Early 20th-Century Chinese History Quiz

Answer: Japan

In 1905 in Tokyo, Sun Yat-sen successfully united all the three societies that opposed the Qing government: Guangfuhui (Restoration Society), Huaxinghui (China Revival Society) and Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society) into Tongmenghui (United League). Huang Xing, the leader Guangfuhui became his most trusted second man.

Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the father of modern China, was also known as Sun Zhongshan, Sun Yixian (Hanyu Pinyin of Sun Yat-sen) and Sun Wen. He was a medical doctor by profession.

Answer: People

The three principles are nationalism, democracy and social well being. Sun Yat-sen's aim was to use these principles of government to make China an open country strong in economic and development for the people.

Answer: National Railway

Before the Sichuan Railway incident, there were many events which weakened the foundations of the Qing dynasty:
Opium War defeat in 1860
Taiping Revolution 1851-1864
Defeat by the Japanese naval force in 1895
Boxer Rebellion causing foreign invasion of Beijing in 1900

The Qing government used the excuse of the heavy railway maintenance costs to transfer the ownership to foreign nations. The Sichuan railway was owned publicly owned by many people in Sichuan. They were unhappy with the decision made by the Qing government without consulting them. Many civilian protesters were killed by the government soldiers. Sichuan later revolted and declared independence from the Qing dynasty.

Answer: Wuchang

10 October 1911 (aka Double-Ten Incident) was designated the Xinhai Revolution as it was the year of the metal pig in the Chinese calendar. Wuchang was one the three cities that made up Wuhan in central China.

The revolts by the New Army units from Hubei led by Jiang Yiwu and Sun Wu gained control of the city on 10 October 1911. They made use of the opportunity when the Wuchang army left the city under the order of the Qing government to quell the revolt in Sichuan. The success of the revolt led to more than 22 uprisings in many parts of China over the next six weeks.

Sun Yat-sen had no part in the Wuchang uprising as he was travelling in United States to recruit more overseas Chinese and seeking for donations for his cause.

Answer: Blue Sky and White Sun with Red Field

Sun Yat-sen was elected by a big majority of 17 to 1 out of the 18 provinces. On 3 January 1912, Li Yuanhong was made the provisional vice president. The Blue Sky and White Sun flag (now the national flag of Taiwan) was chosen as the new national flag.

Answer: Yuan Shikai

On 1 November 1911, Yuan Shikai (1859-1916) was appointed by the Qing government as the prime minister of the imperial cabinet, replacing Prince Qing, to negotiate with the revolutionists.

On December 1911, he sent his representative to attend the North-South conference with the revolutionalists in Nanjing. In Nanjing, it was agreed that Yuan would be force the abdication of the Qing Emperor. In return, he would receive the support from the southern provinces to appoint him as the president of the Republic of China.

Sun Yat-sen resigned his post forty-four days after he was appointed. Yuan Shikai replaced him as the President on 10 March 1912 and made promises to uphold the revolution.

Answer: Returned to imperialism

In 1915, he dissolved the republic after many disagreements with the Nationalist party. He negotiated with Japan and Britain and received support from the two nations for him to create a new imperial dynasty. Sun Yat-sen had to escape to Japan again to avoid arrest. In Japan, he organized the second revolution.

Yuan's action led to mass protests and public denunciation by the press. Anti-imperialist armies were winning battles against his armies, and rapidly advancing to Beijing.

On March 22, under tremendous pressure from all sides, he was forced to step down after only 83 days as Emperor and died three months later died a broken man at the age of 56.

Answer: 1921

The CCP was formed under the guidance of the Soviet Union communist party. Early members of the CCP were Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Li Dazhao, a Beijing University librarian.

Answer: Shanghai

In 1925, Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) became the de facto leader of the Nationalist party. He did not trust the communist as they had considerable influence in his party.

5000 KMT soldiers led by General Bai Chongxi began brutal suppression of thousands of workers from the CCP and Shanghai labour union led by Zhou Enlai. About 300 to 400 were killed or executed with 5,000 missing. This event was considered the start of the civil war between the Nationalist party and the CCP.

Answer: Shaanxi

In 1934, the Nationalist troops launched a fifth campaign with about 700,000 troops to encircle the Communists in south east China. From 1930 to 1934, the Nationalist troops failed to purge the Communists in four earlier military operations. The communists successfully used guerrilla tactics to ward off the attacks.

The Communists began a series of long marches to move to northwest China, where they finally settled in Yan'an, Shaanxi province in 1935. Only about 8,000 out of 86,000 survived the march.

Their heroic escapes inspired many young people to join the CCP during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Mao emerged from this event as the dominant leader of the CCP.