The Hundred Days Reforms

IB HL HistoryLearning Objective: To investigate the causes and

effects of the hundred days reforms

The Background Causes

• Calls for institutional reform • Failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement• The introduction of Western ideas of reform• Progressive-minded young intellectuals• The effects of the Sino-Japanese War• The effects of the Scramble for Concessions• Political struggle within the Qing court

Reasons for Reform

• Institutional reform and other changes would strengthen China's defence against Western imperialism.

• A new educational structure would replace the old, traditional one,

• The political system would be re-organized to achieve a greater degree of efficiency.

Other Reasons

• The reform movement was also part of the struggle for power within the Qing court.

• The young scholar-reformers advocated reform out of patriotic reasons, and to advance to positions of power in the government.

The Reforms Begin

• Last from June to September 1898,• Some 200 or so reform decrees were

issued in quick succession. • A wide-reaching program for 'reform of

institutions' was attempted.• Too much, too late?

Education Reforms

• Abolition of the 'Eight-legged essay' in the Civil Service Examinations. Introduction of a new syllabus based on current political and economic problems.

• Introduction of an exam on political economy. Establishment of an Imperial University in Peking. Founding of a medical school.

• Establishment of primary and secondary schools in the provinces

Government administration

• Appointment of reform-minded officials. Introduction of stricter discipline for civil servants. Measures to check corruption and sinecures.

• Improvement in administrative efficiency, simplified procedures. Creation of 12 new Ministries to replace the old 6 Boards

• Encouragement of reform suggestions from private citizens.

Q1 How would you best summarize the reasons for the Hundred Days reforms?

Begins to Unravel

• Too radical for the Empress Dowager

• Sees it as an attempt to take power from her

• Yuan Shikai involved

• Emperor imprisoned and probably poisoned

• Orders issued to arrest Kang and the reformers

• Kang’s writing banned

• 6 martyrs (including Kang’s brother)

Q2 Why did it fail?

Reasons for Failure 1: Inexperience

• Age of reformers• No knowledge of the West• No knowledge of power politics• Didn’t consider consequences e.g.:

abolition of 8-Legged essay made students unhappy

Reasons for Failure 2: Power of Tz’u-Hsi

• Had been the boss for 37 years• Experienced and embedded in power• Still controlled grand council• Had control of Jung-Le’s troops

Reasons for Failure 3: Conservative Opposition

• Saw Kang’s interpretation of Confucius as blasphemy

• Even moderates couldn’t accept it

Reasons for Failure 4: Speed of Reforms

• Reforms are rushed through and a flurry of edicts comes from the court

• Implementation was almost impossible due to the speed

• No attempt to build capacity lower down the imperial administration or clarify exactly what was wanted

Q3: Develop a hypothesis-What will be the consequences of reform failure?

Consequence 1

• Progressive reform from the top down now impossible (for a while)

Consequence 2

• Reactionary court incapable of leadership

Consequence 3

• Reactionary court leads to anti foreignism and the Boxer rebellion

Consequence 4

• Relations between Han and Manchu damaged as court pursue anti Chinese policy to punish reformers

• Kang-I “ Reform benefits the Chinese but hurts the Manchus. If I have properties, I would rather give them to my friends than let the slaves share the benefit”

Consequence 5

• Relations between Han and Manchu damaged as court pursue anti Chinese policy to punish reformers

Consequence 6

• An increasing amount of Chinese begin to see that the only path forward is revolution from below

• Enter Dr Sun Yat Sen