Origin
After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the newly established Republic of China followed to their Provisional Constitution and held the first parliamentary election in February 1913, which then convened the National Assembly of the Republic of China for the first time on April 8. The Kuomintang won majority of the seats, and Song Jiaoren was designated to form the cabinet. He was assassinated by President Yuan Shikai shortly after however, and the Kuomintang called for the Second Revolution as a result. Yuan Shikai repressed the resistance with force in the end, forcing Sun Yat-sen and other leaders of Kuomintang to flee abroad to Japan.
Yuan Shikai dissolved the parliament as well as abolishing the Provisional Constitution, eventually trying to become emperor. On December 1915, Cai E and others launched the National Protection War against Yuan Shikai and achieved success. Yuan Shikai was forced to abdicate and died on June 6, 1916.
After the death of Yuan Shikai, Li Yuanhong succeeded him as the president. Duan Qirui was re-appointed as the new prime minister, and the old parliament was restored. However, Li and Duan had a major disagreement shortly after on whether or not to enter World War I and declare war on Germany. Duan insisted on joining the war while Li and the parliament were conservative on the matter. Li Yuanhong removed Duan from office and called for national military support. Monarchist general Zhang Xun took the opportunity and entered Beijing with force. He then dissolved the parliament and attempted to restore Puyi and the Qing Dynasty on July 1, which is known as the Manchu Restoration. The restoration was repressed by Duan Qirui five days later, and Li resigned from presidency and was succeeded by Feng Guozhang. Duan re-established the new government and organized the new senate along with Liang Qichao.
Read more about this topic: Constitutional Protection Movement
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to break the armored and concluded mind.”
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—Georges Bataille (1897–1962)