When: 1839-1842

Where: China

Who: Qing Dynasty & British Empire

What: Britain wanted to sell

Significance: 

Start of seeing the West as serious

Led to Treaty of Nanking in 1842: 1st Western Treaty

Details: 

- shift of balance: China now wants something so China uses silver for foreign goods

- Commissioner Lin Zexu: the Qing official entrusted with ending opium

- Destruction of stocks of opium in Canton by Qing authorities which resulted in British 

navy attacking, destruction of Qing navy by Nemisis

When: 1850-1864

Where: Southern China

Who: led by Hong Xiquan

What: revolution

Significance: 

glorified as a revolution by Mao in the PRC

Details: 

- took Confucian test, failed, had a nervous breakdown, believes he’s God’s Chinese son (anti- Qing/Manchu sentiment)

- tried to establish Christianity as the dominant religion

- established Kingdom of Heavenly Peace, controlled large parts of Southern China

- Qing forces (with foreign help) retake Nanjing in 1864 (20 million people died)

When: 1861 - 1895 (late Qing dynasty)

Where: China

Who: Empress Dowager Cixi led the conservative side that eventually killed it

What: Qing needs to make institutions to put China at the world standard

Significance: 

Details: 

- focused on learning the West’s techniques of manufacturing guns, ships, and scientific knowledge behind the military technology

When:  1899 - 1901

Where: China

Who: Empress Cixi eventually supported as a war on foreign powers

What: China pro-nationalist movement

Significance: 

Eight-Nation alliance brought in troops to defeat them, after, the foreign nations ‘carve’ up China

Details: 

- anti-foreign insurgence “Order of Harmonious Fists”

- anti-foreigners, get rid of everything and everybody foreign

When: 1835 - 1908 (end of Qing dynasty)

Where: China

Who: Empress Dowager Cixi

What: 

Significance: 

very anti-foreign in a time when that would only be harmful

Details: 

- spent money for navy on a stone boat, wasteful

- killed the “Hundred Days Reform”

-1900 -1910 her reforms: Re-centralize power (nationalize railroads), Re-imperialize 

power (emphasize Manchu control), too little too late, end of Qing dynasty

When: 1866 - 1925

Where: China

Who: founding father of Republican China

What: 

Significance: 

first provisional president when Republic of China was founded in 1912, and later co-founded the KMT and served as it’s first leader

Details: 

- developed political philosophy: Three People’s Principles: nationalism, democracy, people’s livelihood

- started “United League”, secret societies, recruit overseas Chinese

When: 1916-1928

Where: China

Who: 

What: when China was divided into sections controlled by different wardlords

Significance: 

China became fragmented

Period was a break in traditional dynastic cycle

Details: 

- The Warlord Era followed the death of Yuan Shikai and nominally ended in 1928, at the conclusion of the Northern Expedition with the Northeast Flag Replacement, beginning the ‘Nanjing decade’ (taken from wikipedia)

- some examples of the warlords: Zhang Zuolin (takes over most of Manchuria), Yan Xishan (Confucian trained warlord), Feng Yuxiang (converted to Christianity), and many more

When: reorganized by Sun Yat-sen and company in 1923-24

Where: 

Who: 

What: Political party founded by Sun Yat-Sen in 1912

Significance: Now the leading party on Taiwan

Details: 

-Lead by Chiang Kai-Shek after the death of Sun in 1925

-Lost the Chinese Civil War in spite of having American and Soviet backing

-Wanted to fight the Communists first, hoarded foreign aid for after the Japanese defeat

When: 1926-1928

Where: 

Who: 

What: Chiang Kai-shek led expedition to unify China

Significance: 

-"unifies China" (but significant warlord power in the North)

-establishes capital in Nanjing; ushers in Nanjing Decade (1927-37)

Details: 

-central-local or North-South conflict?

    -northerns liked the warlords, southerners did not

When: May Fourth (1919)

Where: 

Who: 

What: Protests outside of Tiananmen Gate in response to the Chinese government’s weak response of the Treaty of Versailles

Significance: Chinese government not standing up for its own. People protesting.

Details: 

students went to the streets and protested the unfairness of the decision where German territories weren’t turned over to the Chinese.  They were opposing the British, but also opposing their own government (because their own government couldn’t stand up to Britain)

When: 1887-1975

Where: 

Who: Leader of the KMT.

What: 

Significance: 

-Took over Sun Yat-sen’s political position in 1925 (when Sun died).

-He was a military leader and tried to get rid of all the communists

Details: 

-(CCP) in China during the Chinese Civil War, but was unsuccessful.

-After 1925 he was the leader of Taiwan or now the ROC.  Said that he would one day take back China, never did.

