Century-of-Change-China-exhibit-catalog-1911-to-2011

The Birth of a Republic
People in the early republic were optimistic that the new China could develop into a full-fledged democracy. Those
hopes seemed realized when Sun Yat-sen, accompanied by his political adviser Homer Lea, returned to Hong Kong
on December 21, 1911, and was elected provisional president of the Republic of China (ROC) by representatives of
the provisional assemblies in Nanjing. Li Yuanhong was appointed vice-president. Sun’s longtime associate, Huang
Xing, took charge as the unofficial prime minister.
In his forty-five days as president, Sun and the provisional legislators proclaimed the establishment of the ROC,
introduced a republican regime, adopted the Gregorian calendar, and replaced the imperial dragon flag with the Five
Color Flag, which consisted of five horizontal stripes in red, yellow, blue, white, and black, representing China’s
five major nationalities. Sun, however, recognizing that he had neither the experience nor the force of arms to rule
successfully, tendered his resignation on February 15, 1912. He offered the presidency to Yuan Shikai, a military
man from northern China and an experienced imperial official with some interest in reform. Sun hoped that Yuan
would use his army and power to realize the goals of the new republic.
Song Jiaoren, one of the founders of the Tong Meng Hui (United Alliance League), was instrumental in transforming
that organization into the Kuomintang (KMT). In China’s first nationwide election in 1912–13, he led the
KMT to victory. The euphoria following that victory, however, was brief. Song spoke out against the increasing
authoritarianism of President Yuan, angering Yuan, who was not about to share power with any national
parliament, particularly one run by the KMT. The ambitious Yuan then hired an assassin, who killed Song Jiaoren
on March 20, 1913, at the Shanghai train station. In 1915 Yuan declared himself the emperor of China in an effort
to reestablish the imperial system.
44 Hoover Institution
A Century of Change: China 1911–2011
民國肇建
民國肇建初始,人們普遍樂觀地認為中華民國能夠發展成為一個成熟的民主國家。 1911年12月21日,當孫中山
在其政治顧問荷馬李將軍的陪同下,從香港回到中國,並且在南京被推舉為中華民國臨時總統時,很多人是持此
種樂觀的看法。黎元洪則被任命為臨時副總統。黃興——孫中山的長期戰友,則出掌民國總理一職。
孫中山擔任臨時總統的四十五天內,新的中華民國政府採取共和政體,採用西曆、以紅、黃、藍、白、黑五色旗
取代皇龍旗成為新國旗。然而,孫中山既沒有執政經驗,也沒有足夠的武裝力量作為統治的後盾。1912年2月15
日,孫中山將總統職務讓位給袁世凱。袁世凱出身華北,是一位經驗豐富、並且對改革有一定興趣的前清政府要
員。孫中山希望袁世凱可以利用其軍隊與影響力,來實現新共和政府的各項目標。
同盟會的創始人之一宋教仁,在將同盟會整合成為國民黨的過程中,發揮了積極作用。 1912-1913年,宋教仁領
導國民黨在中國第一次舉行的全國大選中獲勝。然而國民黨勝利的果實只有曇花一現。袁世凱獨裁傾向與日俱增,
宋教仁對此公開反對,這觸怒了並不打算與國民黨所主導的國會共享權力的袁世凱。1913年3月20日,野心勃勃
的袁世凱僱用一名殺手,在上海火車站暗殺宋教仁。1915年,袁世凱復辟稱帝,帝制死灰復燃。
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