First, this is the result of revolutionaries reflecting on their own revolutionary practice. From 1907 to 19 1 1, Sun Yat-sen led many uprisings in South China, but all failed, such as Zhennanguan Uprising and Huanghuagang Uprising. In particular, the failure of the Huanghuagang Uprising "sacrificed a large number of revolutionary elites and once disheartened a few revolutionary leaders" (Geng: the rights recovery movement, the constitutional movement and the Revolution of 1911). Later, the revolutionaries made a serious summary and reflection on the strategy of South China, thinking about new uprising sites. Song, Chen, Chen and others set up the Central Committee of the League in Shanghai and instigated the uprising in the Yangtze River valley. The advantages of Hubei made the revolutionaries finally choose Wuchang.
Second, this is determined by the economic conditions in Hubei. According to the Tianjin Treaty, Hankou opened for trade in 1862, and gradually became the largest export trade port in the mainland. Especially 1889, after Zhang Zhidong became the governor of Huguang, he set up a large number of modern industrial enterprises, such as Hubei Gun Factory, the first professional arsenal in China, with the most equipment for domestic military enterprises; Hanyang Iron Works is the first modern steel enterprise in China, and its scale is second to none in Asia. On the one hand, these economic changes can provide reliable material guarantee for the revolutionary army, on the other hand, they also lead to changes in social thoughts and so on.
Third, it was determined by the social and political conditions in Hubei at that time. In order to meet the demand of modern military and civilian enterprises for talents, Zhang Zhidong founded 28 new schools in Wuchang, from 1890 to 1907, and sent three groups of international students to study in Japan. Hubei's education reform is in the forefront of the country. These new talents are active in thinking, easy to accept new ideas and have a revolutionary tendency. They set up revolutionary groups, such as science cram schools, daily bulletins and * * * meetings; Revolutionary newspapers and periodicals, such as Hubei Student Association (later renamed han sheng), National Newspaper, Dajiang Newspaper, etc. Expose the dark side of society, vigorously publicize the idea of democratic revolution, advocate revolution and make ideological preparations for launching revolution.
Fourth, Wuchang's geographical advantage is favored by revolutionaries. Wuchang city has no pass or fortress as a barrier, so it is easy to capture. Taiping Army once took Sanke Wuchang as an example. In addition, Wuchang is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, with developed land and water transportation, and is known as the thoroughfare of nine provinces. Once the revolution is successful, we can make use of the geographical center to exert a powerful radiation effect and influence the whole country. Before the Wuchang Uprising, Huang Xing once said: "With Wuchang as the center, Hunan and Guangdong as the stamina, and Ningxia, Anhui, Shaanxi and Shu responding to the containment at the same time, it is not difficult to make a big deal in one fell swoop." After the Wuchang Uprising, the provinces responded in succession, and the rule of the Qing Dynasty collapsed instantly, which fully confirmed this point.
At that time, the balance of power in Wuhan was beneficial to the revolution. Wuhan is located in the mainland and opened late. Compared with Shanghai, Guangzhou and other coastal cities, the economic and military strength of foreign capitalism is relatively weak. Hubei revolutionaries have been doing propaganda, mobilization and organization work for a long time in the new army, which was originally used to maintain the rule of the Qing Dynasty and evolved into grave diggers in the Qing Dynasty. The personnel of Hubei New Army participating in revolutionary organizations accounted for 1/3 of its total number, and the revolutionary forces were relatively concentrated and powerful, which was a favorable situation that was not available elsewhere at that time. In addition, Wuhan was the second largest city in China at that time, and it was also a center of reactionary rule in Qing Dynasty. The contradiction between revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries is very sharp. These favorable factors, together with the external Sichuan Road Protection Movement, accelerated the outbreak of Wuchang Uprising.