A History of China

A History of ChinaAn Introduction to Dynastic and Communist China

ObjectiveI can describe define key terms and explain their significance to Chinese History.

I can explain what factors contributed to the fall of dynastic China.

Key TermsDynastic ChinaMandate of HeavenOpium WarThe Open Door PolicyBoxer RebellionMay Fourth Movement

Geography of China

Dynastic ChinaA period in Chinese History (2100 BCE- 1900 CE) in which powerful families ruled over China. Dynasties often lasted for centuries.Wars and Unrest generally brought the end of old dynasties and the beginnings of new Dynasties.Different Dynasties promoted different values.

Mandate of HeavenAn ancient Chinese philosophy which believed that heaven gave emperors the power to rule. When they lost the mandate, they would lose their power.Four Principles1) Heaven grants the emperor the right to rule,2) Since there is only one Heaven, there can only be one emperor at any given time,3) The emperor's virtue determines his right to rule, and,4) No one dynasty has a permanent right to rule.

Ming Dynasty1368-1644 CECreated Agrarian Reforms: More food ProductionEmphasized ConfucianismMerit-Based Civil Services Exam

Ming Policy of IsolationGoal was to limit outside influences.Finished the Great Wall to protect themselves from threats from the north.Government tried to limit trade with EuropeTrade limited to three several ports along the eastern sea board.International demand for Chinese goods rose and changed the economy.China remained an agrarian community to match its Confucian beliefs.

Qing Dynasty1644-1912 CEManchurian (Seen as outsiders from the North)Continued to Resist European and outside influence by placing restrictions on trade.Only traded with the Dutch because they showed respect to the Emperor and followed Chinese customs.British were denied access into the market.

Challenge to Chinas IsolationIn 1793, the Qing Emperor sent a letter to the King of England:There is nothing we lackWe have never placed much value on strange or ingenious objects, nor do we need any more of your countrys manufactures.Believed that the Chinese economy was self-sufficient.

Englands Introduction of Opium to ChinaDesperate to find a product that China would find appealing, the British introduced Opium.Habit inducing narcotic.By 1835, millions of Chinese were addicted.By what right do they [British Merchants]use the poisonous drug to injure the Chinese people? I have head that the smoking of opium is illegal in EnglandSince it is not permitted to do harm to your own country, then even less should you let it be passed on to the harm of other countries.

The Opium WarsA war which broke out between China and England following Englands refusal to stop shipping opium to China.End Result: China lost the naval war and was forced to surrender the island of Hong Kong to England and remove many of their trade restrictions.

Spheres of InfluenceAfter their defeat to the British, and added to by internal economic & political struggles, China became divided by World powers.

Open Door PolicyFearful that they would loose out on China as a trading partner, the United States proposed the Open Door Policy in 1899.Called for open trade between China and the Western World.

The Boxer RebellionA 1900 revolt by the Chinese peasants aimed at ridding China of foreign influence.Death to the Foreign Devils!The rebellion failed but it led to a strong sense of nationalism in China and showed that the people wanted a more representative government.

The Fall of Dynastic ChinaBy 1911, Nationalistic forces had gained support around China and led to the successful rebellion against the Qing Dynasty.The goal of the Nationalists was to develop a democratic system within China.

The Warlord Period1911-1927The Nationalist Party struggled to gain control around the country and local warlords rose to power instead. This divided China politically and economically.

The May Fourth MovementMay, 1919: A series of protests by Chinese students, intellectuals, and professionals following the news that the Treaty of Versailles had granted areas of China that had been controlled by Germany to Japan. This led many young people to begin looking for alternative political systems to guide their country, including a rise in popularity of Communism.

Timeline ChallengeYou will each be assigned a term or event.With your group, arrange yourselves in the correct chronological order.Be prepared to explain what your term/event was and why it was significant to the history of China.This will help you better tell the story of the last days of Dynastic China.