Assess the extent to which the Manchu contributed to their own downfall by 1860.

The Manchu or Qing government contributed greatly to the weaknesses within the China by 1860
which eventually led to their own downfall in 1911. The imperial court and bureaucracy were
corrupted by the end of the 19
th
century affecting the Manchus rule. The class differentiation
between the Chinese and the Manchus provided a social barrier affecting unity and the political
defence decisions made by the government all affected the superiority of the Manchus and
eventually contributed to their own downfall.
The ShenShi and Bureaucracy within Chinese society were corrupt and weak contributing to the
Manchus own downfall by 1860. The bureaucracy within china was very complicated due to the
many levels of prestige and salaries. The main service leaders for the Manchu rule were those who
had passed the examination process of Confucian values to make an honest and able serving class
for China. This did not occur and contributed greatly to the downfall of the Manchu Dynasty. As a
result of corruption, cheating and greediness among the bureaucracy the Qing dynastys power was
weakened. This is may be said to be due Emperor Qian Longs friendship to the Ho Shen a member
of the Bureaucracys. Ho shen was a greedy man beginning the corruption and nepotism that was to
completely affect the Manchu rule. As a result the bureaucracy implemented higher and higher
taxes which combined with the flooding of the Yellow river indirectly was a result of the bureaucracy
corruption with money increasing the discontent within China. This corruption led to internal strife
through the White Lotus rebellion and large scale social problems which eventually was one of the
main causes of the downfall of the Manchu Dynasty.
The social structure within China was one of the main causes of discontent within the Chinese
society which is one of the factors that led to the downfall of the Manchu rule. Economically the
Qing dynasty was in debt due to the continued rebellions throughout their reign which only further
weakened their rule contributing to the downfall. But due to the social structure of 90% of the
population peasantry with majority of Chinese descent whereas the rulers of the country were
Manchu and considered invaders and foreigners increased the discontent for the Manchu dynasty.
This very segregated social structure that was enforced by the Manchu dynasty while initially
provided a source of stability for the regime by the end of the 19
th
century provided a source of
rebellion and uprising for the Manchu dynasty with 15 uprisings occurring between 1820 1830. The
social class and the corrupt bureaucracy combined meant lots of Chinese peasants lost their land
and were impoverished due to the high taxes and crop failures which led to famine. This only further
increased the discontent for the Manchu dynasty and loss of the Mandate of Heaven providing an
excuse for the many rebellions. Overall the Manchu dynasty in enforcing the social divide weakened
the Manchu rule.
The Manchu dynasty while successful in putting down the Taiping rebellion it also was one of the
many factors that contributed to their downfall. This rebellion was formed under its leader Hong
Xiuquan who believed he was the younger brother of Jesus in the Hakka province in southern China.
This belief occurred because of the increased western Christian influence as a result of the Opium
wars. The internal rebellion lasted for 14 years due to the impact other rebellions and wars such as
the Miao rebellion and the Opium wars had economically on the Qing government and were
therefore unable to employ the weaponry and defence system needed. The Qing government to try
and quell the rebellion were forced to allow for militias to form in provinces decentralising the
governments authority and allow more power to spread in each province. As a result leaders of
each province increased taxes to increase power of their militia. This increased discontent within the
peasantry as the depreciated value of copper meant starvation was common. The rebellion was
catalyst for the peasantry to understand the power they could uphold and is evident through the
involvement of 16 out of 18 provinces over 14 years. In order to quell the rebellion the Qing
government were forced to accept European assistance from Britain and France which only further
increased the western influence within china which was initially one of the main causes of the
rebellion. The Taiping rebellion promoted the early formation of Communism and challenged the
Confucian foundations of the Qing dynasty by allowing women, civil and military equality. Overall
the Qing governments inability to stop western influence that was one of the main factors of the
Taiping rebellion and their inability to quell the rebellion for 14 years weakened its superiority and
prestige which eventually led to its downfall.
Overall the Qing government failed to provide the adequate authority needed to continue the Qing
dynasties rule. The Taiping rebellion and Confucian principles affected the governments prestige
and superiority and exemplified the Qing governments weaknesses. In summation the Qing
government contributed greatly to their own downfall.