Fennema_E-Portfolio

Century of Humiliation (1839-1949)

During this century, China was humiliated by Western nations (Britain, France, Germany, Russia) and Japan. Before 1839, China was once perceived as one of the most respected nations in the world. Once these countries subjugated China by forcing them to open up trade, sign unequal treaties, and imperialize the nation, it is very apparent how traumatizing this century is for the government and its citizens. The West disrespected China's moral philosophy once the British began maliciously selling drugs to the Chinese people for silver and ended with Japan racially maltreating civilians in an attempt to imperialize the nation. The people suffered and could not recover from what happened; therefore a brave peasant leader was needed to bring China back to its original state of respect. That person was Mao Zedong (Cucchisi, 2002).