REVIEW SHEET 24  MODERN CHINA  (1839-1949)
pp.   698-707
1. Focus Question:  What were the strengths and weaknesses of Japan and China as they faced Western imperialism?
Which nation began to modernize first, Japan or China?  In the 18th century trade between Britain, China and India, which country had the economic advantage?  What products were traded?  When did the British begin trading opium with China?  Where did the British get their opium? What were the provisions of the Treaty of Nanking? What was the result of the war of 1856 -1860 between Britain and China?  Which nation was encroaching on China from the north during much ofthe 19th century? 

2. Focus Question:  What internal problems did China face during this period and how did it attempt to solve them?
Which three great rebellions threatened Manchu rule between 1850-1873?  How many people died during this period, directly or indirectly due to war?  What was the source of Taiping ideology? What were the weaknesses of the Taiping movement?  Which rebellion began as an association of bandits that eventually built an army and lived by raiding the countryside? How did the Ch'ing government eventually overcome the rebellions? Who (which leaders) really directed China during the period of "self-strengthening? What was China's military position in regards to the west in 1900 in comparison to 1842?  What was the main goal of the Chinese empress dowager after 1884? "  In what areas was "self-strengthening" attempted? What were the economic effects of the treaty ports and of Western imperialism on China? Why?  What accommodation was reached by the Chinese court and the Westerners during the 1870s?  What was the result of China's conquest of the New Territories and its treaty with Russia in 1881?  What Western power gained control of Vietnam during the 19th century?  What prompted the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895? 

3. Focus Question: How did China react to its defeat by Japan in 1895 and its weakness before the Western powers?
How did China react to its defeat in 1895?  Why did the reform efforts fail?  What was the response of the Western powers to China's defeat in 1895?  Why did the United States support an "open door" policy?  Why did the Boxers revolt?  What impact did their defeat have in the Chinese court?   What educational and military and political reforms occurred?  What "ism" most influenced the young Chinese gentry joining the military?  What sparked the revolution of 1911?  Which group won?  Why did the revolution fail to achieve stable peace? 

4. Focus Question: Why do the Communists succeed in taking power in China?
What was the May Fourth Movement? What sentiments were strongest during this period? What was the appeal of Leninism in China?  To whom did Sun Yat-sen turn to help to organize his party? What were the three principles of the people?  Which group provided the "quicksilver" element for change? The Communists and Kuomintang had cooperated to overthrow the warlords, what ended this cooperation?  Where did the power of Jiang Jieshi (Chiang) rest?   What event ultimately led to the weakening of Kuomintang power and the assent of the Communists in China?  What policies and menthods did the Communists use that made them better at attracting peasant support than the Kuomintang?  Where did Jiang flee after the defeat of his forces on mainland China?

"Unequal Treaties"
“self-strengthening”
treaty ports
Sun Yat-sen
Mao Tse-tung
Kuomintang
"Long March"
Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kaishek)