When: 1893-1976

Where: 

Who: 

What: 

Significance: led the People's Republic of China (PRC) from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976

Details: 

-implemented policies of the "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution"

-millions have been said to have died from his policies

-was a peasant from southern China

-"Socialism with Chinese characteristics"

-a lot of his ideas came from Romance of the Three Kingdoms 

"Political power comes from the barrel of a gun"

When: Founded May 1921, went mainstream across in 1949

Where: China

Who: 

What: Founding and ruling party of the PRC

Significance: Founding and ruling party of the PRC

Details: 

-- Communists (CCP) are better organized and more motivated.  

-- Peasants liked them, didn’t take land from them.  

-- Helped peasants get land from greedy landowners.

-- contest on the battlefield (Manchuria).  CCP beats KMT

-- contest for the hearts and minds of Chinese.   CCP wins

-- 1949: “China has stood up” October 1, after a century of humiliation from Japanese and others, China is back!

When: 1934-1935

Where: Started in Jiangxi province to Yenan province

Who: 

What: Communists retreating from Nationalists

Significance: Time when Mao Zedong began to assert his power on the Communist party

Details: 

--Mao Zedong started to gain popularity

When: 13 Dec 1937

Where: Nanjing China

Who: 

What: Following the capture of Nanjing by the Japanese during WWII on December 13, the Imperial troops raped and murdered thousands of Chinese civilians.

Significance: It is still controversial because Japanese scholars sometimes try to say the stories are fabricated or exaggerated, and China wants Japan to take responsibility for their actions.

Details: 

When: 1959-1962

Where: China

Who: Mao

What: attempt to collectivise agriculture and modernize China within 10 years.

Significance: 

20-40 million starved to death.

Huge failure for Mao and the communists.

Details: 

-Melted farm tools in backyard steel furnaces into pig iron, useless economically, and without the tools,   

-Followed pseduo ag science of TD Lysenko, useless.

-Four pests campaign (rats, mosquitoes, flies, sparrows) kills huge numbers, upsets the ecosystem.

When: 1966-69 (some say till Mao’s death in 76)

Where: China

Who: Mao

What: Effort to eradicate old culture, destruction of much of China’s ancient heritage.

Significance: 

Effort to eradicate old culture, destruction of much of China’s ancient heritage.

Details: 

-People also confessed against neighbors and family for not being a revolutionary.

-Intellectuals punsihed, sent out to work in the fields as peasents.  

-Millions died in the persecutions.  

-Red Guards-youths that supported the movement who beat those who were against them, in charge of punishing those who were not  perceived as revolutionaries.  

-The Gang of Four, led by Mao’s wife Jian Qing, were powerful during this time, and after Mao’s death much of the blame of the Cultural Revolution was blamed on them.

When: June 1989

Where: Tiananmen Square in Beijing?

Who: 

What: 

Mourning after death of Hu Yaobang, people wanted change.

Gorbachev brings world media to Beijing, over 100,000 protest in Tiananmen Square

Significance: 

World media brought to Beijing

Protests showed China was not in control of its people.

Details: 

-Several different agendas for protesting, such as against corruption, economic reform, anti-economic reforms, and pro democracy.

-The government responded with a brutal crackdown(famous picture with man in front of tank)

unknown number killed.

When: 1905-1997

Where: China

Who: Took power after Mao’s death in 1976

What: instituted the 4 modernizations(ag, industry, military, science and tech)

Significance: 

-most importantly remembered for the economic liberalization of China

Details: 

-doesn’t matter the color of the cat if it catches mice

-huge emphasis on making China rich.  

-Lost some popularity due to Tiananmen Square incident

-retired from power in the early 90’s. 

When: 1910-1988

Where: China

Who: Son of Chiang Kai-Shek

What: He was in charge of Taiwan’s secret police after the KMT took over the island.

Significance: 

Afterwards he was elected President of the island after his father died, but the authoritarian power of the KMT was lessened by Chiang Ching-Kuo in the later years of his presidency.

Details: 

When: 28 Feb 1947

Where: Taiwan

Who: 

What: Taiwanese protest that was brutally suppressed by KMT troops, possible 28,000 died.

Significance: Taiwanese protest that was brutally suppressed by KMT troops, possible 28,000 died.

Details: 

--occurred after the KMT had been in power for 2 years.

--Intially the KMT had been welcomed by the Taiwanese, especially after the Japanese occupation, 

--but the KMT government was plagued by corruption.  

--"The dogs have left but the pigs have arrived.” 

When: 

Where: 

Who: a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2000 to 2008

What: 

Significance: Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang (KMT) rule in Taiwan.

Details: 

Emphasized Taiwanese independence during his presidency. Signaled a “new era” in Taiwan (different party ruling, president=man actually born on Taiwan).

