Why did the Hundred Days of Reform fail during the Qing Dynasty?(1 point) Responses the inability of Chinese citizens to communicate with each other due to different dialects 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 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 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
Opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power
The Hundred Days of Reform, which took place in 1898 during the Qing Dynasty in China, ultimately failed for several reasons, including opposition by conservative political elites, the defeat of China in the first Sino-Japanese War, and opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers.
To understand why the Hundred Days of Reform failed, we need to examine each of these factors in more detail:
1. Opposition by conservative political elites: The Qing Dynasty was characterized by a conservative ruling class that resisted radical changes to the existing social and political order. These elites feared that the reforms proposed during the Hundred Days of Reform would undermine their power and privileges, leading to their active opposition against the reform efforts.
2. Defeat in the first Sino-Japanese War: The Qing Dynasty suffered a significant military defeat in the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) against Japan. This defeat exposed the weakness and backwardness of the Chinese military and further undermined the credibility of the Qing government. It also increased nationalist sentiment and contributed to a sense of frustration among Chinese intellectuals and reformers, who believed that the traditional Chinese system needed urgent modernization.
3. Opposition by Emperor Guangxu: Emperor Guangxu, who initiated the Hundred Days of Reform, initially supported the reform movement. However, he faced significant resistance from conservative officials and powerful figures within the imperial court. Ultimately, fearing for his own position and under pressure from conservative forces, Emperor Guangxu rescinded the reforms and imprisoned many of the reformers. This opposition by the emperor himself effectively stifled the reform movement.
In summary, the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform during the Qing Dynasty can be attributed to a combination of factors, including opposition by conservative political elites, the defeat in the first Sino-Japanese War, and the opposition by Emperor Guangxu. These factors collectively impeded the reform efforts, ultimately leading to the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform.