The Republican Revolution in China broke out on October 10, 1911, at Wuchang, the Capital of Hubei Province. The leader of this revolution is Sun Yat-sen, a republican and anti-Qing activist. By the end of November 1911, 15 of the 24 Chinese Provinces declared their independence from the Qing Empire. In December, the delegations of Provincial Delegates from central and northern China declared China a Republic. On January 1, 1912, Sun Yat-sen was elected the President of the Republic of China. However, in Beijing, another leader, Yuan Shikai, grasped power and demanded the Republic of China to be united under the Beijing government ran by Yuan Shikai. To prevent the new and fragile Republic of China from civil war and possible foreign destruction, Sun Yat-sen agreed to Yuan Shikai's demand and resigned from his post. On February 12, 1912, Qing Dynasty's child emperor Puyi was officially abdicated.
Image of Sun Yat-sen (孫中山), first President ...
Yuan Shikai was an adept politician and general.
Yuan Shikai sworn in as Provisional President of t...On March 10, 1912, Yuan Shikai declared himself President of the Republic of China.
The Republican Revolution of China was both successful and unsuccessful in its attempt to make China a republic and deliver to its people democracy. It was successful in placing the mile stone that would eventually lead to the People's Republic of China, the official name of China today. Nevertheless, this process proceeded slowly, after Yuan Shikai became the President of the Republic of China in 1912, his power began to surpass the power of the parliament. He modified the constitution and became dictatorial. It was not until 1949 and after decades of continuous wars and rebellions that China finally became the People's Republic of China, the creation of a "people's democratic dictatorship".
The pattern and steps of the Republican Revolution of China was similar to that of the French Revolution. They both began with its...