The Tang Xiangming Government With Hunan Society In The Early Days Of The The Republic Of China(1913-1916)

The Republic of China was founded after the Revolution of 1911.Yuan Shikai forced the emperor to abdicate and hand over power to him. Soon in 1912,Yuan Shikai was appointed as interim president of the transitional government.To consolidate regime, Yuan Shikai strengthened the persecution of democratic forces. Song Jiaoren was murdered in 1913,which caused the second revolution. During the Second Revolution, Tan Yankai, the governor of Hunan, declared the independence of Hunan. After the Second Revolution was suppressed,Tang Xiangming was sent to Hunan to investigate the issues in 1913. Soon Tang Xiangming was appointed as the governor of Hunan instead of Tan Yankai. He worked there for 2 years and 9 months. The situation was characterized by turbulence and intranquility in Hunan at that time. Members of revolutionary parties still stayed in Hunan, planning more activities to pursuit the democracy. Cold-blooded assassination happened at times. Bandits ran amuck everywhere in west and south Hunan. Tang Xiangming brutally suppressed the members of revolutionary parties, which caused public anger. To strengthen the military control, Tang organized the new army instead of the old,which caused the mutiny in Chenzhou. The first world war br oke out in 1914,which won a good chance for the economy of China. It was also the best time for the development of Hunan economy since the Opium War. The effective management of the government also p rovided a good environment for economic development. Industrial and mineral industry got particularly outstanding achievements. On the social governance, Tang Xiangming government actively organized local prevention, ban on opium-smoking and the opium trade,abolishment of the social habits and so on. Tang Xiangming government also promoted the national education. Primary school had been developing rapidly, contributing to the popularization of education. However,the development of the schools was restricted by the lack of money. Part of the s chools collapsed.