Xinhai Revolution

Setting the scene

The Xinhai Revolution, also called the 1911 Revolution, overthrew China's Qing Dynasty, ending 2,000 years of imperial rule. The revolution began on October 10, 1911 (Double Ten Day), when a bomb accidentally exploded at a revolutionary headquarters in Wuchang, forcing revolutionaries to launch a premature uprising. The Wuchang Uprising succeeded when New Army troops mutinied, and within weeks, 15 provinces declared independence from the Qing. The revolution was the culmination of decades of Qing decline, humiliation by foreign powers, and reform failures.

What happened

The revolution was led by diverse groups: Sun Yat-sen's Revolutionary Alliance (Tongmenghui), which advocated nationalism, democracy, and livelihood; provincial elites seeking autonomy; and New Army officers. Sun was in Denver, Colorado, fundraising when the revolution began, and returned to China in December 1911. On January 1, 1912, the Republic of China was proclaimed in Nanjing, with Sun as provisional president. The Qing court, with child emperor Puyi, abdicated on February 12, 1912, after negotiations with General Yuan Shikai, who betrayed the Qing in exchange for the presidency.

Why it still matters

The Xinhai Revolution ended imperial China but failed to establish stable democracy. Yuan Shikai became dictator, and after his death in 1916, China fragmented into warlord era. Sun Yat-sen's Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) eventually reunified China in 1928, but the revolution's goals of democracy and prosperity were not achieved until decades later. The revolution is celebrated in both Taiwan (as founding of the Republic of China) and mainland China (as ending feudalism). It marked China's entry into the modern era and inspired anti-colonial movements across Asia.

Background

The Republic of China was proclaimed.