United States and China the Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1684 words ( 6 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 6

When the old Manchu dynasty failed to come up with ways to thwart the invading foreigners, a new nationalism was born in China. The old pastimes and rituals (p. 214) had allowed China to become soft. This awakening nationalism - partly a rejection of "foot binding, servant-girl bondage, prostitution, gambling," and opium smoking - was stoked not just by the colonial aggression, but by a spreading literacy (educational institutions were being built, the telegraph, newspapers, magazines and railway travel) and emerging awareness of their endangered culture. The last Manchu Emperor was put out of office on February 12, 1912, and hence a political system that had endured for 2,133 years, was out of commission.

Fairbank takes great pains to cover myriad events in China that led the country from ancient dynasties to new ideas and new leadership. The new order - the Kuomintang political party - came into power in 1913 with the first national elections; but the leader of the Kuomintang, Sun Yat-sen, couldn't make progress in his bid to unite the existing warlords, and by1927, Chiang Kai-shek had put together various factions in China, and was in control.

Stuck Writing Your "United States and China The" Term Paper?

View All Our Example United States and China the Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

He launched a "New Life Movement" to give the Chinese "a new social consciousness," Fairbank writes on page 251-252. Chang Kai-shek also instituted the "cult of Confucius" and tried to revive ancient morality, proper behavior, good conduct, integrity, "and the sense of shame." When Chang Kai-shek's powers faltered and gave way to Mao's "Great Leap Forward" and his "Cultural Revolution." Fairbank notes on page 446 that the nationalist revolution (led by Sun Yat-sen) that was designed to unify China against foreign aggression, the Nanking government (Chiang Kai-sheck) attempting to modernize China (1928-1937), along with the "destructiveness of Japan's invasion (1923-1928), combined to provide the open door for "the subsequent remaking of China under the People's Republic (Mao).

Fairbank concludes his excellent book by suggesting that the future of China "is so uncertain that American efforts to understand it should be given high priority" (492). Of course this book was published several years ago, and much has happened between the U.S. And China since then, much of it positive. Still, it's worth using this book as background,….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"United States And China The" (2007, December 05) Retrieved June 27, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/united-states-china-33629

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"United States And China The" 05 December 2007. Web.27 June. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/united-states-china-33629>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"United States And China The", 05 December 2007, Accessed.27 June. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/united-states-china-33629
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example