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The term '''Republic of China''' refers to an era of Chinese history that extended from 1912 until 1949. It was preceded by the [[Qing Dynasty|Qing dynasty]] and followed by the [[People's Republic of China|People's Republic]].

The term '''Republic of China''' refers to an era of Chinese history that extended from 1912 until 1949. It was preceded by the [[Qing dynasty]] and followed by the [[People's Republic of China|People's Republic]].

Chinese soldiers in Wuhan mutinied in October 1911. In a panic, the regent recalled [[Yuan Shikai]], who was supported by the army leaders. On January 1, 1912, a republic was proclaimed in Nanjing with [[Sun Yat-sen]] as president. Sun negotiated with Yuan, who was still premier in Beijing. In March, Yuan and Sun agreed to end the dynasty. Sun resigned as president in favor of Yuan.

Chinese soldiers in Wuhan mutinied in October 1911. In a panic, the regent recalled [[Yuan Shikai]], who was supported by the army leaders. On January 1, 1912, a republic was proclaimed in Nanjing with [[Sun Yat-sen]] as president. Sun negotiated with Yuan, who was still premier in Beijing. In March, Yuan and Sun agreed to end the dynasty. Sun resigned as president in favor of Yuan.

Sun's faction merged with several other groups to form the Nationalist Party, or KMT. Nationalist ideology is based on Sun's "Three Principles of the People" (nationalism, democracy, and the livelihood of the people). The party gained a majority in the 1913 parliamentary elections. Backed by the army, Yuan assassinated parliamentary leader Song Jiaoren, dissolved the Nationalist Party, and ruled as a dictator. In 1915, Japan's Twenty-One demands aroused much public opposition. Yuan eventually accepted thirteen of these demands. Yuan proclaimed himself emperor in 1915. Yuan had reorganized the Chinese military for the Qing Empire, so many of the army leaders felt they owed their positions to him. But few looked forward to serving his playboy son, who was heir apparent in Yuan's empire. Faced with nearly unanimous opposition, Yuan renounced his imperial pretensions after only a few months.  

Sun's faction merged with several other groups to form the Nationalist Party, or KMT. Nationalist ideology is based on Sun's "Three Principles of the People" (nationalism, democracy, and the livelihood of the people). The party gained a majority in the 1913 parliamentary elections. Backed by the army, Yuan assassinated parliamentary leader Song Jiaoren, dissolved the Nationalist Party, and ruled as a dictator. In 1915, Japan's Twenty-One demands aroused much public opposition. Yuan eventually accepted thirteen of these demands. Yuan proclaimed himself emperor in 1915. Yuan had reorganized the Chinese military for the Qing Empire, so many of the army leaders felt they owed their positions to him. But few looked forward to serving his playboy son, who was heir apparent in Yuan's empire. Faced with nearly unanimous opposition, Yuan renounced his imperial pretensions after only a few months.  

After Yuan died in 1916, central government weakened. By 1919, the "Beiyang clique" that had supported Yuan had devolved into three rival factions: Anhui, Zhili, and Fengtian. Cao Kun, head of the Zhili clique, gained the presidency in 1923 by paying out bribes of 5,000 silver dollars each to members of the National Assembly. The Japanese backed Zhang Zuolin, leader of the Fengtian clique, warlord of Manchuria, and a Qing loyalist. In 1926, he gained control of Beijing, the seat of China's internationally recognized government. Beijing received revenue from the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, which had an international administration. But Manchuria was overtaxed to support Zhang's adventurism, and the revenue was not enough to prevent an economic collapse in 1927–1928.

After Yuan died in 1916, central government weakened. By 1919, the "Beiyang clique" that had supported Yuan had devolved into three rival factions: Anhui, Zhili, and Fengtian. Cao Kun, head of the Zhili clique, gained the presidency in 1923 by paying out bribes of 5,000 silver dollars each to members of the National Assembly. The Japanese backed Zhang Zuolin, leader of the Fengtian clique, warlord of Manchuria, and a Qing loyalist. In 1926, he gained control of Beijing, the seat of China's internationally recognized government. Beijing received revenue from the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, which had an international administration. But Manchuria was overtaxed to support Zhang's adventurism, and the revenue was not enough to prevent an economic collapse in 1927–1928.

China in the 1920s was much more than squalid tales of greed, corruption, and betrayal among the militarists in Beijing. This was also the “high modern” period when all things modern and “scientific” were revered. Writers such as Lu Xun abandoned Classical Chinese, a style based on the works of Confucius and other writers of ancient times.<ref>Lu Xun's ''The True Story of Ah Q'' was published in 1921.</ref> The shift to Mandarin can be compared to the shift from Latin to vernacular that occurred earlier in Europe. There were campaigns against footbinding, concubinage, and other abusive practices toward women. Most shocking of all, the "modern girl" began to appear on Chinese streets in unbound feet and sporting a ''qípáo'' or other fashionable attire.

China in the 1920s was much more than squalid tales of greed, corruption, and betrayal among the militarists in Beijing. This was also the “high modern” period when all things modern and “scientific” were revered. Writers such as Lu Xun abandoned Classical Chinese, a style based on the works of Confucius and other writers of ancient times.<ref>Lu Xun's vernacular novel ''The True Story of Ah Q'' was published in 1921.</ref> The shift to Mandarin can be compared to the shift from Latin to vernacular that occurred earlier in Europe. There were campaigns against footbinding, concubinage, and other abusive practices toward women. Most shocking of all, the "modern girl" began to appear on Chinese streets in unbound feet and sporting a ''qípáo'' or other fashionable attire.

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Meanwhile, the Soviets were built up Sun's Nationalist Party, revived in 1917, and supplied it with money and weapons. A united front was formed with the Communists in 1923. The Whampoa Military Academy, established in 1924, trained a new generation of officers to put nation before clique. Soon after Sun's death in 1925, the party proclaimed an alternative "national government" in the southern city of Guangzhou. In the Northern Expedition of 1926-1928, [[Chiang Kai-shek]] led the Nationalists to a surprisingly easy victory over the far larger, but now bankrupt, forces of the Beiyang warlords. Furious with his failure to stop Chiang’s advance, the Japanese murdered Zhang. Chiang also purged the treacherous Communists and married Song Meiling, a Christian woman who would become greatly admired internationally as China’s first lady. The capital was moved to Nanjing in 1928. The warlords were finally brought to heel in 1930 when Chiang put down a brief but bloody revolt in central China.

Meanwhile, the Soviets were built up Sun's Nationalist Party, revived in 1917, and supplied it with money and weapons. A united front was formed with the Communists in 1923. The Whampoa Military Academy, established in 1924, trained a new generation of officers to put nation before clique. Soon after Sun's death in 1925, the party proclaimed an alternative "national government" in the southern city of Guangzhou. In the Northern Expedition of 1926-1928, [[Chiang Kai-shek]] led the Nationalists to a surprisingly easy victory over the far larger, but now bankrupt, forces of the Beiyang warlords. Furious with his failure to stop Chiang’s advance, the Japanese murdered Zhang. Chiang also purged the treacherous Communists and married Song Meiling, a Christian woman who would become greatly admired internationally as China’s first lady. The capital was moved to Nanjing in 1928. The warlords were finally brought to heel in 1930 when Chiang put down a brief but bloody revolt in central China.