Why did China remain a “closed” country for so long and how did its “opening” happen? Detailed answer

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Why did China remain a “closed” country for so long and how did its “opening” happen? Detailed answer

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Why did China remain a “closed” country for so long and how did its “opening” happen?

From the time of the establishment of the Manchu Qin dynasty in China, a policy of isolation of the country began to be pursued. The contacts of the Chinese with foreigners seemed dangerous to the authorities. But huge China, which was at the stage of traditional society, attracted the Western bourgeoisie. China exported silk and tea, for which Great Britain paid with opium exported from India. After the Chinese authorities banned the import of opium (its smoking became a disaster for the country), the "opium wars" (1840-1842, 1856-1860) began, culminating in the defeat of China. The fruits of victory, in addition to England (it received Hong Kong, which became its colony), France and the United States took advantage. The active colonization of China by European powers began.

The defeat of China in the "opium wars" led to the weakening of imperial power. This destabilized the social situation in the country. The Qin Empire failed to ensure harmony between the various segments of the population. In China, secret societies began to emerge in opposition to the ruling regime. Riots and unrest broke out all over the country. Especially strong in the middle of the nineteenth century. was the Taiping movement, led by a native of the peasants, Hong Xiuquan. The participants in this movement to strengthen Confucian values became known as the Taipings. In 1850, the Taipings launched an open rebellion. Having mastered a vast territory, primarily the valley of the river. Yangtze, the rebels announced the creation of a new state with its capital in Nanjing. Continuing to fight against the imperial government and the feudal lords, the Taipings began to carry out reforms that reflected the peasants' utopian dreams of creating a just society. But in 1864, government troops defeated the Taipings, and their state ceased to exist.

Meanwhile, in China itself, Empress Ci Xi came to power, who was in power from 1861 to 1908. She had to include China in the modernization process, to pursue a policy of China's self-strengthening. The aim of this course was to put Western technology and science at the service of the state. The industrial sector began to develop in the country, but enterprises of foreigners and the state prevailed. Misappropriation of funds allocated for the development of industry and the rearmament of the army was widely practiced. Despite the fact that the modernization was carried out indecisively, the process of formation of the Chinese national bourgeoisie was going on. The industrialization of the country was hampered by the lack of reforms in the agricultural sector. The course of self-reinforcement did not lead to the desired results.

The need for reforms in political and economic life became more and more obvious. Kang Yuwei becomes the leader of the reformers. His supporters advocated the introduction of a parliamentary monarchy in the country, the implementation of socio-economic reforms. The most radical supporters of the reforms were determined to remove Ci Xi from power. The coup attempt failed. The Empress again managed to concentrate all power in her hands.

The rejection of reforms once again exacerbated the political crisis in the country. Since the autumn of 1898, the activities of the secret society "Fist in the name of peace and justice" (in Chinese - "Yihetuan") intensified. It was a protest against the destruction of ancient traditions, against the invasion of China by the achievements of European civilization.

Empress Ci Xi decided to use the Yihetuan to fight against Western powers and restore the country to its former glory. She allowed the rebel troops to occupy Beijing and signed a decree declaring war on the European powers. In response, the leading European states and Japan sent their troops to suppress the uprising. On August 14, 1900, foreign troops occupied Beijing. As a result of large-scale military intervention, the uprising was crushed. After that, foreign powers imposed a new unequal treaty on China. The country had to pay a huge indemnity, foreigners got the right to keep their troops and fleet in China.

At the end of the nineteenth century. China entered a period of deep crisis, which ended with the revolution of 1911-1912, the overthrow of the Manchurian monarchy and the proclamation of the Republic of China.

Author: Irina Tkachenko

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