Name: Saffi-ur-Rehman

Roll no: 840-BH-2015

Semester: 3rd
Subject: History of Modern China
Submitted to: Mam Huma Pervaiz

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY LAHORE
 Personality
YUAN SHIKAI

INTRODUCTION
Though the young Qing emperor Puyi is more widely remembered as the
last emperor of China, the short, stocky military leader Yuan Shikai also
laid claimhowever brieflyto that distinction. A popular general and
reformist minister under the Qing dynasty, Yuan played a key role in
bringing an end to 2,000 years of imperial rule in 1912. As first president
of the Republic of China, however, he quickly resorted to absolutist
tactics. In 1915, Yuan took the bold step of announcing a new imperial
dynasty, with himself as emperor. Opposition lined up against him, and
on March 22, 1916, he was forced to abdicate, putting a permanent end
to the monarchy and restoring republican rule in China. For the 100th
anniversary of Yuans abdication, we take a look back at this momentous
period in Chinese history.

Early Life
Born in 1859, Yuan Shikai was part of a relatively affluent clan in Xiangcheng, Henan
province. He was never a good student, but he excelled in physical activity; after twice
failing the imperial examinations necessary to become a civil servant, he chose a
military career. His fathers connections helped secure him a post in the Qing brigade of
Anhui army, commanded by Li Hongzhang. In 1882, the brigade was sent to Korea to
prevent Japanese encroachment in the region. As Lis protg, Yuan proved himself
during more than a decades service in Korea, serving as Chinese commissioner in
Seoul until just before the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95).
Years in Korea
After that conflict, Yuan became the officer most responsible for building the Chinese
military back up after its humiliating defeat by Japan. Along with other conservative
military leaders, he helped the Empress Dowager Cixi regain effective power from her
nephew, the young Emperor Guangxu, after he tried to institute a number of progressive
reforms in 1898. With Cixis support, Yuan gained more and more power and influence.
While the Boxer Rebellion of 1900in which large groups of ordinary Chinese
organized violent protests against foreigners in China, Westernized Chinese and
especially Chinese Christiansagain weakened the military, Yuans division emerged
intact. In 1901, Yuan was named viceroy of Zhili, the region surrounding Beijing; he later
became a grand councilor.

Stripping and Re-instatement of Yuan Shikai

Cixi and Guangxu died within a day of each other in 1908, and Yuans opponents
(including the regent of the new emperor, Puyi, who was still an infant) took the
opportunity to get rid of him. Stripping him of his offices, they sent him home to Henan
province. But when revolution broke out in October 1911, and regional elites throughout
China rose up against the imperial dynasty, Qing rulers called Yuan back to the capital
again. As prime minister and head of the Qing army, Yuan had commanded his forces
into the rebel-controlled city of Wuhan by December 1911, forcing the leaders of the
revolution to negotiate.

Becoming President of Republic of China

Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the Revolutionary Alliance, had been in the United States
raising money for the cause when the revolution broke out. He returned to China by
Christmas, and was named provisional president of the Republic of China, based in
Nanjing. Entrusted with full power by the Qing court, Yuan Shikai made a deal with the
revolutionaries. In February 1912, he convinced Longyu, the mother of the young
emperor, that the only way to save the lives of the imperial family was to issue a
proclamation in support of the republican government. She did so on February 12,
abdicating on behalf of 6-year-old emperor Puyi and ending more than 2,000 years of
imperial rule in China. A day later, according to the agreement, Sun resigned, and Yuan
Shikai became the first president of the Republic of China.

Second Rebellion
With an empty treasury, no constitution and provincial warlords vying for influence, the
republics beginnings were chaotic, to say the least. Elections in early 1913 resulted in
huge gains for the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang), which increasingly clashed with Yuan
and his agenda. When the partys chairman, Song Jiaoren, was murdered that March,
the trail of evidence pointed to Yuans government, though he was never officially
blamed. Before he could be arrested, Sun Yat-sen fled to Japan in late 1913, calling for
a second rebellionthis time against Yuan Shikai.

Twenty-One Demands
After crushing that revolt, Yuan consolidated power, crushing any hopes for
parliamentary democracy. His appeasement of Japanincluding acceptance of many of
the infamous Twenty-One Demands issued in 1915further damaged his popularity.
Seeking to increase his authority, Yuan announced the creation of a new imperial
dynasty, the Hongxian, with himself as Great Emperor of China.

