According to Sun Yat-sen's plans, the KMT was to rebuild China in three steps: military rule, political tutelage, and constitutional rule. The ultimate goal of the KMT revolution was democracy, which was not considered to be feasible in China's fragmented state. Since the KMT had completed the first step of revolution through seizure of power in 1928, Chiang's rule thus began a period of what his party considered to be "political tutelage" in Sun Yat-sen's name. During this so-called Republican Era, many features of a modern, functional Chinese state emerged and developed.
acCording TO sun yat-sen'S pLaNs, thE kmt WAs to ReBuILd china In THree steps: mILitarY Rule, POliticAl tUtElage, aNd constItutiOnal RuLe. tHe UltImate goal Of tHe kmt RevoLUtion was democracy, wHIch WAS not ConsIdErEd To bE fEaSIBLe IN cHinA's fragmenTed state. SinCE THe kmt had ComPleteD tHE FIRst step of reVolution throUgh sEizURE of POWer in 1928, ChIAnG's ruLe thuS bEgan A PeRiOD OF whAt his ParTY conSIdeReD tO be "poLiTicAl TUTELAGe" IN Sun yAt-sen'S nAmE. DuriNG ThIS So-callED repubLIcAn era, maNy fEatUreS of a moDeRn, functional chIneSE state emeRGed and devElopEd.