The role of the Gentry

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Reading in turn 10/12/2011 The role of the Gentry

-There were varying levels of power and influence within the gentry. At the top were the provincial leaders who worked closely with the local leaders who made up the lower level of the Gentry.

-The local level gentry were responsible to collect taxes from the community, and maintain peace in their areas of responsibility.

-The Provincial leaders held more power but understood if they were unable to maintain a balanced and positive relationship with the local leaders that they might revolt.

-Due to the fear of revolution the Provincial leaders gave tax breaks to the local leaders or the lower gentry. Causing a corrupt system that was able to thrive because the local leaders were able to maintain a relative level of autonomy from the central government.

-Westernization and the construction of a national constitution threatened the gentry’s autonomy and power when it was first purposed.

-The Gentry adapted quickly, and overcame the threats to their power, by joining in with the societies desire to westernize. With the abolition of the local and provincial exams, they created new criteria that individuals needed to meet in order to hold political office under the new system. For example they needed to be a certain age, attain certain westernized degrees that were only available to the wealthy, or served in office under the old system.

-The common people were hurt the worst by this new constitutional system.

-After the Taiping revolution to the formation of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, the gentry held the most power in China.

- I believe that the corruption of the gentry, not foreign influence paved the way for Mao Zedong’s ability to form a single party dictatorship that lead by force, brutality and fear. Although many Chinese citizens were pushing for a government that allowed them to have more of a voice, they ended up with virtually the same government under a different name. This happened as a result of the gentry’s ability to adapt to the tides of change, and set up an unfair system that profited the wealthy, and allowed them to maintain their power, and political influence on the community.