J. The Boxer Rebellion

Sun had thousands of copies of this book made to distribute to his supporters. Others studying in Europe and America brought additional ideas back to China. Another student Yan Fu applied Darwin's theories of evolution to the fate of social units. Yan also translated such influential works such as Thomas Huxley's Evolution and Ethics, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, Montesquieu's Defense of the Spirit of the Laws, and Adam Smith's Wealth of the Nation. Yan managed to introduce an electrifying range of ideas to China's students.

In the year between 1905 and 1911 the Qing state edged towards constitutional reforms. The attempted revolution in Russia excited some Chinese who saw a parallel between the Tsars and the Qing Emperors. In 1906 a summary and partial translation of Marx's Communist Manifesto appeared in China. Between 1906 and 1908 Sun directed or instigated at least seven uprisings against the Qing. In October 9, 1911, a group of revolutionaries accidentally exploded a bomb while making some bombs. Authorities investigated and executed some on the spot. They got a list of army soldiers and others enrolled in the group. In an attempt to save people loyal to their cause, they launched their revolt. Soon Qing Army groups mutinied and shortly the battles ended. By January 1, 1912 Sun Yat-sen the government declared provisional president.