In the years following the Boxer Uprising, the Manzhus set out to reform the Qing government and economy. They abolished the Confucian civil service examinations, established modern schools, and sent students abroad to study. They also organised and equipped a Western-styled army.
The Qing court reorganised the central government, promised to adopt a constitution, and permitted the provinces to elect their own legislatures. However, these reforms came too late to save the dynasty from collapsing.
After the Boxer Uprising, Empress Cixi was apparently convinced that opposition to reform was useless. In 1901, she issued a reform decree urging that China should study carefully the strong points of the foreign powers and take the necessary steps to remedy its shortcomings.
Officials both in Beijing and in the provinces were ordered to submit ideas on the changes to be introduced. The result was the Late Qing Reform Programme, which was not much different from the Hundred Days' Reform.
Military reform Army officers were to be recruited from military academies, which were set up in 1901. Cadet officers were also sent to Japanese military academies.
Yuan Shikai played a major role in army reform. Between 1901 and 1907, he organised the six divisions of the Beiyang army, set up military schools, and sent men to Japan to be trained as officers.