Describe the Taiping Rebellion.

• A. Hong Xiuquan led a rebellion against the Qing dynasty in the 19th century.
• B. The rebellion restored the Ming dynasty.
• C. It was a peasant uprising that successfully overthrew the Qing.
• D. It was a reform movement within the Qing court.

Answer: (A)

The Taiping Rebellion was a massive 19th‑century uprising against the Qing dynasty led by Hong Xiuquan, who proclaimed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and rallied millions of peasants around a radical program of social and religious reforms. It began around 1850 and lasted until 1864, with the rebels at times controlling large swaths of southern China and even making Nanjing their capital. This event did not restore the Ming dynasty, it did not end with the Qing being overthrown in a permanent sense, and it was not a reform movement inside the Qing court. Rather, it was an external challenge to Qing rule led by a charismatic figure who claimed divine authority and sought to replace the Qing regime.