Reform+Efforts

The Chinese officials decided that they did not need to foster the new industries in their countries. They say that their wealth came from the land and not the factories. The new religion and clothing threatens their way of life. The foreign missionaries had emphasis on the choices made by the individual and that threatened the Confucian ideals. 

__Self-Strengthening Movement __ Some of the Chinese people wanted to change to the new, and what they thought was better, with the railroads and factories and other new technologies of the west. The others were worried that a snow-ball effect would happen, that when a new technology comes they would not be able to refuse them. Then in the 1860's they started the movement to strengthen their country. They constructed railroads, ship yards, mining, and light industry. 

__War With Japan __ In 1868 Japan rapidly reformed and modernized. Then soon they are in the imperialistic challenge with the western nations. Taiwan was taken from China in a war with Japan in 1894. The Japanese peace makers met with the Chinese ones, the Japan peace makers were dressed in modern clothes and China's peace makers were dressed in the tradition robes.



__Spheres of Influence __ The defeat of China due to Japan showed the west the weaknesses of China, and the west capitalized on the se weaknesses. The western nation of Britain, France, German, Russia, and the neighbor nation of Japan cut out their Spheres of Influence. American's forced new policies in the new China, one of these policies is the open door policy. This stated that all ports and trading posts in China are open to all the countries. The natives did not like this imperialism because they got the short end of the stick with the Spheres of Influence. They could now only trade with Britain causing their economy to tank, and only to strengthen that of Britain. 

__Hundred Days Reform __ Confucius himself is considered a reformist that is the only reason why most of the Chinese weren't very upset with the hundred day reform. Chinese said they can't cherish the past with out heading into the future. A young emperor Guang Xu launched the Hundred Days of Reform in 1898. This reform was to modernize old ways and make new ways of working. Civil service exams, new industries, and streamlining government are part of the reform. Then the new emperor was imprisoned after court hearings. All of the reformers then fled and hide.

Continue Reading -- An Empire Crumbles