AHC: Switch the fates of China and the US with a PoD after 1800

Must China still be a Empire ore a Democracy.

A failed America Revolution might be one way to make sure America does not become the country we know.

Guys

  I think the most difficult bit is boosting China, if only because we know less about it and also the big cultural differences at the time. Especially since the 2nd post asked for either a democracy or constitutional monarchy. China is approaching super-power status now in OTL but its nowhere near a democratic state nor would we want it to have the murderous history of OTL.

  Possibly if TTL's equivalent of the Taiping revolt was lead by someone sane rather than the lunatic who was Hong Xiuquan.  Say someone favourable to western ideas and possibly even Protestant Christianity, but not claiming to be Jesus's brother!  This would make him a lot more palitable to at least the Protestant European states and if he's willing to support religious tolerance it shouldn't be a great problem with the Catholic nations and less unpleasant to the traditional Budhists and Confusists in China - although the latter are unlikely to accept the probably loss of political power and social status.

  Such an organisation could well be more successful and also gain western support.  So no "Ever Victorious" army for the Qing and at least trade, probably including weapons, along with possibly volenteers from the west.  This could see the Qing overthrown in say the 1850s or 60s.

  The big problem with this might be that it would also be preferable if the alternative Taiping are anti-opium, but this would be likely to mean clashes with the trading powers, especially the British as the primary foreign power other than Russia influencing China.  Not sure how to get around this but possibly the promise from Hong of opening up other trading oppoertunities for the west coupled with a growing moral campaign against the trade in the west.  [Which might be easier if events in the US and elsewhere mean slavery is ended earlier there].  Coupled with say continued arogance from the Qing and then as they falter Russia makes its historical gains in the Amur region, or even possibly takes all of Manchuria.  Might have a rump Qing state in the latter as a Russia protectorate.  This would give added impluse for Britain and other western powers to drop the Qing and support the Taiping. 

  This might give the basis for a substantial Chinese recovery in the late 1800s and even early industrialisation starting by 1900.  Which would really scare the Russian empire and its Manchurian puppet.  Coupled with a collapse of the US this is going to be a substantially different world.  Japan might still modernise rapidly, driven by the example of China and also the threat posed by both a more powerful Russia and this great China.

  Say China is heavily involved in TTL's WWI, which in this case might see the Russians and Germans as allies.  Although on the winning side it suffers heavily and the dynasty is undermined in popularity and forced to allow political reforms and growing human and constitutional rights.  During the early 20thC it had periods of instability and at time bitter internal conflict but gradually sees the monarchy replaced or reduced to a constitutional role and western ideas expanding as well as economic power.

  If there is a WWII equivalent China might emerge as say a slightly weaker version of OTL US, being underestimated initially by both allies and enemies but being decisive in defeating say a pseudo Nazi Russia.  Its one of the original great powers in the new UN by right, rather than political convience.  In fact with the US largely removed it would be difficult to see any state rivaling it, other than possibly a federated British empire, a [largely unified] west/central Europe or just possibly a Russia that recovers from such a defeat.

  Anyway, someone who knows the political situation better in late Qing China could possibly offer a better option.  Say the attempts at reform in the 1980's aren't suppressed by the Dowager Empress and lead to reform or China avoids the warlord period of the 1920s and 30s?  However initial thoughts on the issue.