When: 1866

Where: Korea

Who: 

What: Against Korea's warnings, General Sherman kept sailing up the river and got stuck on a sandbar, the Korean’s attacked and burned the boat.

Significance: 

--First international contact between US and Korea.

--Lasting negative feelings towards Korean-American relations.

--This becomes a part of Korean identity - “We stood up to Americans, we still can.”

Details: 

--Apparently one of the Kims ancestors was part of the raid that burnt down the American ship.

When: March 1, 1919 (WWI)

Where: Korea

Who: 

What: The Korean people peacefully marched on the streets, it was a national mobilization, all people participated.

Significance: 

--The Japanese government brutally suppressed it, hundreds were killed and thousands were imprisoned.

--The treaty makers at Versailles did nothing.

--This movement inspired the “May Fourth” movement a month later in China

Details: 

--Was aimed at wrapping up of WWI - attempt to influence the peace talks. 

When: WWII

Where: 

Who: 

What: Japan mobilized thousands of women, most from Korea, and tricked, kidnapped, or forced them to work as sex slaves for the Japanese military.

Significance: 

--Important today because Japanese government still refuses to take responsibility for it.

--Just recently came out into the open about 10-20 years ago.

--Is a major controversy today.

Details: 

When: 1948-1960

Where: 

Who: Leader of South Korea

What: 

Significance: 

Important because during the end of his rule the April Revolution occurred (people decide to take matters into their own hands - they want normal relations or unification > after about a year the military take coup) ends Syngman’s rule. 

Details: 

--advocated for Korean independence, very anti-communist, spoke English, known as the “elderly dictator.” 

--He was NOT a fan of freedom and democracy. He wanted to “march north” and take over North Korea but the Americans wouldn’t let.

When: 1912-1994

Where: North Korea

Who: Leader of the DPRK

What: 

Significance: 

Like Syngman Rhee, he also wanted unification by force. With Stalin’s weapons and approval and China’s promise of help, he leads N. Korea into a war.

Details: 

--A “cult of personality” surrounds Kim Il Sung 

--In N. Korea known as the “Great Leader,” generalisimo, cares about the common soldier, interacted with common people

--Every N. Korean had seen him or knew someone who did. 

--Still very revered by the people today.

When: 1945

Where: Korea

Who: 

What: The dividing line between North & South Korea

Significance: The dividing line between North & South Korea

Details: 

--Neither side (U.S. and Russia) intended to create a separate state

--ended up with two elections > communists in N, Nationalists in the S.

When: 1961-1979

Where: South Korea

Who: President of South Korea from ‘61 to ‘79

What: 

Significance: He is credited with Korea’s fast economic growth in heavy industry with “export-led growth.”

Details: 

--Following the brief parliamentary rule (which came after the Syngman Rhee administration fell) Park came to power in a coup d’etat.  He led a dictatorial rule and was eventually assassinated on 26 October 1979. 

--Despite his quick rise to power that was largely supported by the people, he became unpopular as he tightened his hold in the government and gave himself more power.

--He repealed the Yusin Constitution of 1963, which limited a president to 2 terms, so he could run for a third term.  He also dissolved Parliament in 1972.  

--“Developmental Dictator,” a devout Buddhist, assassinated on 3rd know attempt, wife assassinated by North Koreans.

When: May 18th-27th, 1980(less than a year after Park’s assassination)

Where: 

Who: 

What: This Democratization movement was a citizen uprising against Chun Du-hwan’s military dictatorship.

Significance: 

--The movement is symbolic of Korea’s long struggle for democracy.  

Details: 

--The uprising was sparked by angry students reacting to the martial law that had shut the doors of Cheonnam University.  

--Chun Du-hwan’s popularity went even lower as a result of his ordering the death of citizens.

--The most famous of of the nation-wide demonstrations against the regime.

--Official reports on casualties were much lower than now estimated. 

When: 1987

Where: South Korea

Who: 

What: 

--Started with a protesting student being killed while under interrogation.

--People were furious that President Chun wanted another term under the same constitution.

Significance: 

--As a result of the uprising, Korea finally gets true democracy when General Roh Tae Woo won a direct election.

--The National Assembly of the 6th republic (still here today) formed with Roh’s Democratic Liberal party.

Details: 

--Also called the June Democracy Movement.

When: 1998

Where: South Korea

Who: 

What: President Kim Daejung’s (1998-2002)  policy to reconcile with North Korea.

Significance: Brought increase interaction between N. & S. Korea. Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.

Details: 

--Began waning after Sep. 11th 2001 because US took a harder line on the North but still the official policy until Lee Myungpak’s presidency (2008-present).  

--Criticism:  Used more for political gain than for real efforts towards unification or solving human rights issues.  North continues to misbehave and doesn’t return the South’s acts of goodwill.  

