Achievements of the 1911 Revolution

• Abolishing autocratic monarchy:

  • The 1911 Revolution succeeded in overthrowing the autocracy of the Qing Dynasty, putting an end to autocratic monarchy, which had ruled over China for more than 2000 years.
  • The first republic in China history was founded.
  • Although Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor in 1916 and Qing loyalist Zhang Xun attempted to restore Puyi as emperor in 1917, they failed to revive the monarchial system.
• Establishment of republic:

  • The 1911 Revolution led to the adoption of a new form of government, a republican government.
  • After the founding of the republic, the country no longer belonged to an emperor, but rather to the people.
• Establishment of republic:

  • The Republic of China promulgated the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China in 1912, China’s first modern constitution.
  • The Provisional Constitution provided for the separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and ensured the freedom of speech, publication, assembly, etc.
  • The rights of petition and election were also protected.
• Establishment of republic:

  • From late 1912 to early 1913, the Parliament of the Republic of China held its first election in China.
  • The Nationalist Party won the majority of seats in both houses of the parliament.
  • Although the people with voting rights only made up 10% of the population, the election was the first step towards establishing a system of constitutional democracy.
• Abolishing social evils and promoting equality:

  • The Republic of China banned infamous social customs, including foot-binding, opium-smoking and slavery.
  • The Republic of China also promoted equality.
  • Firstly, men no longer needed to keep a pigtail, the symbol of their subordination to the Manchus.
  • Secondly, the number of women's schools and the number of female students kept increasing.
  • For example, there were over 3000 women's schools and more than 100,000 female students in 1916.
  • Women's status rose.
• Abolishing social evils and promoting equality:

  • Thirdly, after the success of the Revolution, Sun promoted 'five-group harmony' by which the Han, Manchu, Mongols, Hui and Tibetan ethnicities enjoyed equal power and status to enhance national unity.
  • This idea was symbolized by the five-bar flag of the early Republic.
  • The Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China also outlined that all people were equal regardless of their ethnicity and religious beliefs.
• Influx of Western culture:

  • After the establishment of the republic, there was an influx of Western culture.
  • For instance, Western clothing became popular.
  • People started to adopt the Western calendar.
  • The handshake and the simple bow began to replace the kowtow.
• Fostering economic development:

  • In 1914, the Republic of China issued the Stock Exchange Law.
  • In 1915, the government published the Detailed Regulations for Implementation of the Stock Exchange Law.
  • After the enactment of the laws, stock exchanges were established in major Chinese cities such as Beijing in 1918.
• Fostering economic development:

  • The introduction of the financial market provided a channel for the large amount of idle money concentrated in major Chinese cities.
  • The Republic also staged the Beijing Chinese Goods Exhibition in 1915 to promote local products.