Why did the Hundred Days of Reform fail during the Qing Dynasty?(1 point)
the inability of Chinese citizens to communicate with each other due to different dialects
opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power
the defeat of China during the first Sino-Japanese War
opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers
opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power
The Hundred Days of Reform failed during the Qing Dynasty primarily due to opposition by conservative political elites who viewed the reforms as a threat to their power. This opposition hindered the implementation of progressive measures and limited the chances for successful reform. Emperor Guangxu, who initially supported the reforms, later succumbed to conservative pressure and turned against the reformers, leading to their persecution. The defeat of China in the first Sino-Japanese War also weakened the reform movement and further solidified opposition to change. While the different dialects spoken by Chinese citizens may have posed communication challenges, it was not the primary reason for the failure of the reforms.
The Hundred Days of Reform refers to a period of political and cultural reforms that took place in China during the late Qing Dynasty in 1898. These reforms were introduced by a group of progressive officials and reformers, and aimed to modernize China and address the country's economic, political, and social challenges. However, the Hundred Days of Reform ultimately failed due to a combination of factors.
One factor that contributed to the failure was the opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power. These elites, known as the "Old Guard," held influential positions in the government and strongly resisted any attempts to change the traditional Chinese political and social order. They feared that the reforms would undermine their privileged status and potentially lead to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty.
Another factor was the opposition by Emperor Guangxu, who initially endorsed the reforms but later withdrew his support. Emperor Guangxu was under the influence of conservative advisors who convinced him that the reforms would weaken his own authority and endanger the monarchy. As a result, he reversed many of the reform measures and even persecuted the liberal reformers, leading to a suppression of the reform movement.
Furthermore, the defeat in the first Sino-Japanese War in 1895 also played a role in the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform. The war highlighted the weaknesses of the Qing Dynasty and its inability to defend against foreign aggression. The loss led to a resurgence of conservative sentiment and further undermined support for the reforms.
While the inability of Chinese citizens to communicate with each other due to different dialects may have posed a challenge, it was not a primary reason for the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform. The other factors mentioned, such as the opposition by political elites, the withdrawal of support by Emperor Guangxu, and the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War, had greater influence in the failure of the reform movement during the Qing Dynasty.