Decline and Death of Yuan Shikai

His actions immediately aroused widespread indignation, uniting Yuans opponents and
his former supporterseven the most conservative members of the militaryagainst
him. Japan backed this opposition, while the British government, once a source of
financial support for Yuans regime, was preoccupied with World War I. Left without the
support of even his former generals, Yuan backed down, and on March 22 he put an
end to the Hongxian Empire after only 83 days. With cries mounting for his resignation
as president, the ailing Yuan died just three months later, at the age of 56. His death
ushered in a 12-year stretch known as the warlord era, during which local generals in
Chinas provinces continually challenged the weak central authority of the Republic of
China.
 LEGACY
Historical Legacy

Retrospectively, there are more negative assessments of Yuan Shikai than there are
positive ones. He is strongly criticized for having signed the humiliating Twenty-One
Demands Treaty with Japan, which greatly weakened China's prestige in the world.

Some scholars, however, view Yuan as a great reformer, owing to his contributions to
China in many aspects of its modern history. He made great contributions to China's
military, economy, education and politics, and he forced Emperor Pu Yi to abdicate the
throne peacefully, bringing an end to 2,000 years of feudalism (from the Zhou Dynasty
right up to the early Republican period).

Military Legacy
Yuan Shikai was a wise and sharp man, well-versed in military strategy. He took action
immediately to defeat the Japanese army during Korea's abortive coup attempt in 1884,
successfully shattering Japan's efforts to overthrow the Korean regime and greatly
expanding China's influence on Korea. He was highly praised for this by Li Hongzhang.

After taking over the Beiyang Army, Yuan built up new armies, reformed the old armies
and restructured police units, completely separating the police force and the army.

Yuan was in charge of establishing regular armies and policies from 1903 onwards and
formed Chinas first modern army in Hebei Province. He also hired German drillmasters
to drill his troops and set up modern military schools, training a number of military
talents; five of whom were elected as presidents or prime ministers of the Republic of
China (1911-1949).

Economic Legacy
Yuan Shikai raised money for and in 1905 supervised the construction of Chinas first
railway (BeijingZhangjiakou). During the early years of the Republic of China (1911-
1949), much attention was paid by Yuan to industry, agriculture, and commerce;
especially to industry. Over 4,000 new factories were built between 1912 and 1914, and
great progress was made in paper-making, the metallurgical industry and the mining
industry.
During his reign, Yuan issued a series of decrees and regulations which promoted the
development of China's national industries, including raising import duty and lowering
export duty, encouraging native products and supporting domestic industrial and
commercial enterprises.

As for agriculture, Yuan established agricultural education bases and promoted new
agricultural technology, which greatly promoted the development of agriculture in the
early years of the Republic.

As for finance, Yuan issued government bonds, reformed currencies and taxes, and
established banks, which not only greatly eased the financial crisis of the government,
but promoted China's modernization financially.

Educational Legacy
Yuan Shikai supported literacy and education, established new schools, abolished the
old-fashioned imperial examination and encouraged students to learn from Western
countries and from Japan. He established Shandong University, raised funds from
multiple sources to train teachers, introduced the modern Western educational system
to Chinese people, and also ordered the implementation of 4 years of free compulsory
education in China.

Political Legacy
Yuan Shikai's greatest achievements in politics are reflected in his far-reaching reform of
government structure, bureaucratic establishments, law and local autonomy.

Yuan played an active role in China's democratization process. He was the first to hold
high the banner of constitutionalism, and established the first republic in Asia the
Republic of China (1911-1949). Yuan played a crucial role in reforming China's
bureaucratic establishments, and he also made laws concerning officials' grades,
appointments and dismissals, rewards and punishments, and salaries. On Yuans
initiative, anti-corruption institutes were established for bringing corrupt officials to trial.

Yuan promoted and recommended appropriate legal personnel to higher positions,

which greatly improved China's modern judicial system. He also actively participated in
China's system of local autonomy, making Tianjin in Hebei Province the first
autonomous city in the Republic of China (1911-1949).
 BIBILOGRAPHY

http://www.history.com/news/who-was-yuan-shikai

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/yuan-shikai.htm

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_Shikai