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Xinhai Revolution

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description Xinhai Revolution Overview

The Xinhai Revolution was the 1911 uprising that overthrew China's Qing dynasty and ended the country's imperial political system. It began with the Wuchang Uprising on 10 October and spread as provinces withdrew their allegiance from the Qing government. The Republic of China was proclaimed with Sun Yat-sen as provisional president, but he later yielded the presidency to Yuan Shikai as part of the settlement that secured the abdication of the child emperor Puyi.

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What was the Wuchang Uprising and when did it happen?

The Wuchang Uprising began on October 10, 1911, in the city of Wuchang (now part of Wuhan) when revolutionary army units mutinied after their plot against the Qing government was discovered. It was the spark that ignited the Xinhai Revolution and led to the collapse of China's imperial system.

Who led the Xinhai Revolution?

The revolution was driven by a coalition of revolutionary groups, most prominently the Tongmenghui (United League) founded by Sun Yat-sen. Although the Wuchang Uprising itself was organized largely by local military officers, Sun Yat-sen became the first provisional president of the Republic of China in January 1912.

When did the Qing dynasty officially end?

The Qing dynasty formally ended on February 12, 1912, when the last emperor, Puyi, abdicated following negotiations between the imperial court and revolutionary forces brokered by General Yuan Shikai. This ended over two thousand years of imperial rule in China.

Why is the revolution called the 'Xinhai Revolution'?

The name comes from the Xinhai year in the traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle, which corresponds to 1911 in the Western calendar. Chinese convention identifies major historical events by their cyclical year designation, and 1911 was a Xinhai year.

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