Reasons for the failure of the Late Qing Reform

• Lack of capable leaders

  • During the Late Qing Reform, most of the experienced intellectuals and senior officials who were supportive of modernization were either sentenced to death, like Tan Sitong, or removed from office, or had simply passed away, like Li Hongzhang.
  • There were no capable leaders to lead the Reform.
• Insincere reforms

  • Cixi only aimed to consolidate the Manchu rule and undermined the influence of Han Chinese officials.
  • The insincere reforms disappointed many intellectuals.
  • Although the Qing government set up 11 new ministries to replace the Six Boards, it was only a measure of old wine in new bottles.
  • The composition of officials and the way they worked were more or less the same.
  • The Outline of Constitution granted the emperor with supreme power.
  • For example, the emperor controlled administrative, legislative and military power.
• The intellectuals were disappointed with the long period of preparation for constitutional changes and considered constitutional reforms only as an instrument used by the Manchus to centralize political power
• Members in the Cabinet carrying out constitutional reform

  • 7 out of 13 members were Manchu nobles
  • The Cabinet was also known as the Royal Cabinet
• Seats in the Cabinet

  • Han Chinese were given 4 seats
• Such an arrangement reflected the insincerity of the Manchus in sharing power with the Han Chinese
• Only 0.4% of the population could vote in the elections for the provincial assemblies
• Half of the members of the National Assembly were appointed by the Qing government
• The provincial assemblies and the National Assembly only had consultative functions
• The Late Qing Reform only aimed at prolonging the Qing rule instead of establishing a democratic system
• Lack of funds

  • The huge repayments and foreign debts resulted from the Eight-Power Expedition had almost drained the government of its financial resources.
  • Corruption was widespread.
  • The lack of funds hindered the progress of the Reform.
• Lack of public support

  • The failure of the Late Qing Reform was due to the lack of public support.
  • Revolutionaries such as Sun Yat-sen did not support the Late Qing Reform due to the failure of the previous Hundred Days’ Reform.
  • They favored the complete overthrow of the Manchu monarchy and the establishment of republican system.
  • Moreover, the Royal Cabinet consisting 7 members of the Manchu Royal family disappointed the constitutionalists.
  • They turned their sympathy towards the revolutionaries.