Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

Beginning with the Wuchang Uprising on October 11, 1911 and in the following two months, provincial military governments declared their independence from the Qing Empire under the name "Republic of China." On November 30, 1911, the "Central Military Government of the Republic of China" was established under the leadership of Li Yüan-hung.

Provisional Presidents

Sun Yat-sen (January 1, 1912 - March 10, 1912)
Yuan Shih-kai (March 10, 1912 - October 10, 1913)

The "Republic of China" was formally proclaimed on January 1, 1912 and Sun Yat-sen took office in Nanking (now Nanjing) as the first provisional president. Sun resigned on March 10 and was succeeded by former Qing Prime Minister Yuan Shikai. This moved the government to Peking (now Beijing).

Presidents (Beiyang Government)

Yuan Shih-kai (October 10, 1913 - December 22, 1915)

Yuan Shikai declared himself Emperor on December 22, 1915. The current ROC government considers the Beiyang Government after this point to be illegitimate. Popular opposition led Yuan to retract his declaration on March 22, 1916.

Yuan Shikai (March 22, 1916 - June 6, 1916)
Li Yüan-hung (June 7, 1916 - July 1, 1917)

Warlord Zhang Xun restored Aisin-Gioro Puyi to the throne for twelve days from July 1 to July 12, 1917.

Li Yüan-hung (July 12, 1917 - July 17, 1917)
Feng Kuo-Chang (July 17, 1917 - October 10, 1918)
Hsu Shih-Chang (October 10, 1918 - June 2, 1922)
Zhou Ziqi (2 Jun 1922 - 11 Jun 1922) (acting)
Li Yüan-hung (June 11, 1922 - June 13, 1923)
Zhang Shaozeng (13 Jun 1923 - 9 Sep 1923) (acting)
Gao Lingwei (9 Sep 1923 - 10 Oct 1923) (acting)
Tsao Kun (October 10, 1923 - November 2, 1924)
Huang Fu (2 Nov 1924 - 24 Nov 1924) (acting)
Tuan Chi-Jui (November 24, 1924 - April 20, 1926)
Hu Weide (20 Apr 1926 - 13 May 1926) (acting)
Yan Huiqing (13 May 1926 - 22 Jun 1926) (acting)
Du Xigui (22 Jun 1926 - 1 Oct 1926) (acting)
Gu Weijun (1 Oct 1926 - 18 Jun 1927) (acting)
Chang Tso-Lin (June 18, 1927 - June 2, 1928)

The Beiyang Government was extinguished by the Northern Expedition.

Generalissimo of the Military Government

The Kuomintang established a rival government in Guangzhou and declared legitimacy over the "warlord" government in Peking (Beijing) (which they renamed Beiping since jing means "capital").

Sun Yat-sen (September 10, 1917 - July 5, 1918)

The KMT Government was headed collectively by the Governing Committee of the Military Government, viz., Sun Yat-sen, Tang Shaoyi , Wu Tingfang , Cen Chunxuan , Lu Rongting , Tang Jiyao , Lin Baoyi , from July 5 until August 21, 1918 when it was consolidated by Chairman of the Governing Committee Cen Chunxuan. On October 24, 1920 to May 4, 1921, figurehead duties were again given collectively to the Governing Committee of the Military Government, viz., Sun Yat-sen, Tang Shaoyi, Wu Tingfang, Tang Jiyao.

Extraordinary President

Sun Yat-sen (May 5, 1921 - June 29, 1922)

Generalissimo of the National Government

Sun Yat-sen (March 2, 1923 - March 12, 1925)
Hu Han-min (12 March 1925 - 1 July 1925) (acting)

Chairmen of the National Government

Wang Ching-wei (July 1, 1925 - April 15, 1926)
Tan Yankai (April 16, 1926 - March 29, 1927)

Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National Government

Wang Ching-wei (March 20, 1927 - September 13, 1927)
Tan Yankai (September 17, 1927 - October 10, 1928)

Chairmen of the National Government

The KMT established its capital in Nanking following the successful Northern Expedition. It relocated to Chungking (now Chongqing) from 1937 to 1945 due to the Japanese invasion.

Chiang Kai-shek (October 10, 1928 - December 15, 1931)
Lin Sen (December 15, 1931 - August 1, 1943)
Chiang Kai-shek (August 1, 1943 - May 20, 1948)

Presidents (1947 Constitution)

A new constitution took effect on December 25, 1947 and Chiang Kai-shek was subsequently elected President by the National Assembly. He resigned amid losses in the Chinese Civil War. The government moved from Nanking to Taipei on December 8, 1949. Li had left for the United States in November 1949 and Chiang officially resumed his powers in March 1950.

Chiang Kai-shek (May 20, 1948 - January 21, 1949)
Li Tsung-jen (January 21, 1949 - March 1, 1950) (acting)
Chiang Kai-Shek (March 1, 1950 - April 5, 1975) (first to sixth terms)
Yen Chia-kan (April 5, 1975 - May 20, 1978) (sixth term)
Chiang Ching-kuo (May 20, 1978 - January 13, 1988) (seventh and eighth terms)
Lee Teng-hui (January 13, 1988 - May 20, 2000) (eighth and ninth terms)

Starting from the ninth term the president is elected by popular vote among citizens of the Republic of China in the area it administered, instead of by the National Assembly.

Chen Shui-bian (May 20, 2000 - present) (10th and 11th terms)

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