1. Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901):
- The Boxer Rebellion was a nationalist movement against foreign influence in China. To quell the rebellion, the Qing government formed alliances with foreign powers, leading to the Eight-Nation Alliance invading China and capturing Beijing.
- The aftermath of the rebellion led to the signing of the Boxer Protocol, which imposed heavy financial reparations and increased foreign control over China.
2. Xinhai Revolution (1911-1912):
- The Xinhai Revolution was a civil war that overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. It was sparked by internal divisions within the Qing government, corruption, and growing resentment against foreign influence.
- Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the Kuomintang (KMT), played a crucial role in the revolution. After the success of the revolution, he became the first president of the Republic of China.
3. Warlord Era (1912-1928):
- The Warlord Era was a period of political fragmentation and civil wars in China following the Xinhai Revolution. Various regional warlords controlled different parts of the country, leading to political instability and economic stagnation.
- China during this period was also marked by foreign intrusions, including Japan's Twenty-One Demands in 1915, which further weakened China's sovereignty.
4. Chinese Nationalist Movement:
- In response to foreign invasions and internal divisions, the Chinese Nationalist Movement emerged, led by the Kuomintang (KMT) under Chiang Kai-shek.
- The KMT sought to unify China, abolish unequal treaties with foreign powers, and modernize the country.
5. Northern Expedition (1926-1928):
- The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by the KMT to unify China and defeat the warlords.
- The expedition was successful, and by 1928, the KMT had established control over most of China, leading to the reunification of the country under the Nationalist government.
6. Nanjing Decade (1928-1937):
- During the Nanjing Decade, the KMT government focused on nation-building efforts, such as infrastructure development, education reforms, and economic modernization.
- However, China continued to face challenges, including internal conflicts with the Communist Party of China (CPC) and increasing Japanese aggression.
7. Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945):
- The Second Sino-Japanese War was a major conflict between China and Japan.
- The war devastated China, resulting in millions of casualties and immense economic damage.
- The war ended in 1945, after the defeat of Japan, but the country was left deeply scarred and divided.
In summary, China's response to internal divisions and foreign invasions during the early 1900s was marked by political revolutions, civil wars, nationalist movements, and conflicts with foreign powers. China's efforts to cope with these challenges laid the foundation for eventual reunification and the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.