Legalism was used by the Qin dynasty to unify China as it employed a strict set of laws to govern society and create a centralized state; two policies that contributed to their rise to power were the implementation of a standardized system of weights, measurements, and writing, and the adoption of a merit-based bureaucracy.
The Qin dynasty used Legalism as a governing philosophy to enforce strict laws, centralize power, and maintain social order, effectively unifying China. Two Legalist policies that helped the Qin gain power were the implementation of a centralized bureaucratic system and the practice of harsh punishments for lawbreakers.
