What major event overthrew the imperial government of China?

The major event that is widely recognized for leading to the overthrow of the imperial government of China is the Taiping Rebellion. This massive civil war, which lasted from 1850 to 1864, was led by Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the brother of Jesus Christ and sought to establish a new heavenly kingdom. The rebellion arose from widespread dissatisfaction with the Qing Dynasty, fueled by socio-economic issues, corruption, and the influence of foreign powers.

The Taiping Rebellion resulted in an estimated 20 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Although the Qing government ultimately quashed the rebellion, its severe weakening and the loss of legitimacy paved the way for further revolts and ultimately contributed to the 1911 Revolution, which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.

The other events listed, such as the Chinese Civil War, were significant historical events but occurred later and were not directly responsible for the initial overthrow of imperial rule. The Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion also had profound impacts on Chinese society and governance, but they did not directly lead to the abolition of the monarchy in the way that the Taiping Rebellion did.