POLI 422 Chapter 2: The Republican Era
15 Jan 2012
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Document Summary
The breakdown of the qing was fundamental, and had a cataclysmic effect on. Country quickly dissolved into regional warlordism, who, for the most part, were determined only to enrich themselves. Rampant taxation impoverished the countryside, and forced many poor peasant youths to join the warlord"s armies. Foreigners also became involved as various warlords competed to obtain the best foreign weaponry. While intellectuals debated over the direction of the country, the concerns of most. Chinese were turned toward surviving the ravagings of the various warlord armies. Intellectuals championed two main concepts: science and democracy. Wwi tarnished the allure of western civilization, and although beijing hoped to reap the rewards of wilson"s self-determination, this hope was shattered when. German concessions in shandong was given to japan instead of being returned to. China, due to a secret agreement japan signed with western allies. This betrayal lead to the may fourth incident.
