Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumState-Sponsored Industrialization and Modernization Efforts

Source: Zhang Zhidong, Qing dynasty government official and reformer, *Exhortation to Study*, 1898

"If we wish to make China strong, we must preserve our Chinese ethical foundation while adopting Western practical methods. We should establish modern schools to train our youth, construct railways to connect our provinces, open coal and iron mines to fuel our growth, and build factories to manufacture modern weapons. If we do not adopt these Western industrial techniques, we will remain militarily weak and economically dependent on foreign powers. However, if we abandon our traditional Confucian values in favor of Western political ideas, our society will fall into chaos and lose its unique identity."

Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the reforms advocated in the passage?

  1. To modernize the state's military and economy through government-led industrialization while preserving traditional political and social structuresAnswer
  2. B
    To implement socialist economic reforms and establish workers' control over state-owned factories
  3. C
    To overthrow the imperial dynasty and establish a representative government based on democratic ideals
  4. D
    To restore mercantilist trade monopolies and completely block foreign merchant access to domestic ports

Answer

To modernize the state's military and economy through government-led industrialization while preserving traditional political and social structures
The correct choice is supported by the text, which outlines the 'ti-yong' framework of late-nineteenth-century Chinese reformers. They sought to introduce Western industrial and military capabilities to strengthen the state against foreign imperialism, while firmly maintaining the traditional Confucian political and social order.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text's main arguments.
The author calls for adopting Western technologies (railways, mines, weapons) while explicitly rejecting Western political ideas in favor of preserving Confucian values.
This establishes the scope of the reforms as technological and economic modernization rather than political or social revolution.
2
Identify the historical context of late nineteenth-century China.
This text represents the Self-Strengthening Movement, a state-sponsored modernization effort by the Qing dynasty to defend against Western imperialism without altering traditional Confucian governance.
Connecting the source to the learning objective helps clarify the specific motivations of state-sponsored reformers.
3
Evaluate the choices against the source analysis.
The correct choice aligns with the goal of state-sponsored economic and military modernization combined with political and cultural preservation.
This confirms the correct option while eliminating choices representing socialist reforms, democratic revolution, or mercantilism.

Key Concept

State-Sponsored Industrialization and Modernization Efforts
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

State-Sponsored Industrialization and Modernization Efforts

More questions from this topic