chapter 19 and documents

The failure of conservative modernization
Chinese authorities were not passive in the face of their countries mounting crises, both internal and external. Known as self strengthening their policies during the 1860s and 1870s to a traditional china while borrowing cautiously from the west. An overhauled examination system designed to recruit qualifies candidates for official positions sought the good men who could cope with the massive reconstruction that china faced i the wake of the taiping rebellion. Support for landlords and the repair of dikes and irrigation helped restore rural social and economics order. A few industrial factories producing textiles and steel were established coal mines were expanded and telegraph system was initiated. One Chinese general in the 1863 confessed his humiliation that the "Chinese weapons are far inferior to those of foreign counties". A number of modern arsenals, shippers and foreign language schools sought to remedy this deficiency.

The general failures of self strengthening became apparent at the end of the century when an anti foreign movement known as the boxer uprising erupted in the northern china.  It was led by militia organizations calling themselves the society of fighters and harmonious fists the boxers killed numerous europeans and Chinese christians and laid siege to the foreign embassies in Beijing.
The growing numbers of educated Chinese including many official elite positions became highly disillusioned with the Qing dynasty which was both foreign and ineffective in protecting china. By the late 1890s such people were organizing a variety of clubs study groups and newspapers to examine chinas desperate situation and to explore alternative paths. The names of these organizations reflect their outlook the national rejuvenation study society, society to protect the nation, and understand the national shame society. They believed that a truly unified nation in which rulers and ruled were closely related could dave china from dismemberment at the hands of foreign imperialists.

The sick man of Europe
In 1750 the Ottoman Empire was still the central political fixture of a widespread islamic world. From its Turkish heartland in Anatolia it ruled over much of the Arab world, from which Islam had come. It protected pilgrims on their way to Mecca governed Egypt and coastal North Africa, and incorporated millions of christians in the Balkans. The Ottoman Empires own domains shrank considerably at the hands of Russia British, and the French. In 1798 napoleons invasions of Egypt which had long been a province of the Ottoman Empire was early stunning blow.

Edict on Education
Our scholars are now without solid and practical education our artisan are without scientific instructors when compared with other countries. We soon see hoe weak we are. Does anyone think that our troops are as well drilled or as well led as those of the foreign armies? Or that we can successfully stand against them? Changes must be made to accord with the necessities of the time. Keeping in mind the morals of the sages and wise men we must them the basis on which to build newer and better structures.