However, did the 1911 Revolution really bring the new hope to China? To a larger extend, I do agree that The 1911 Revolution brought China to the chaotic situation with a set of brand new problems. In this essay, I will divide it into three arguments. They are Second Revolution in 1913, Yuan’s Dictatorship and Monarchical Attempt from 1913 to 1916 (The National Protection Movement was included) and Warlord Era. After the reunification between North and South, Democracy and peace didn’t come to China. Yuan was appointed as the Provisional President replaced Dr.

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SunYatsen. The Provisional Constitution was ignored and even abolished by Yuan. To prevent from losing ruling power to Guomingdang, Yuan even eliminate his opponents by assassinating the head of GMD, Song Jiaoren. The Second Revolution was broke out with the lead of Dr. Sun and the GMD dudu in the southern. It is clearly showed that the political stability has not existed right after 1911 Revolution. Later, serial revolutions occurred such as National Protection Movement and the Constitutional Protection Movement.

These revolutions are the evidence to prove the failure of 1911 Revolution and these showed that it failed to bring peace to China. With the failure of the Second Revolution, GMD, which is the greatest obstacle for Yuan, was dissolved after the party ban in Nov 1913. The GMD dudu or the national assembly members were either dismissed or arrested. He was “elected” to be the formal President of ROC in Oct 1913. Although he was a military strong man with a great hope from the foreign powers, the powers were upset by his monarchial attempt.

China was expected to be stabilized under the leading of a strong militia. The foreign powers showed their support to Yuan by committing the Beiyang government. However, his monarchial attempt failed to make the country in stable. First, it failed to gain popular support from every part of China which made him lacked legitimacy to rule over china in the name of emperor. The Conservatives disagree with the Hongxian Empire as they though only Qing is the legitimated emperor of China. The liberal such as Liang Qichao highly criticize Yuan’s attempt.

The Chinese Revolutionary Party further joined with the National Protection Army to fight against the Yuan’s rule. Yuan’s subordinates even refused to support him as they gain nothing from that. Duan Qirui and Feng Guozhang even declined the appointment as commander of the expedition against the National Protection Army. The expectation of stability in China and Yuan’s strong militia image were totally damaged and Yuan loss the military and financial support from the powers. Soon he was forced to end his “emperor dream”.

Someone may argue that warlordism was developed under the regionalism that occurred after the Tai Ping Rebellion, so it is not a new problem to China. But, one point is needed to notice that the nature of warlordism and regionalism are different. Although the origin of the regionalism is regionalism, warlordism had brought china to a new stage of separated situation. Therefore, Warlordism is a new problem to China. As I mentioned before, the Origin of the warlordism is the regionalism. The establishment of the Beiyang Army is one of the military programs made by the Late Qing Reform.

Beiyang Army was created from Li Hongzhang ‘s Huai Army. Li, who is the one, sign the Yangtze Neutrality Pact with the western powers. The Pact is also the symbolic figure of the raise of regionalism. After the death of Li, Yuan ShiKai replaced Li and become the commander of the Amry in 1895. By hording the most powerful modern army, Yuan was appointed as the prime minister of the Qing court. He later became the President of the Republic of China right after the abdication of the Qing Emperor.

The military power not only contributed to Yuan success, it also contributed to the existence of each warlords. After the death of Yuan, the whole country entered to the Warlord Era as there is no man is powerful enough to replace Yuan’s position. Most of the warlords were the subordinate of Yuan. They ruled the local area by using force. Although the central Beiyang government still existed, the warlord didn’t follow the central government order. The whole country was separated into different clique such as Zhili, Fengtian, Anhui and some south warlord governments.

Warlords ruled over different part of China and started wars with each other. It is a new problem which different from regionalism. During late Qing period, the local leaders still were the subordinates of the central government. They were appointed and supervised by the Qing court. They never fall in conflicts openly or by using forces. However, for the warlord, although some of they were appointed as “dudu” as the local leaders by the Beiyang government, the title made by the central government would not change their position or power.

It is simply because they are the true holders of power in those particular areas. The tax collected would not be transfer to the central power. The warlord governed themselves without any influenced by the Beiyang government. Sometimes, they even joined together and refuse to obey the “central” Beiyang government. Also different clique would be in conflicts with each other by the means of war such as the Zhili-Anhui War and Zhili-Fengtian Wars. These proved the difference between regionalism and warlordism. I would like to use the dying words of Dr.

Sun as my conclusion, “The revolution is not yet successful, the comrades still need to strive for the future”. China was in chaotic situation after the 1911 Revolution. Long lasting stability never existed. 1911 revolution was only an incomplete revolution which dominated by militarists and warlords. The only success for it is overthrow the Qing-Manchus rules, but it failed to provide people a truly democratic government. It also failed to strengthen the country and brought peace to China. Old problems were still root deeply and the new problems started to attack China.

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