Wuchang Revolution

Wuchang Revolution (10 Oct. 1911–1 Jan. 1912) An uprising in China by the revolutionary movement which had been gathering momentum for over a decade. Nevertheless, its actual timing was unintended and was caused by the accidental explosion in the city of Wuchang of a bomb in the revolutionary headquarters on 9 October. With the revolutionary leaders Sun Yat-sen and Huan Hsing absent, the revolutionaries (around 2,000) decided to strike on 10 October, and took control over the city within hours. This was followed by the rapid secession of cities and provinces from the authority of the Qing dynasty, and by 4 December, Shanghai and Nanjing (Nanking) had fallen into control of the revolutionary movement, which by this time controlled over two-thirds of China. Sun Yat-sen was elected President on 29 December 1911. The declaration of the Republic of China on 1 January 1912 effectively ended the revolution. The victory over the Manchu Qing dynasty was complete when Yuan Shikai persuaded the child emperor, Pu Yi, to abdicate.