Account for the rise and growth of regionalism in the 19th century China. How
did it affect the fortunes of the Manzu court ?
Regionalism means the devaluation of political, economic and military power from
the central government to the local authorities. In the 19th century, regionalism was
very serious and it greatly affected the fortunes of the Manzu court.
To begin with, regionalism had its origin in the White Lotus Rebellion (!796-1804)
when local militia were employed to beat down the rebels because the Manzu
Bannermen and Chinese Green Standard Army had lost their vigour in fighting spirit.
Moreover, by the early 19th century, the Qing Dynasty began its dynastic decline.
The administration became inefficient. Corruption was widespread. The central and
local officials were irresponsible. There was a lack of capable Emperors and
ministers in the central government. The government troops lost martial spirit. Such
political and military degradation provided favourable background for the rise of
regionalism.
By the times of the Taiping Rebellion, the ordinary imperial troops failed to put
down the rebels. As a result, local militia were built by the provincial leaders, eg.
Zeng Guofan’s Hunan Army, Li Hongzhang’s Huai Army. These local militia were
much powerful and could suppressed the Taipings in 1864.
After 1864, there was a chance for the central government to take back the military
power. But the Nien Rebellion, the Panthay Rebellion and the Tungan Moslem
Rebellion again gave the military power to local officials to suppress these rebellions.
As a result, the central government failed to centralize the army. In contrast, the
regional power of the provincial officials was strengthened.
In the SSM, as there was a lack of central coordination, the reform programmes
were carried out in the provinces in piecemeal scale. Each provincial officials tried to
use modernization projects to strengthen his regional power. The reform projects
became their political assets. Each only carried out reform projects within their
jurisdiction. This further enhanced the trend of regionalism.
The rise of regionalism had both positive and negative effects on the Qing Dynasty.
For positive effects, the regional leaders helped the Manzus to suppress various
rebellions with their superior army.
Moreover, the provincial leaders helped to strengthen China’s army and navy in
local level. This help the Qing regime against further internal disturbances and
foreign aggression.
On the whole, the collapse of the Manzus Dynasty was delayed with the aid of
provincial officials who were still loyal to the Qing Court before 1900.
However, the negative effects outnumbered the positive ones.
Firstly, the provincial authorities retained the lijin and other taxes and not sent to
the Central Government. So, the Qing government revenue was small and lack a
stable source.
Secondly, the lack of coordination of the various local armies led to the defeats in
foreign wars. For example, in 1884, Sino-French War, the Beiyang Fleet refused to
help the Nanyang Fleet. In return, in 1894 to 1895, Sino-Japanese War, the Nanyang
Fleet refused to help the Beiyang Fleet.
Thirdly, the local authorities often did not listen the orders from the Qing court.
For example, in the Boxer Uprising (1900), the Southeast Provinces refused to obey
the imperial orders to fight with foreigners to protect foreign lives and property and
suppress the Boxers. In return, the foreigners agreed not to send troops into their
provinces. For China, as a whole, this was good because many people were saved
from foreign massacre. But for the Qing court, its power was further reduced. After
1900, these provincial leaders were not punished but praised by the Manzus.
Regionalism gained momentum.
Finally, after the 1911 Revolution, nearly all the provincial assemblies declared
independence. Yuan Shikai, with his strong regional power of the abdication of the
Manzhu Emperor. As a result, the Qing Dynasty collapsed.
In short, regionalism which arised from local suppression of various rebellions
greatly and adversely affected the fortunes of the Manzu Court. Regionalism was a
cause leading to the final collapse of the Qing government in 1911.