Question 1
Facing external encroachment and internal rebellion, the Peking government by the 1860s appeared to be on its last leg, but the Self-Strengthening Movement breathed new life into it. Self-strengthening movement that included development of many institutional reforms after concessions and military defeats by the foreign powers was of importance to the Peking governmen. Self-Strengtheners did not realize that western military strength arose from political and economic structures and therefore needed to improve western technology and science in Qing empire. Due to such ignorance of the self-strengtheners, the reforms had various strengths and weaknesses. China needed a technological advancement when it ...
