China- Breakdown of control 1912-1924
There were many reasons as to why why control of the government in Beijing over the provinces of China broke down in the years between 1912 and 1926. Amongst these are Yuan Shikai’s usurping of the government, his weaknesses, involvement of foreign countries in the affairs of China, the rise of warlords and their divided ideologies and the May Fourth Movement. All these collectively played a huge role in undermining the strength of the government in Beijing and making China a divided and unstable nation.
Yuan Shikai betrayed the revolution and contributed greatly to the breakdown of power in Beijing as it meant that a single person who wanted to become the ultimate authority (king-like) denied everything that the revolution had stood for. Yuan Shikai began to outstrip the power of parliament. He revised the constitution at will and became dictatorial. In August 1912 a new political party was founded by Song Jiaoren, the Guomindang, (the Nationalist Party), was an amalgamation of small political groups, including Sun's Tongmeng Hui . In the national elections held in February 1913 for the new bicameral parliament, Song campaigned against the Yuan administration, and his party won a majority of seats. Yuan had Song assassinated in March, after he had already arranged the assassination of several pro-revolutionist generals. Animosity toward Yuan grew. In the summer of 1913 seven southern provinces rebelled against Yuan.
In November Yuan Shikai, legally president, ordered the Guomindang dissolved and its members removed from parliament. Within a few months, he suspended parliament and the provincial assemblies and forced the promulgation of a new constitution, which, in effect, made him president for life. Yuan's ambitions still were not satisfied, and, by the end of 1915, it was announced that he would reestablish the monarchy. Widespread rebellions ensued, and numerous provinces declared independence.
Yuan Shikai had a number of weaknesses, which led to
Yuan Shikai betrayed the revolution and contributed greatly to the breakdown of power in Beijing as it meant that a single person who wanted to become the ultimate authority (king-like) denied everything that the revolution had stood for. Yuan Shikai began to outstrip the power of parliament. He revised the constitution at will and became dictatorial. In August 1912 a new political party was founded by Song Jiaoren, the Guomindang, (the Nationalist Party), was an amalgamation of small political groups, including Sun's Tongmeng Hui . In the national elections held in February 1913 for the new bicameral parliament, Song campaigned against the Yuan administration, and his party won a majority of seats. Yuan had Song assassinated in March, after he had already arranged the assassination of several pro-revolutionist generals. Animosity toward Yuan grew. In the summer of 1913 seven southern provinces rebelled against Yuan.
In November Yuan Shikai, legally president, ordered the Guomindang dissolved and its members removed from parliament. Within a few months, he suspended parliament and the provincial assemblies and forced the promulgation of a new constitution, which, in effect, made him president for life. Yuan's ambitions still were not satisfied, and, by the end of 1915, it was announced that he would reestablish the monarchy. Widespread rebellions ensued, and numerous provinces declared independence.
Yuan Shikai had a number of weaknesses, which led to