The Surveying About The Process Of Purchasing Foreign Warships By The Late Qing Government And The Relative Persons' Relationship (1874-1884)

It is an important content of The Westernization Movement that the late Qing Government purchased warships from western countries, and it is also an important way of approaching to navy modernization. Qing Government was startled by Japan who invaded Taiwan in 1874, and it can do nothing but enhancing its navy . Qing Government had to buy advanced naval vessels from western counties because the national shipbuilding condition was so simple and crude. On account of Hart's suggestion, the navy erectors leading by Li Hung-chang entrusted Hart and James D ? Campbell to purchase warships for china at the beginning. Subsequently, Qing Government dispatched ambassadors to these foreign countries, meanwhile some students who studied navy strategies abroad gradually retuned. They brought more advanced knowledge about naval vessels, therefore, Qing Government began to considered of speaking for warships by themselves. Therefore, leading by li Feng-bao and Xu Jian-yin the navy establishment was coming to a new climax. Two armour warships and several latest type cruisers were put into Chinese port in succession. Thus the strength of Beiyang Marine was greatly improved.The course that Late Qing Government bought naval vessels from 1874 to 1884 was so devious and perplexing because of the relationship among persons, institutions, and other factors involved. The research on the process of purchaseing warships and this complicated relationship thoroughly so as to present the difficulties that Qing Dynasty encountered during the course in a detailed, accurate manner, which will help us to comprehend the disadvantage factors in establishing the Chinese modern navy, and resolve the problem that why the course of navy modernization of the late Qing Dynasty was SO slow.My thesis is composed of the following parts:In the exordium, I concentrate on the value and significance of this thesis, and the relationship between persons involved in the process of buying navy vessels from 1874 to 1884, as well as the achievements related to this subject in China and the primary question that will be answered in the thesis. On the foundation of these, I will elucidate the methods and tenet aim in this thesis.Chapter 1, Qing Dynasty put forward the project of purchasing foreign worships. In this part, I begin with the accident that Japan invaded Taiwan in 1874 which shocked Qing Dynasty, and then I will highlight the relationship between this historical event with the following furious discussion about coast defense and the decision of Qing...