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First Opium War
The trade with China was limited and had strict rules for trade. England needed to trade with China, specially for tea, they send gifts to the chinese emperor to accomplish 3 proposals: end with the Canton system, stablish a permanent embassy and secure an island near it. But the emperor saw it as a tribute and proposal were rejected.
England had to find a new resource; Opium, it became a success but Chinese authorities had to remove it. England escaped to an island and the Opium War started. -
Taiping Rebellion
A Chinese revolt against the actual dynasty (Qing Dynasty), which was fought with religious conviction over regional economic conditions. At the end, it failed and caused the death of 20 million of people. -
Self-Strenghtening Movement
A movement in order to promote the modernization of China, especially talking about industry and defense (military).
The causes of this movement was because China was living a bad moment as they lost the Second Opium War, they had to sign the Treaty of Tientsin and the Taiping Rebellion occurred, so people wanted a better and stronger dynasty (technologically and military). -
Boxer Rebellion
The Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists, which was a secret Chinese organization, started an uprising in the northern part of China. This was because they were against the spread of the Western and Japanese influence in China. -
Russo-Japanese War
Russia and Japan were fighting for influence in Korea. Russia then took the Liadong Peninsula (in China) to Japan. Japan didn’t like this so they sign an alliance with Britain and declared war to Russia, but the USA mediate the problems and they reach "peace".
Japan got South of the Peninsula and Manchuria, and later its power will increase and will have conflicts with other nations (specially USA and Britain). -
Double Tenth Revolution
It was an uprising or revolution against the Qing Dynasty (the last imperial dynasty of China) in order to stablish the Republic of China.
In consequence, China was divided in provinces and also Yuan Shikai was declared the new president. This will also lead to the Warlord Era. -
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Rule of Yuan Shikai
Thanks to the Double Tenth Revolution, Yuan became president and then dictator (foreign help). There was no real change during his dictatorship. The GMD was founded in 1912 by Sun Yixian, and their power continue to increase. Then, Japan send the 21 Demands (China as Japanese colony) and as he accepted them, people got angry; thought China was getting weaker.
When he proclaimed himself emperor he lost the military support, later on he died. Warlords started to fight for power; Warlord Era. -
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Warlord Era
China lost their figure of unity (Yuan), so China broke up into provinces controlled by different warlords and their private army.
Each province had their own "government" and as they fought for power, it was a time with a lot of violence, death everywhere, inhumanity and also fear (everyone could get killed). Warlords tried to expand their influence and territory.
Because of these, Chinese people felt humiliated, they wanted to get rid of foreign influence and nationalism increased. -
May 4th Movement
It was a protest of University students and intellectuals that raised against the Peace Treaty of Versailles in which Shandong was given to Japan. A cause of this event is also the 21 Demands from Japan, which China signed., that was a humiliation for Chinese people. So, this event became a turning point, as people were against the warlords, the traditional culture and specially Japan, they wanted to stop being weak and start to modernize. -
First United Front
The GMD (lead by Sun Yixian) emerged in 1912, and the CCP (lead by Mao Zedong), emerged in 1921, joined forces; this alliance was called the First United Front. They joined forces because both sides were interested on increasing the quality of the lively hood in China, but also to end with the warlords, which would lead to the Northern Expedition. -
Northern Expedition
The Northern Expedition was a mission of the First United Front; which main objective was to the defeat the warlords. The goal was accomplished, they defeated the warlords of the central and northern part of China, they took Beijing in 1928 and then, the GMD declared themselves as the legitimate government of China. -
Massacre of Shangai / White Terror
Once the GMD declared themselves as the government the alliance within GMD and CCP ended. As the GMD was anti-communist and the CCP was communist, the GMD got rid of them and they started the Shanghai Massacre, which was also called the White Terror (by the communist). In this event, the GMD tried to kill every communist in Shanghai (the GMD saw it as a purification movement), so the communist had to move to the mountains of Jiangsi. This event was the one that started the Chinese Civil War.
