Yuan Shikai and the Early Republic

IB Higher Level History

Core Readings for this lessonLipman pgs 257-260

Schoppa pgs 209-2011

Learning Objective

What role did Yuan Shikai play in the failure of the Chinese republic?

Learning Objective: To explain the causes and consequences of the failure of the Early Republic

First Steps 1911-12

•The revolutionaries had elected Sun Yat-Sen as the first Provisional President of the Republic of China,

•Militarily weak, he soon resigns in favour of Yuan Shikai

Yuan Secures Control

•Moves capital of the new republic to Beijing (near his base of power)

•He put his own followers and supporters in important government posts

•Some T'ung-meng hui members were forced to resign by Yuan.

Reaction

•The T'ung-meng hui absorb four other lesser parties to form the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) in an attempt to counter Yuan Shikai

•Led by Sung Chiao-jen

•He is assassinated at Shanghai Train Station (and his killers die not long after)

•Was Yuan Shikai behind it?

Sung Chiao-jen

The Second Revolution, 1913 •Yuan negotiated a "reorganization loan" from

the Five Power Banking Consortium without parliament's approval.

•Yuan dismissed some Kuomintang governors in the south.

•The Kuomintang started 'Second Revolution' against Yuan's dictatorship

•The revolutionaries were easily defeated by Yuan's armies

•The Kuomintang was itself banned as a political party

Reasons for the failure of the 2nd

Revolutiona. The revolutionaries led by the Kuomintang were divided among themselves. The revolution was badly planned. Money was lacking.

b. Yuan's armies were superior, both in numbers and in arms.

c. British help was given to Yuan in the form of loans and weapons.

d. The Chinese people, especially the peasants, knew little about city politics, did not understand why the revolutionaries fought with Yuan, were tired of further political disorder, and gave no support to the Kuomintang.

e. The local-provincial gentry wished to protect their own interests and were not sympathetic toward the revolutionaries.

Question 1

If you had to outline the major reasons for the failure of the early republic in order what would you choose?

A. Underlying problems in China; Yuan Shikai; Mistakes by others

B. Yuan Shikai; Mistakes by others; Underlying problems in China

C. Mistakes by others; Yuan Shikai; Underlying problems in China

Dictatorship?•In 1914, Yuan Shih-k'ai ordered the creation

of a Constitutional Compact

•The President's term of office was extended to 10 years

•Renewable by reelection.

•Yuan had the power to decide who was to succeed him.

•Attempts to restore the monarchy but China has changed forever

As Emperor (briefly)

Reasons for failure of Republic

i. Harmful effects of Yuan Shih-k'ai's dictatorial policies - Yuan Shih-k'ai had no intention of working under and serving a republic. He ruled like a dictator, ignoring the constitution and using methods like bribery and murder. Even the Kuomintang men accepted bribes from Yuan. In effect, therefore, the Republic became a ground for selfish struggle for power among the opportunists. The ideals of republicanism were forgotten.

ii. China's lack of democratic tradition - China had no solid democratic tradition. There was, for example, a traditional dislike for political parties. Party activities were thought to be selfish and harmful to political harmony. Even the Western-educated revolutionaries hated the idea of open struggle for constitutional power. Sun Yat-sen, for example, failed to support Sung Chiao-jen for fear of being accused of being power-hungry. China had been traditionally used to the rule of men, not the rule of law.

iii. Selfishness of local-provincial gentry and militarists - Political decentralization and the rise in power of the military leaders made really democratic government difficult to carry out. Local-provincial gentry and militarists were interested in keeping their own power in the provinces rather than in working for the creation of an efficient parliament in Peking.

iv. Political inexperience and disunity of progressive forces - Liberals and intellectuals were divided and inexperienced in politics and lost every opportunity to check Yuan's dictatorship.

v. The parties' lack of popular support - Political parties like the Kuomintang were led by intellectuals who enjoyed little popular support. Consequently, party power was weak. Social conservatism was strong. Democracy had difficulty in taking root in China.

vi. Nationalism over democracy - To many Chinese nationalists, the most important national aim for China was the reunification and centralization of the whole country, not the establishment of a republic.

Question 2

•Choose which of those reasons for failure is most important.

•Rank all the reasons for failure in order of importance

•Be prepared to defend your choice

•Combining reasons is a very good idea

Effects of the Failure

i. The failure of republicanism led to the warlords dominating China after 1916.

ii. The urgent need for social and economic reforms in China was neglected, as the Republic was weak, corrupt and divided. As a result,

iii. Foreign control of China increased.

iv.China's weakness invited Japanese aggression, like the presentation of the 21 Demands to Yuan Shih-k'ai in 1915.

v.. Some Chinese intellectuals and liberals began to lose faith in republicanism as an effective way of saving China. They were prepared to turn to radical ideas like Communism.

Question 3

Look again at the effects of failure.

Which ones are most historically significant and why?

Historiography

•If you remember, Fenby argued that the revolution wasn’t really a ‘sea change’. On what grounds did he argue this?

Fenby’s Argument

•The revolution did not bring the changes that the revolutionaries wanted

•Local power holders remained in place

•Shift of regime not a big change

•Foreigners held onto concessions

•China unable to keep up with Japan

Contrasting View-Diana Lary

Diana Lary argues that the revolution did lead to fundamental changes in China

Firstly: Power becomes localized eg: No more law of avoidance so regional powerbases can appear

Secondly: Civilian power under the Qing Mandarins/civil service shifts to Military Power and the Warlord era

Question 4

•Look again at Fenby and Lary. Which historian do you personally agree with? Or do you have a different interpretation?

•What evidence would you use to support your point?

TOK Link

Yuan Shikai’s failure to restore the monarchy suggests something fundamental had changed in political culture in China since the fall of the Qing. What changes can lead to fundamental alterations to a country’s political structure?

Are these changes real? Or just perceived?

Next Lesson

The 21 Demands