Abstract
This paper investigates the underlying factors that caused the Qing Dynasty of China to survive the Taiping Rebellion yet crumbled upon the Revolution of 1911. It first examines the ideological differences between the two attempts of regime change, followed by an exploration into the extent of foreign interference in determining the outcomes of the two events. Subsequently, the author analyzes the conflict between the constitutionalists and the absolute monarchists within the Qing court during the time of the Revolution in 1911. Ultimately, this paper concludes that the Qing dynasty survived the Taiping Rebellion yet crumbled upon the Xinhai Revolution because the latter’s San-min Doctrine, also known as the “Three Principles of the People,” drew support from within the Qing regional governments as its ideology gave them hopes of preserving powers, while the Taiping Rebellion’s mob ideology achieved the contrary; on top of this, the Revolution of 1911 faced a Qing government weakened by internal conflicts over constitutional reforms, and it also successfully prevented foreign powers from intervening on behalf of the falling imperial dynasty.
Highlights
The Collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 marked one of the most consequential geopolitical changes in the contemporary history of East Asia, and historians often connect this dynasty’s crumbling to both the Taiping Rebellion in the 1850s as well as the Xinhai Revolution in 1911
Even though members of the Taiping Rebellion claimed to be champions of “God,” it was, a facade used to conceal the reality that they were merely driven by a self-serving mob ideology; it was this very ideology that doomed the rebellion to ruin as it cut off its hope to break the Qing dynasty from the inside
The Qing dynasty managed to sustain its rule after the Taiping Rebellion since the revolted people lacked a guiding ideology that would draw support from within the Qing government
Summary
The Collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 marked one of the most consequential geopolitical changes in the contemporary history of East Asia, and historians often connect this dynasty’s crumbling to both the Taiping Rebellion in the 1850s as well as the Xinhai Revolution in 1911. Led by Hong Xiuquan, this armed rebellion persisted for over 14 years, covering 18 provinces; yet the Qing Dynasty lived on. The Xinhai Revolution of 1911, within four months and fifteen days, achieved the objective that Hong Xiuquan could not attain in fourteen years: overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. It is meaningful to investigate a core question: why did the Qing Dynasty survive the Taiping Rebellion yet crumbled upon the Revolution of 1911? Differences in Ideologies Between the Taiping Rebellion and the Revolution of 1911
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
