1. Describe the Canton System and discuss the causes of Sino-British conflict deriving from this commercial arrangement and other disparities.

2. Describe the Napier Mission and account for its failure.

3. Critically assess the opium issue as the cause of the Opium War of 1839-1842.

4. "The Opium War marks the beginning of modern Chinese history and it has caused far-reaching consequences on China." Discuss.

5. 'The Taiping Rebellion was the climax of a half-century of widespread social upheaval that blanketed every part of the Ch'ing Empire at a time when dynastic strength was on the decline.'Discuss the background causes of the Taiping Rebellion in the light of the above statement.

6. Critically analyse the foreigners' role in the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion.

7. "The Taiping Rebellion had important consequences for China as a whole. "Discuss.

8. Account for the underlying and immediate causes for the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Chinese War.

9. Discuss the creation of the Sino-Western Treaty System during the period 1842-1860.

10. How did China try to improve her relationship with the Western Powers in the first phase of the Self-Strengthening Movement (1860-1870)? Explain why the cooperative policy came to an end in 1870?

11. Critically analyse the accomplishments and causes of failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement in China.

12. Trace the Sino-French relations in the period 1856-1885 and explain why the two countries entered into war in 1884.

13. Analyse the impact of the Western missionary activities in China in the period 1860-1900.

14. Trace and explain the Russian expansion in East Asia between 1851 and 1905.

15. "The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 had very far-reaching consequences." Discuss.

16. Critically analyse the reasons behind British, Russian, French, and German participation in the Scramble for Concessions in China.

17. Critically analyse K'ang Yu-wei's (Kang Youwei) reformist thinking.

18. "The Hundred Days Reform of 1898 was defeated by the traditional forces of China." Comment.

19. Describe the aims and organisation of the Boxer Movement, and discuss its impact on the development of Chinese nationalism.

20. Critically examine the causes and effects of the American declaration of Open Door Policy on China.

21. "The official Manchu reforms in the first decade of the 20th century have far-reaching and unexpected consequences which worked against the original intentions of the Manchu Court. " Discuss.

22. Compare and contrast the ideas of the Constitutional Monarchists and the Revolutionaries in the period 1905-1911.

23. Critically assess Dr. Sun Yat-sen's role in the Chinese Revolution of 1911.

24. Except for Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tung Meng Hui, discuss the role of the different social groups in the 1911 Revolution.

25. How far could we call Yuan Shih-K'ai 'the Father of the Warlords'?

26. Account for the growth of modern Chinese nationalism up to 1919.

27. In what aspects could we annotate the May Fourth Movement as a new phase of the Chinese intellectual development?

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@K.C. Wong, K.K.Yuen, 1982
adapted by TK Chung