What role did Sun Yat Sen play in the revolution of 1911?
The Nationalist view is : SYS was the hero of the revolution. A claim fostered by Sun Yat Sen’s great grand son
So look at the evidence and come up with an answer
For
Against
Nationalist version of Chinese history . 1911 was largely the work of the
revolutionary movement headed by Sun Zhongshan
The current interpretation of the events of 1911 have qualified the
importance of the revolutionary movement . It is important less for what
it contributed to the events of 1900-1913 than for the revolutionary
movements it created’.
Statue of Sun Yat Sen in Tiananmen Square Beijing
Credit for initiating the movement goes to Sun Zhongshan . He was
interested in how China might be reformed. Ideas offered to many
including Li Hongzhang.
Sun eventually abandoned the ideas of reform and in Honolulu formed a
revolutionary group referred to as the Revive China Society.
This and other groups set up by him, planned a rebellion following China’s
disastrous defeat in the Sino Japanese war.
The plot was discovered and Sun fled to Japan.
The discovery of a plot to rebel, capture Guangzhou in 1895. Sun had
plotted with secret societies and bandit gangs. Sun fled to Japan and did
not return for 16 years.
Sun cut off his queue in London 1896 and adopted Western dress. He was
saved from arrest and deportation back to China by Dr Cantlie’s efforts in
London. Sun was convinced that Britain would support the revolutionary
movement.
In 1898 Sun made contact with the reformers of the 100 Days: Liang
Qichao and Kang Youwei. However, Sun was unable to establish any
common ties
1900 Sun attempted another uprising this time is Huizhou. Did receive
some popular support but was easily crushed by the Qing government
Rise of a number of revolutionaries. Notably Zou Rong.
Zou Rong was upset with the fact that theJapan had occupied Manchuria
since 1903
He published anti Manchu pamphlets. He was arrested and tried for his
inflammatory pamphlet called the Revolutionary army. He died before he
could complete his sentence
In 1905 Sun Zongshan returned from Europe to Japan. He had discussions
with Huang Xing and this resulted in the formation of the Tongmenghui
or Revolutionary Alliance.
Qiu Jin a female revolutionary. The suppression of the Boxer Uprising
convinced her that the Qing dynasty had failed and china was on the brink
of disaster. Her attempts to end footbinding for women are significant.
She was eventually imprisoned and executed by the Qing government.
Sun was chosen as the leader of the Tongmenghui not so much for his
success as a revolutionary leader or his ideological contribution. He was
selected more for his experience of dealing with western powers and his
supposed support from Japan.
Revolutionary groups in Hunan. This was the province that had opposed
the Taipings.
This province also saw a number of anti foreign movements and also the
adoption of westernising reforms especially in education.
Sun put forward three key principles. Nationalism, Peoples will and
Democracy.
The Revolutionary Alliance adopted these principles and issued a 4 Point
Manifesto:
It also declared a 3 stage form of government as a result of the revolution:
Military rule, followed by political tutelage ( army would take a smaller
role while people were trained for democracy) and finally a democratic
constitution
In Hunan anti foreign groups colluded ( worked together) with secret
societies . However after the last attempt to destabilise the government
was put down by Zhang Zhidong’s troops, the Hunan revolutionaries
switched their allegiance from the secret societies to conversion of
member s of the new Armies to their cause
The Revolutionary Alliance brought together all earlier revolutionary
movements. Under this group a lively debate followed about China’s
political future. They however ignored the problems of China’s rural
population
Prominent Hunan revolutionaries were Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren.
Song was to play a prominent role in the 1911 revolution
The Revolutionary Alliance strategy remained as one of promoting secret
societies to foment ( develop/create) an uprising which would spread to
the provinces.
The Revolutionary Alliance had little contact with protesters of
revolutionary protests in the cities such as in Shanghai and Guangzhou
against the US Exclusion Act of 1904 ( immigration to the US by Chinese
forbidden)
The Revolutionary Alliance made 6 more abortive ( failed) attempts. Only
in 1910 did they make a more determined effort to subvert the army.
Huang Xing made contact with the New Army in Guangzhou.
Hubei province had its own record of revolutionary activities and some of
these involved the soldiers of the New Army.
From 1908 onwards, serious attempts were made to organize and
revolutionary movement in the armed forces.
By 1910 the Revolutionary Alliance was split by internal differences and
the Qing Government had persuaded foreign governments to restrict its
activities
From 1911 a group of army revolutionaries called the Literary Institute
began to operate out of the Russian Concession in Hankou. It had a loosed
connection of a branch of the Revolutionary alliance.
In 1910 another abortive uprising in Guangzhou. A group of the
Revolutionary Alliance decided that Hunan and Hubei revolutionaries
should depend on the New army in Wuchang to start an uprising.
The governments attempt to take over the railways in May 1911
unleashed a storm of protests especially in the Sichuan province. The
government transferred troops from Hubei to deal with the crisis.
When the bomb explosion led to the discovery of the plot to overthow
the Qing, the rebels forced the Commander of the army, Li Yuanhong to
go to the Provincial Assembly and proclaim China a Republic.
The original plan for the uprising must have been changed because of the The new republic was to be headed by Li Yuanhong who was now to be
transfer of Army unit to Sichuan.
come the Military governor and the Chairman of the Provincial Assembly
An accidental bomb explosion at Wuchang led to the discovery of the plot would become the Civilian governor. Thus it was a power sharing deal.
and the Revolution of 1911 began.
At the time of the Revolution Sun Zongshan was abroad and returned
home almost 2 months later.
The Provincial Assembly now took charge. Uprising in Hubei followed by
declarations of independence by other provinces.
In the meantime Sun got in touch with Yuan Shih Kai and offered him the
Presidency of the new Republic on condition that he abandon the Qing
Dynasty.
Yuan Shih Kai was called by the Qing to save them. He was asked by
Republican and Qing forces to assume a leadership role. He commanded
the loyalty of the former Beiyang army.
In December 1911, Sun was appointed the provisional President of the
Republic and there was a dispute over the location of the future capital
Beijing or Nanjing. Sworn in as President in Nanjing on Jan 1 1912.
Yuan Shih Kai negotiated with the Qing to secure the abdication of the
Emperor on very generous terms.
Sun Yat sen backed down in Feb 1912
Yuan Shih Kai declared himself to be committed to the Republic .
Appointed as its President five days after Sun Yat Sen stepped down and
elections for the new Republic declared month later in which the
Nationalist Party ( the Guomin Dang ) won
August 1912 the Guomindang set up from among the Revolutionary
Alliance for the forthcoming elections
Historiography
Colin Mackerras: China in Transformation
James E Sheridan: China in Disintegration
When the Wuchang uprising occurred Sun Yat Sen was in Colorado.
Rather than return home , he decided to seek international support for
the revolution , which he knew would be crucial to its success. He did not
return to China till two months later. The revolutionaries had decided on
Nanjing as the new capital. Sun Yat Sen became provisional president.
Eventually Sun Yat Sen accepted the Yuan Shih Kai had
The revolution of 1911 was nationalistic , but only in a limited sense. It
was in opposition to alien rule; Manchu rule. Furthermore it was against
anti-imperiaism rather than anti westernism . The orientation was anit
Manchu, anti imperialist and strongly provincial. There was no national
hero or leader who could become the symbol of national aspirations and
thereby stimulate nationalist feelings. Sun Yat Sen did not have the
capacity for that role, an in any event Sun was not a central figure in 1911,
except to his own United League which after all was not the major foce
behind the revolution.