Document Analysis Worksheet IINames(s)

Use this worksheet to gather together information from all the documents that you analyze.

Name of the effort to modernize that you are analyzing: 1911 Revolution

CLOSE READING — After you finish Document Analysis Worksheet I for each document, read the document again and complete the chart below.

(1) In which document did you find the information you are recording in this row? / (2) What does this document tell you about who led this effort to modernize? (Individuals, organizations, classes, etc.) / (3) What does this document tell you about the goals of this effort to modernize? List only one goal in each row. / (4) How would you categorize this goal? (A goal may fall into more than one category.)
Doc A / Implication is that Sun Yat-sen is the leader / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / End Qing/Manchu rule / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B, C / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / Doc B: Restore the national state
Doc C: Nationalism / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B, C / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / Doc B: Create a republic (abolish the monarchy and establish equal political rights); create a constitution
Doc C: Democracy / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / Equalize land ownership / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / Eliminate government corruption / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc B / Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / End social inequities (queue, slavery, foot-binding, opium addiction) / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education
Doc C / Sun Yat-sen and the Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance) / The Principle of People’s Livelihood (economic justice) / O Political
O Government
O Military
O Economic
O Social
O Education

1. Based on the information you have recorded in Column 2 above, what can you conclude about who led this modernization effort? Sun Yat-sen and the Chinese United League (or Revolutionary Alliance). As the textbook and the Chinese study guide (“Teaching objectives of China’s modern and contemporary history basic knowledge”) suggest, Sun provided much of the theoretical and organizational leadership for the revolution. But students should understand that, unlike the Self-strengthening Movement or the 1898 Hundred Day Reforms, the 1911 Revolution was a popular movement. The Chinese United League/Revolutionary Alliance was a large network of grassroots organization within China and in overseas Chinese communities.

2. Based on the data you have recorded in Columns 3 and 4 above, summarize the goals of this modernization effort in bullet points. List the goals in the order of importance, in your opinion, based on the data.

  • Complete change of government from monarchy to democratic republic
  • Reform of land ownership and equality in economic sphere
  • Reform of social practices associated with the monarchy

3. After reading historians’ evaluation(s) of this effort at modernization and your textbook, do you think it was successful or not? Cite evidence from your sources to support your answer.

Since even Sun Yat-sen considered the revolution a failure in many respects, it’s hard to argue it was a success. However, students could argue its importance in ending the 3,000-year-old dynastic system of government.

CHINESE HISTORY THROUGH CHINESE EYES — The Struggle for Modernization: Lesson 3