Unfortunately, China is now in a position where it can no longer avoid the fact that its bordering countries are not only gaining power within the country, but are also modernizing their own educational systems, technology, and military. Because China is not up-to-par in any of these national aspects, we as a Chinese people must take any measures necessary to advance our country, and therefore, whosoever should attempt to hinder these measures in any way, is a traitor in my eyes. As a loyal and proud Chinese citizen who is also in favor of all reform that can potentially benefit the development of my country, I am in total favor of the Self-Strengthening Movement, the crusade to modernize China’s education, technology, and political freedom,
…show more content…
The Self-Strengthening Movement, initiated during the late Qing dynasty and lasting from 1861 to 1895, was a movement which, in my opinion, effectively updated China’s educational system. For one thing, reformists such as Yung Wing, the first Chinese man to graduate from an American university, attempted to adopt Western educational standards, and over one hundred Chinese young men were sent to America to receive a more up-to-date education (learn foreign languages and ways). (One man even succeeded in being the first Chinese graduate of Yale University in 1854). Because America’s education was rooted in economic opportunity during this period, Yung Wing dispatched these men to the United States in hopes of them returning with modern economic expertise, such as the ability to produce manufactured goods. Although this attempt to update Chinese education failed in the end due to the fear that these dispatched men would lose sense of their Chinese culture, they did, in fact, receive enough knowledge to minimally advance China, and some ended up doing things such as building railroads and telegraph poles. Additionally, as a result of China’s Self-Strengthening Movement, …show more content…
Before I tell you about my country’s technological advancements, however, I must explain to you their influences. An increasingly advancing country named Russia continues to improve its technology, and in the 1890’s (less than a decade ago), military defense, access to water, agriculture, and transportation began to advance at a rapid rate. Russia began to create new weaponry for its military, created new ports for trade overseas, and even established the Trans-Siberian railroad for military transportation across Russia and Siberia. Evidently, China did not and still does not wish to lag behind Russia in terms of technological modernity, and we, therefore, must establish and improve our sciences as well. In the last decade, we have improved and established new shipyards, arsenals, and a new and improved steamship company (World Together Worlds Apart, Robert Tignor). Additionally, our great Guangzhou Emperor has issued a reform to establish the Chinese Bureaus of Mines and Railroads, which ensures the continuation of scientific research for our technology. Our goal is to reach and maybe even surpass Russia in terms of technological advancement for the sake of potential
The Self-Strengthening Movement, initiated during the late Qing dynasty and lasting from 1861 to 1895, was a movement which, in my opinion, effectively updated China’s educational system. For one thing, reformists such as Yung Wing, the first Chinese man to graduate from an American university, attempted to adopt Western educational standards, and over one hundred Chinese young men were sent to America to receive a more up-to-date education (learn foreign languages and ways). (One man even succeeded in being the first Chinese graduate of Yale University in 1854). Because America’s education was rooted in economic opportunity during this period, Yung Wing dispatched these men to the United States in hopes of them returning with modern economic expertise, such as the ability to produce manufactured goods. Although this attempt to update Chinese education failed in the end due to the fear that these dispatched men would lose sense of their Chinese culture, they did, in fact, receive enough knowledge to minimally advance China, and some ended up doing things such as building railroads and telegraph poles. Additionally, as a result of China’s Self-Strengthening Movement, …show more content…
Before I tell you about my country’s technological advancements, however, I must explain to you their influences. An increasingly advancing country named Russia continues to improve its technology, and in the 1890’s (less than a decade ago), military defense, access to water, agriculture, and transportation began to advance at a rapid rate. Russia began to create new weaponry for its military, created new ports for trade overseas, and even established the Trans-Siberian railroad for military transportation across Russia and Siberia. Evidently, China did not and still does not wish to lag behind Russia in terms of technological modernity, and we, therefore, must establish and improve our sciences as well. In the last decade, we have improved and established new shipyards, arsenals, and a new and improved steamship company (World Together Worlds Apart, Robert Tignor). Additionally, our great Guangzhou Emperor has issued a reform to establish the Chinese Bureaus of Mines and Railroads, which ensures the continuation of scientific research for our technology. Our goal is to reach and maybe even surpass Russia in terms of technological advancement for the sake of potential