In 1911, the Wuchang Uprising put an end to the Chinese Empire in 1912. As the uprising gained momentum, the group founded the Republic of China. In order to establish credibility as a republic, presidential elections were held in 1911. In Nanjing, revolutionary forces created a provisional coalition government. On 1 January 1912, the National Assembly declared the establishment of the RoC, with Sun Yat-sen, leader of the Tongmenghui (United League), as President of the Republic. A brief civil war between the North and the South ended in compromise. Sun would resign in favour of Yuan Shikai, who would become President of the new national government, if Yuan could secure the abdication of the Qing emperor. Yuan was sworn in as president on 10 March 1912.

Building the Republic was problematic and Yuan's failure to consolidate a legitimate central government before his death in 1916, led to decades of political division and warlordism, including an attempt at imperial restoration.

In 1916, the military took control of the government. The army was led by Yuan Shikai, and upon his death, the republic fractured into several small factions, each controlled by a warlord. In 1925, a group of Chinese nationalists formed the Kuomintang (KMT) party in an attempt to bring legitimate government back to China. The KMT was led by General Chiang Kai-shek. The KMT found itself at odds with the Communist Party of China, until 1934, at which time the KMT pushed the communist forces north, a move known as the Long March. Despite the troubles faced by the Republic of China during its short tenure, the Republic is noted for having transitioned China away from monarchy towards republic and democracy.