Asian Blog

Changes that occurred in China during the 19th century 

On 19th century China was very weak, even he suffer the humiliation by Britain in the Opium War and was defeated by the western nations during the Boxer rebellion. Also in that century china had poor leadership that lead to the fact that chine became weaker and fell behind the technology race. Even after the lost of Opium War they didn’t realize how bad the situation was thanks to politics and awful empress.

By the 19th century, in west china the district magistrates in the lowest part of bureaucracy in china where the ones that controlled the wealth, taxes of 250,000 persons in china. This caused that the power and control of government changed into the hands of local leaders that had their allegiances to their families and localities instead of giving power to the state. In the 19th century the first modern democracy in china was made by Liang Qichao. He made and participate into different rebellion in the quing dynasty.

The government in the 19th century neglected public works and the military, and the rebellion, lawlessness, and foreign exploitation continued to plague the Qing regime until the Revolution of 1911, this ended China's imperial tradition. Also the demands of occidental powers and all the devastation thanks to the rebellions that coincided with different social crisis that make different challenges to China’s government and people. 

Changes in India during the 19th century

Britain was in presence in India began as a commercial enterprise, this was since the 1600s, but as time went one the power that Britain had over India became stronger, and it became a total control over India, it was until 1857 (Mid of the 19th century) that India decided to fight against Britain, Indian soldiers revolted against British rule, Indians from different social classes joined this rebellion. Although they were 230,000 from the Indian side, they were defeated since the British had a better weaponry and organization. This rebellion was ended one year later and it lead to the direct control of the administration of India, establishing the India Office and a secretary of state for India in London, and appointing a viceroy and provincial governors to govern in India itself. 

During the second half of the 19th century the amount of India's territory under either direct or indirect British control grew as officials signed treaties with local princes. The land was considered own by Britain, but the Indian princes could still rule them, some of them became really rich, but if they did something bad the British officers will remove this territories from them.

During the colonial ruling, India had a more efficient government, a school system based on English language for upper class Indians, military and government service. Built roads, railroad network, canal, schools. Improved healthcare and sanitation.

It was wasn’t till 1885 that the Indian National Congress formed and wanted to be involved in the governments processes, therefore they were searching for more democracy in the country. 

In the economical aspect, Britain focus a lot in the plantations in India, they mainly cultivated cotton and tea for export, although they cultivated a lot of goods, most of them where export, so Indian suffered of several famines in the 19th century. Event thought Britain improved the economy of India this mostly affected the higher classes, and the lower ones were starving and working a lot.

The British people didn’t respected the culture of India, they defiled the Taj Mahal, they took advantage and felt superior than the Indians, all these made the spirit of nationalism wake up, lead to rebellions and unconformity between the Indian people

Pink: British India
Yellow: Hindu States
Green: Muslim States
And Main Road

Japan changes in government, politics & economy during the 19th century

Talking about the government, Japan began the 19th century with a feudal military government called the Tokugawa Shogunate, the heads of the government were the shoguns. Later on the samurais defeated the shogun’s army, thanks to the Meiji in power, the government was modernised into a centralised imperial government with limited parliamentary rule.

Democracy: The Tokugawa Shogun was a bureaucracy, meaning that the governors where non-elected, it all changed with the Meiji in control in 1871, they began a lot of reforms, this would be known as the Meiji restoration. In this restoration feudalism was abolished and political power was centralised, leading to a more democratic nation, choosing a Prime Minister, and creating a constitution.

Economic system: Japan’s economics were limited because of the isolation policy, but they were good in areas like agriculture and fishing, they had large profits to be made from trading goods. The industrial revolution had an impact in Japan, agricultural taxes were replaces by industrial taxes & they created a land reform were peasants give ownership of land. Japan also had problem with the industrialisation, they had very limited natural resources and depended on foreign coal and  steel, this led them to end the imperial nation.

Beato, F. (1877). Image shows a trio of fierce Samurai fighters. [image] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3092617/Courtesans-samurai-tender-family-scenes-Stunning-colour-photos-Edo-era-Japan-dating-1863-display.html [Accessed 1 Nov. 2015].

References

Qing China's Internal Crisis: Land Shortage, Famine, Rural Poverty | Asia for Educators | Columbia University. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1750_demographic.htm 

Introduction to China's Modern History | Asia for Educators | Columbia University. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_modern_timeline.htm 

Why was China so weak during the 19th century and early 20th century that they were humiliated so badly by the British during the Opium War and defeated so thoroughly by the Western nations during the Boxer Rebellion?Frequently asked in. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from https://www.quora.com/Why-was-China-so-weak-during-the-19th-century-and-early-20th-century-that-they-were-humiliated-so-badly-by-the-British-during-the-Opium-War-and-defeated-so-thoroughly-by-the-Western-nations-during-the-Boxer-Rebellion 

DEMOCRACY. (2014, February 19). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.economist.com/news/essays/21596796-democracy-was-most-successful-political-idea-20th-century-why-has-it-run-trouble-and-what-can-be-do

Rita Kennedy. (2013). British Influence in India During the 19th Century.  de Synonym Sitio web: http://classroom.synonym.com/british-influence-india-during-19th-century-9012.html

Japan in the 19th century. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.historyhaven.com/APWH/unit 4/Japan in the 19th century.htm

Election Central . (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://www.crf-usa.org/election-central/bringing-democracy-to-japan.html

 

Iformation was also retrieved from PowerPoint presentation session 48 and 49.