fwo_809637 - CHINE - RÉPUBLIQUE DE CHINE 1 Dollar Sun Yat-Sen an 23 (1934)

CHINA - REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(1912-1949)

Frustrated by the resistance of the imperial court to the reforms, young civil servants, officers and students, inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Sun Yat-sen began to consider the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in favor of a Republic. The Wuchang uprising on October 10, 1911 in Wuhan led to the abdication of the last emperor, Puyi. A provisional government was formed in Nanjing on March 12, 1912, chaired by Sun Yat-sen. Sun must cede power to General Yuan Shikai, commander of the army. Within a few years, Yuan Shikai abolished the national and provincial assemblies. Republican leaders must go into exile. Sun then takes refuge in Japan. Yuan Shikai proclaims himself emperor but is forced to resign. When he died in 1916, the Republican government broke down. An era of "warlordism" begins during which China is ravaged by the struggles between shifting coalitions of provincial military leaders.