... leaders such as Tseng Guo-fan, Li hungzhong, Zuo-zongtong, these leaders later led the Self-Strengthening movement. Also by opening of treaty ports, helping of the Ever Victories Army and Imperial Maritime Custom Service, their contacts with the West had been increased. Qing government saw the advance technology of the foreigners and their military superiority. All of this exposed the weaknesses of the Qing government. Qing knew her backwardness in technology and was forced to have reforms in order to strengthen herself against foreign invasion so as to save the dynasty. Therefore it started the Self-Strengthening movement in 1864. There were a lot of reforms carried out during this strengthening period. But most of them aimed at military strengthening. The reform movement was half hearted. For military reform, China built a lot of arsenals, such as the Kiangnan Arsenal, Nanking Arsenal, Foochow Shipyard and Tientsin Arsenal. But because lacking of co-operation among ...

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