DAILY LECTURE AND DISCUSSION NOTES 20-2

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Nationalism in China and Japan

Did you know?

Hong Kong remained a British colony until 1997. As a result, the culture

of Hong Kong has many British influences. For example, schools in Hong

Kong follow the British system. Hong Kong tea culture is different from

the traditional Chinese tea culture.

I. China and the West (pages 772–774)

A. The Chinese followed their traditional way of life until the 1800s. At that time, expanding European businesses wanted to increase their trade with China.

B. Although the British wanted Chinese goods, many Chinese did not want British goods. This made the balance of trade unequal. The British tried selling cotton, which the Chinese did not buy.

C. The British then began selling opium, an addictive drug, to the Chinese. The demand for opium became high, and the British opium traders prospered. When the Chinese emperor demanded the British stop selling opium, they refused. The Opium War erupted in 1839 and lasted three years, until the emperor surrendered.

D. After being defeated, the Chinese gave five ports to British ships, limited taxes imposed on British goods, agreed to pay for the costs of war, and gave the British Hong Kong, an island that became one of the world’s busiest ports.

E. The British citizens in Hong Kong were subject to British laws, not Chinese laws. This is called extraterritoriality.

F. In 1851, a religious leader named Hong Xiuquan organized a rebellion to help peasants overthrow the emperor. This rebellion became known as the Tai Ping Rebellion. It lasted for 13 years. Europeans helped the Chinese defeat the rebels.

G. After the rebellion, Chinese leaders sold the right to trade, build, and conduct mining in their area to European nations.

H. The United States called for an Open Door policy, which allowed China to trade with all countries.

I. Many Chinese people began organizing secret groups to drive foreigners out of China. Empress Tzu Hsi supported these groups, which the Europeans and Americans called Boxers.

J. In 1900, the Boxers attacked foreigners. Europeans sent in troops to crush the Boxer Rebellion.

Discussion Question

How did the Tai Ping Rebellion help Europe gain spheres of influence in China? (Europe helped the Chinese defeat the rebels, and reform-minded Chinese believed Western technology could help keep rebellions at bay. The Chinese built railroads and shipyards and sold Europeans rights to trade, build, and mine in China.)

II. The Revolution of 1911 (pages 774–775)

A. Middle-class Chinese grew angry when they learned that the legislative assemblies could not pass reform laws but only give advice to an emperor. Peasants, artisans, and miners resented high taxes the government had imposed.

B. Sun Yat-sen, a young doctor, founded a movement of revolutionaries that later became known as the Nationalist Party. Sun developed a plan to change China.

C. In 1911, Sun’s followers overthrew the Qin dynasty, and they turned to the head of the Chinese army, Yuan Shigai, for support. General Yuan agreed to serve as president of the new Chinese republic.

D. The Nationalist Party did not like Yuan’s method of rule. They launched a revolt that ultimately failed.

E. General Yuan died in 1916, and the central government began to fall apart. Warlords began to seize power and fight one another.

Discussion Question

Why did the Nationalist Party disagree with Yuan’s rule? (The Nationalist Party wanted a democracy and self-rule. Yuan only knew how to rule in the traditional way and knew little of democracy.)

III. The Rise of Imperial Japan (pages 777–779)

A. At the end of the 1400s, Japan’s shogun no longer controlled the country. Daimyo, or heads of noble families, ruled their own lands.

B. In Japan in the 1500s, three powerful leaders restored Japan’s central government: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

C. Europeans began trading with Japan, and Jesuit missionaries arrived in Japan and began converting thousands of Japanese to Christianity.

D. Hideyoshi expelled all missionaries after they destroyed Japanese shrines. He also expelled European merchants.

E. Under Tokugawa rulers, samurai became managers on the lands of the daimyo, instead of warriors. The class system also became rigid, excluding eta, or outcasts.

F. Matthew Perry, an American commodore, arrived in Japan in 1853 to invite Japan to trade with the United States. Japan agreed and eventually agreed to trade with European nations.

G. Many Japanese disagreed with the trade policies, and a group of them attacked the shogun’s palace in Kyoto and took power.

H. Emperor Mutsuhito and his leaders, known as the Meiji, were determined to make Japan a great power. They created a constitutional monarchy and set up a modern army and navy. They also pushed Japan to industrialize.

I. The Japanese forced Korea to open to trade with Japan. China controlled Korea and resented Japan’s presence there. War broke out between Japan and China, and Japan captured the Manchurian city of Port Arthur. After the war, China gave Japan Taiwan and gave Korea its independence.

J. Russia competed with Japan for trade with Korea. Japan responded by attacking a Russian naval base in Port Arthur. Russia tried to counterattack, but Japan defeated them. Russia agreed to give up Port Arthur.

Discussion Question

How did the Meiji leaders strengthen Japan? (The Meiji leaders

created a new constitutional monarchy, which allowed people to vote for a

legislature, but kept power with the Meiji leaders. They also built roads and

improved schools and required education for all. They set up a modern army

and navy and required all men to serve in the military. They also pushed

Japan to industrialize, helping build new factories.)