--Included: Summit meetings with North and South; Reunions of families separated by Korean war; Athletic events (olympics together); Unification festivals; Air and rail links; Mt. Gumkang tourist area; Gaeseong industrial complex.

When: Born in 1941--Russia

Where: North Korea

Who: leader of the DPRK

What: 

Significance: Leader of North Korea and is the "Supreme Leader" over just about everything. He is also the head of the worlds 4th largest standing army.

Details: 

--Began rule of NK in 1994.  

--Center of personality cult

--Nuclear campaign-1994 crisis

--80’s-90’s starvation

--Enjoys making movies

When: 1955 - First intro of Juche by Kim Il Sung

Where: North Korea

Who: 

What: "Self-reliance" - the official state ideology of North Korea.

Significance: Affected North Korean thought and policy nationally and internationally. See Details for examples.

Details: 

-Humans are masters of their fate (*not very Marxist)

-Centrality of Korea and Koreans (they're more important than everyone else)

-Avoid undue dependence on any single outside power (opposite of sadae "Serve the Great").

-Exploited Sino-Soviet Split

-Joined Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

-Juche calendar that starts from Kim Il Seong’s birth in 1912

When: 1868

Where: Japan

Who: Meiji Emperor (r. 1868-1912)

What: Widespread political and social reforms that led to the industrialization of Japan.

Significance: This industrialization and modernization led to Japan becoming a major imperial power.

Details: 

--"Prosperous nation, powerful military" *new slogan that arose

Examples of reforms:

--No more samurai (many became business men)

--Missions abroad to inspect what makes West so successful. (Iwakura Mission 1870’s)

--tax reform (peasants paying for modernizing)

--militarization

--Meiji constitution established (1890)

When: 1894-95

Where: 

Who: China & Japan

What: Fought between Qing China and Meiji Japan primarily over control of Korea. Japanese won with their more modern military.

Significance: 

--Showed the weakness of the Qing Dynasty

--Korea became independent from China

--Liaodong Peninsula and Taiwan were given to Japan after the war

Details: 

When: 1904-05

Where: 

Who: Russia & Japan

What: 

--Fought between Russia and Japan over control of Korea and Manchuria

Significance: 

--Japan was victorious, to the surprise of world observers who considered Asia “backward”

--Japan/Asia gain swagger on the world stage.

--Sakhalin and the Kurils were claimed by Japan

Details: 

--Theodore Roosevelt mediated the peace treaty, earning a Nobel Peace Prize in the process

When: from Meiji Period to end of World War II

Where: 

Who: 

What: Zaibatsu are large Japanese business conglomerates that had significant control over the Japanese economy

Significance: Many of these businesses/conglomerates are still well know and in existence today. We use many of their products here in the US.

Details: 

--Family-owned monopolies with a holding company at the top and banking and industrial subsidiaries below

--Had divisions in various industries. Examples: Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo

When: ruled 1926-1989

Where: Japan

Who: Japan’s Showa Emperor

What: 

Significance: Retained as emperor of Japan after World War II by General MacArthur

Details: 

General MacArthur thought Japanese couldn't live/function without their emperor and so he kept him around.

When: 1937-1945

Where: Japan

Who: 

What: Japan was feeling trapped by ABCD (American, British, Chinese, Dutch) Encirclement and that they are being controlled.

Significance: 

--Japan had limited numbers and so it mobilized and migrated labor (often by force)

--Tried to make conquered forces more a part of the "Japanese" mobilization by changing names to Japanese ones and mandating worship at Shinto shrines

Details: 

--Marco Polo Bridge Incident used as excuse to invade China (likely wanted to break out of the ABCD Encirclement)

When: WWII

Where: 

Who: 

What: Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers - Title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the occupation of Japan after World War II

Significance: MacArthur was viewed by many as the new Imperial force in Japan after the war (almost Shogun-style)

Details: 

When: ruled 1946-7 and 1948-54

Where: Japan

Who: Prime Minister of Japan

What: 

Significance: 

--His policies became know as the Yoshida Doctrine:

  --let U.S. handle foreign and military affairs and let Japan focus on economic recovery

Details: 

--Picked by the occupation forces for his pro-Western ideals and Western education

When: 

Where: 

Who: 

What: 

Significance: 

Details: 

When: July 1997

Where: Asia!

Who: 

What: occurred in July 1997 raising fears of economic meltdown because of currency crisis

Significance: 

-southeast Asia and Japan saw slumps in currency, devalued stock, rise in private debt

-most affected countries: indonesia, south korea, thailand. less felt by China

Details: 

-started in Thailand with collapse of Thai currency when the currency was no longer pegged to the US dollar. Had heavy foreign debt and bankruptcy

When: 19

Where: Japan

Who: 

What: 

Significance: 

Details: