Chinese
constitutionalism was a movement that originated after the
First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). A young group of intellectuals in China led by
Kang Youwei argued that China's defeat was due to its lack of modern institutions and legal framework which the
Self-Strengthening Movement had failed to deliver. They saw the recent rise of new powers such as Germany, Italy, and Japan coincide with their adoption of constitutions. By having a constitution as the basis for social and political organization, they surmise that all of China's ills could be repaired. Like the
Chinese Nationalists, these constitutionalists underwent many name changes after they first coalesced following the end of the
Hundred Days' Reform in 1898. The
Chinese Empire Reform Association (known as the "Baohuanghui" or "Protect the Emperor Society" in Chinese) was formed in
Victoria,
Canada on 20 July 1899 by
Kang Youwei and
Liang Qichao, the Hundred Days' Reformers who were exiled after the palace coup by
Empress Dowager Cixi. The Emperor they referred to was the
Guangxu Emperor. In August 1900, they sponsored
Tang Caichang's uprising in
Hankou which failed disastrously and forced them to rethink their strategy. Also known as the Reform Association, they had to compete with their fellow outlaws, the
Tongmenghui ("Revolutionary Alliance") led by
Sun Yat-sen for influence and money in the
Overseas Chinese community. The Baohuanghui's platform was
constitutional monarchy and peaceful reform while the Tongmenghui wanted republic and revolution. In this respect, the Baohuanghui was more popular due to the traditional cultural mindset that abhorred disorder. Liang's support for peaceful reform was not consistent, he vacillated between violence and reform often. In 1908, both the Emperor and Cixi had died. The group renamed itself in Chinese as the "Empire Constitutionalist Association" (帝國憲政會) (the English name was not changed), often referred to as the Constitutionalist Party (憲政黨), and was allowed to operate in China. They helped the Qing court set up provincial assemblies and a
National Assembly in 1910. They were, however, deeply disappointed that the assemblies existed to give advice only. In addition, the Qing court's draft constitution was a near word for word copy of Japan's
Meiji Constitution with the exception that the Emperor was given significantly more power. The new cabinet system consisted of members from the
Aisin Gioro clan, making it more nepotistic than before. After a brief period as the "Empire Unity Party" (帝国统一党), on 4 June 1911 they became known as the Friends of the Constitution (憲友會). The Constitutionalist party was the first legally registered political party in China. During the
Wuchang Uprising, the first politician to side with the mutineers was
Tang Hualong, a Constitutionalist and leader of the
Hubei provincial assembly, who took over the civilian administrative side of the revolution. Fed up with years of frustration, many Constitutionalists joined the
1911 Revolution, one noticeable exception was
Kang Youwei who remained loyal to Emperor
Puyi. In 1912, Liang returned to China and the party renamed itself as the
Democratic Party. It came in fourth in the
National Assembly elections behind the Nationalist,
Republican, and
Unity Parties. == Foundation to dissolution ==