guangzhou. A group of the Revolutionary Alliance decided that Hunan and Hubei revolutionaries should depend on the New army in Wuchang to start an uprising.
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The governments attempt to take over the railways in May 1911 unleashed a storm of protests especially in the Sichuan province. The government transferred troops from Hubei to deal with the crisis.
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When the bomb explosion led to the discovery of the plot to overthow the Qing, the rebels forced the Commander of the army, Li Yuanhong to go to the Provincial Assembly and proclaim China a Republic.
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The original plan for the uprising must have been changed because of the transfer of Army unit to Sichuan.
An accidental bomb explosion at Wuchang led to the discovery of the plot and the Revolution of 1911 began.
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The new republic was to be headed by Li Yuanhong who was now to be come the Military governor and the Chairman of the Provincial Assembly would become the Civilian governor. Thus it was a power sharing deal.
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At the time of the Revolution Sun Zongshan was abroad and returned home almost 2 months later.
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The Provincial Assembly now took charge. Uprising in Hubei followed by declarations of independence by other provinces.
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In the meantime Sun got in touch with Yuan Shih Kai and offered him the Presidency of the new Republic on condition that he abandon the Qing Dynasty.
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Yuan Shih Kai was called by the Qing to save them. He was asked by Republican and Qing forces to assume a leadership role. He commanded the loyalty of the former Beiyang army.
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In December 1911, Sun was appointed the provisional President of the Republic and there was a dispute over the location of the future capital
Beijing or Nanjing. Sworn in as President in Nanjing on Jan 1 1912.
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Yuan Shih Kai negotiated with the Qing to secure the abdication of the Emperor on very generous terms.
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Sun Yat sen backed down in Feb 1912
August 1912 the Guomindang set up from among the Revolutionary Alliance for the forthcoming elections
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Yuan Shih Kai declared himself to be committed to the Republic . Appointed as its President five days after Sun Yat Sen stepped down and elections for the new Republic declared month later in which the Nationalist Party ( the Guomin Dang ) won
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Historiography
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Colin Mackerras: China in Transformation
When the Wuchang uprising occurred Sun Yat Sen was in Colorado. Rather than return home , he decided to seek international support for the revolution , which he knew would be crucial to its success. He did not return to China till two months later. The revolutionaries had decided on Nanjing as the new capital. Sun Yat Sen became provisional president.
Eventually Sun Yat Sen accepted the Yuan Shih Kai had
| James E Sheridan: China in Disintegration
The revolution of 1911 was nationalistic , but only in a limited sense. It was in opposition to alien rule; Manchu rule. Furthermore it was against anti-imperiaism rather than anti westernism . The orientation was anit Manchu, anti imperialist and strongly provincial. There was no national hero or leader who could become the symbol of national aspirations and thereby stimulate nationalist feelings. Sun Yat Sen did not have the capacity for that role, an in any event Sun was not a central figure in 1911, except to his own United League which after all was not the major foce behind the revolution.
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