The historical significance of the Westernization Movement and the reasons for its failure

The Westernization movement lasted from the 60s to the 90s of the 19th century. It set off a Westernization movement of self-improvement. It has successively set up modern military and civilian industries, established a new navy, and selected overseas students for further study.

The modernization of China began. The most fundamental reason for the failure was not to learn from the advanced systems of the West. Just learn the advanced technology of the West.

It will not be possible to make China rich and strong.

All the contents and measures of the "Westernization Movement" are only to treat the symptoms but not the root cause, and only learn from Western technology and do not change the backward political system.

The reasons for the failure of the Westernization Movement included the shortcomings of the traditional feudal system, the lack of complete planning, the lack of insight of the principals, the opposition of the old-fashioned people, and the corruption of the bureaucracy. In the Westernization Movement, although the Westernists boasted of their new policies for self-improvement, they had no intention of learning the capitalist political and economic system because they were all defenders of feudal traditional thinking.

The Westernists only advocated learning Western technology, and strongly opposed any form of reform of feudal ideology and feudal system, but they only wandered in the fence of the feudal kingdom and thought that they had something new and proud, so in the end they failed to show "self-improvement" and "zhongxing" in the face of foreign invaders. On the contrary, under the attack of the invading forces of the foreign powers, the "feat" carried out by these defenders of feudal ideas quickly failed.

Positive effect. <>

From the early 60s to the 90s of the 19th century, there was a temporary "Sino-foreign reconciliation" peace situation, and some enlightened people in the Qing ruling group adopted a series of measures of "self-improvement" and "seeking wealth" in order to maintain the feudal rule of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, it has objectively promoted the development of China's productive forces, promoted the emergence and development of China's national capitalism, resisted the economic import of foreign capitalism to a certain extent, and promoted the modernization of China's education and national defense.

Its significance is manifested in:

1. The Westernization Movement promoted the development of productive forces in modern China and promoted the emergence of Chinese national capitalism;

2. The Westernists resisted the economic import of foreign capitalism to a certain extent;

3. The Westernization Movement opened the gap in the feudal education system;

4. The Westernization Movement promoted the modernization of national defense.

Historical limitations. <>

The Westernization Movement did not put China on the road to prosperity and strength.

During the Westernization Movement, although the Westernists boasted of a "new deal for self-improvement", because they were all defenders of feudal traditional thought, they had no intention of learning the capitalist political and economic system at all, and only advocated learning Western technology, and strongly opposed any form of reform of feudal ideology and feudal system. On the contrary, under the attack of the invading forces of the foreign powers, the "feat" carried out by these defenders of feudal ideas quickly failed.