Speaking of the Qing Dynasty, everyone should know that the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong were the most prosperous periods in the Qing Dynasty. After all, there have been "prosperous times". In this case, the development of the Qing Dynasty rose sharply. So when did the Qing Dynasty turn from strong to weak?
1. When did the Qing Dynasty turn from strong to weak?
In the late Qianlong period, because the social crisis was not eradicated and social changes were not carried out, the backward production relations determined that the productivity level was not improved, and the national strength of the Qing Dynasty began to decline from the late Qianlong period, and the prosperity of Kanggan came to an end. As a feudal society, the Qing Empire, although it created brilliance and was worthy of the title of a big country, was still dominated by the feudal small-scale peasant economy due to the constraints of social form, and its industry was basically zero. Not only has there been no change and progress in army building, but also because the children of the Eight Banners are arrogant and extravagant, the scenery in front of their predecessors can not be reproduced, and the equipment of the army is even less than that of Britain.
At this time, Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Russia and other European countries all benefited from the industrial revolution and the modern military revolution. The army has a complete set of marching, horseback riding, engineering, artillery and modern tactical arms. The application of steam engine technology to warships made it powerful, and the coastal areas of the Qing Dynasty were in jeopardy. Napoleon, who worked a few years later, took the firepower art of artillery and the power of coordinated operations of various services and arms to the extreme. At this time, the Qing dynasty could not keep up with the pace of Europe. European countries, led by Britain, had despised China in those years, especially the huge trade deficit from the Qing Dynasty, which was unbearable.
Sure enough, more than 40 years after Qianlong's death, the European powers headed by the British Empire changed the trade deficit by importing opium from China, plundered a lot of wealth and provoked the Opium War. Not much to say after the Opium War. In a nutshell, it is the Qing Dynasty's loss of power, humiliation of the country and land.
Second, the reasons for the demise of the Qing Dynasty
First, the military and political collapse. Manchu was played on horseback. If agriculture is the foundation of the empire, then the military is the guarantee of the empire. The Eight Banners and the green camp system were eliminated in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, and the local military forces (Yong Ying) controlled by the Han landlord class began to rise. At first, Zeng Guofan's Xiang Army, the left Chu Army, and then Li Hongzhang's Huai Army (the predecessor of Beiyang). During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, local warlordization gradually began, and the direct consequence of local warlordization was that local governors began to control real power-financial power and military power.
Second, the demise of the Qing Dynasty was actually a gradual process, not a sudden one. This should start with the decline of jiadao economy, which is a direct representation of social and economic forms. It has been pointed out that "over-intensive" agriculture leads to low productivity and loss of economic activities. In this process, the intervention of western forces, the Opium War and a series of conflicts between China and the West, and the signing of unequal treaties have increased the degree of being stretched. Moreover, the structural change within society is also a problem that cannot be ignored. The decline of the Eight Banners, the re-emergence of the local gentry class, the changes in the relationship between Manchu and Han, etc., destroyed the body of the empire. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the Boxer Rebellion and the people's resistance swarmed in, which also dragged down the effect of improving practice.
Third, driven by the environment. After the death of Empress Dowager Cixi, Regent Zai Feng cracked down on Yuan Shikai, in fact, in order to suppress the powerful people in the Han area and play the role of re-centralization. However, in the political environment of the world democratic revolution at that time, coupled with the abolition of the imperial examination, the introduction of new education and new economic model, and the reality that China was reduced to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, the royal cabinet organized by these dandies had the delusion of regaining local power and concentrating it in the hands of the central and Manchu governments, which was a complete misjudgment of the situation.
There are various historical reasons for the demise of the Manchu dynasty. The above are the most important. Looking back on this history is not to feel ashamed again, but to learn from history and benefit our country and society. The national humiliation of the Manchu dynasty is not only a disgrace to the Manchu dynasty, but also to the people of China. Today, how can we wash away the shame in the history of snow? Only prosperity. Remember history and national humiliation.
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