Why did the Hundred Days of Reform fail during the Qing Dynasty? (2 points)
A. • the defeat of China during the first Sino-Japanese War
B. • opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power
C. • opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers
D. • the inability of Chinese citizens to communicate with each other due to different dialects
B. • opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power
C. • opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers
The Hundred Days of Reform failed during the Qing Dynasty primarily due to B. opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power and C. opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers. These factors hindered the implementation and consolidation of the proposed reforms, subsequently contributing to the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform.
To understand why the Hundred Days of Reform failed during the Qing Dynasty, we can analyze each of the options given and see which ones contributed to its failure.
A. The defeat of China during the first Sino-Japanese War: While military defeats can weaken a government's position and influence its ability to implement reforms, the Hundred Days of Reform actually took place before the war in 1898. So this option is not directly related to the failure of the reforms.
B. Opposition by conservative political elites who saw the reforms as a threat to their power: This is one of the key factors that led to the failure of the reforms. The conservative political elites in the Qing Dynasty, including high-ranking officials and traditionalist scholars, felt threatened by the proposed reforms. They viewed the reforms as a challenge to their authority and privileges, and actively worked against their implementation. Their opposition and resistance played a significant role in undermining the reform efforts.
C. Opposition by Emperor Guangxu leading to the persecution of liberal reformers: Emperor Guangxu, who initiated the Hundred Days of Reform, faced opposition to his own authority within the court. As a result, he was easily influenced by conservative forces and eventually rescinded the reform measures. His decision to side with the conservatives and abandon the reformers led to the persecution and imprisonment of many liberal-minded officials and intellectuals who were advocating for change.
D. The inability of Chinese citizens to communicate with each other due to different dialects: While linguistic diversity and communication barriers existed in China, they were not the primary obstacle that caused the failure of the Hundred Days of Reform. The main challenges were the political opposition and the lack of support from key figures in power.
Based on the analysis, options B and C are the most accurate in explaining why the Hundred Days of Reform failed during the Qing Dynasty. Opposition from conservative political elites and Emperor Guangxu's shift in support led to the downfall of the reform movement.