- Analyze the matrix of internal pressures that weighed down the late Qing.
Qing dynasty lasted between1644- 1911, known as Manchu, final Chinese dynasties. It lasted for about 300 years as it perfected the imperial system in China. The Qing was stronger and glorious. However, it flourished in the 18th century and broke down in the 19th century due to the inflexibilities which arose. The system could not adjust to the new terms. Rebellions, continued warfare, economic disasters, overpopulations, and lousy harvest contributed to the Qing’s fall. However, a revolution erupted in 1911 where Emperor Xuantong stepped aside from the ruling powers. Additionally, the Qing’s overthrow established the end of a kind of government that China known since its founding in 221 BC. This essay aims at establishing the kind of pressures that brought down the late Qing from power.
Trade imbalance exists between the neighboring countries. The imbalance in trade caused difficulties in getting the goods when the two countries incurred the imbalance, for instance, between Great Britain and China. There existed a higher demand for Chinese tea in Britain but a comparatively lower demand for Britain’s goods in China. Due to this, China shifted to selling silver to correct the imbalance, where China could not consider Britain’s silver, making Great Britain lag behind in its payments.
Existence of natural calamities and bandits. Famine, droughts, and floods that occurred worried the nation’s economic status since the people were struggling; hence, they were unsatisfied with the living standards. However, the eruption of warfare in 1850, which was bloody, discouraged the economic standards of the country. The Christians who led the rebellion claimed to possess the responsibility of bringing down the Qing Dynasty.
Conclusively, The Qing government experienced problems in economic crisis due to the civil wars, rebellions, and pressure from outsiders, which spread different ideas and cultures across the country. The foreigners got to hold too much of the nation’s strengths by taking it up to their advantage. However, the dynasty got weaker with time.