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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