20th+Century+Shanghai

=20th Century Shanghai= Shanghai was founded in the 13th Century. Up until the 19th century it more or less remained a traditional city. A circular outer wall surrounded canals and narrow streets. By the late 19th century and early 20th century, Shanghai had grown into a modern metropolis. After the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, the British, French, United States and Japan each proceeded to set up concessions in the city. Eventually the British and American concessions merged to form the Shanghai International Settlement. Each concession had its own administrative system. Foreigners living in the concessions enjoyed extraterritorial rights.

Timeline
1842- After China loses the first Opium War and the Qing Government signs the Treaty of Nanjing, Shanghai becomes one of five treaty ports opened up for trade. 1845-Britain establishes the first concession in the city. 1849-The French Concession is established. 1850's & 60's-The Taiping Rebellion in Southern China causes many refugees to flee into Shanghai, seeking protection inside the concessions. 1911-Fall of the Qing dynasty, new Nationalist government under Sun Yat-sen. 1912-Shanghai's Old City Walls are torn down. 1921-The Communist Party of China holds the first National People's Congress in the French Concession of Shanghai. 1937-The Guomindang captures Shanghai, attacking and eliminating the local Communist organization. 1932-The January 28th Incident. Chinese and Japanese forces fought a short battle resulting in a ceasefire stipulating Shanghai be a demilitarized zone. 1937-On August 13, through a series of bombing raids, Japanese forces attack Shanghai. After three months they had captured control over the Chinese controlled area of the city, and had isolated the International Concession and the French Concession. 1943- End of the foreign concession era. The allied forces sign over their territories in Shanghai to the Guomindang government. The French Concession is signed over by the Vichy Government to the Japanese occupying Shanghai. 1945-Japan surrenders and Japanese occupation of Shanghai ends. 1949-In May, the People's Liberation Army captures and takes control of Shanghai. 1978- Reform and Opening policies begin. China begins to reform to more market-based policies once again. 1990- The Pudong district is designated as a special economic zone by the Chinese government.

Historical Maps
Map of Shanghai Showing Foreign Concessions

Illustrative Historical Map of Shanghai from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library: [|Illustrative Historical Map]

A digital collection of maps of Shanghai from the 19th and 20th centuries with over 400 items amassed by the Institut d'Asie Orientale: [|Virtual Shanghai]

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