The end of the Qin Dynasty was declared by a coalition of rebel forces led by Liu Bang that formed the Han Dynasty in 202 B.C. This is often referred to as the Rebellion of the Seven States or The Chu-Han Contention.
The seeds for the rebellion were planted early in the dynasty when Qin Shi Huang, the oppressive first emperor of the Qin dynasty, demanded an excessive level of taxation and labor from his citizens. Upon taking the throne, Qin Shi Huang had enacted a set of reforms that consolidated power under himself and slowly eliminated the last remaining vestiges of feudalism. This caused profound discontent amongst the people and many of the nobles, which created the perfect opportunity for multiple rebellions to take place across the nation.
The most noteworthy rebellion was led by Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, two powerful warlords who were both eager to take control of the Qin Empire. Their armies clashed at the Battle of Julu, which turned out to be a decisive victory for Liu Bang and his army. After the battle, Liu Bang became the de facto leader of the rebellion and began to form alliances with other rebel forces. Eventually, these forces coalesced into a powerful coalition that was strong enough to confront the Qin Empire directly.
At this point, the Qin Army was too weak to put up a significant resistance, and the coalition forces quickly gained a decisive advantage. In 203 B.C., the Qin forces officially surrendered and the coalition proclaimed the formation of the Han Dynasty. This marked the official end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, which would go on to rule China for the next 400 years.
Apart from the military defeats, there were also internal struggles within the Qin court that hastened the collapse of the dynasty. Li Si, the prime minister of the Qin, was seen as a corrupt and oppressive figure who caused immense suffering among the people. Once the rebellion had started to gain momentum, Li Si found himself in an untenable position and was forced to commit suicide. This further weakened the already fragile Qin government and hastened its downfall.
The end of the Qin Dynasty is one of the most important events in Chinese history. It marked the end of an oppressive, authoritarian regime and the beginning of a much more democratic system that favored the rights of individuals and protected them from arbitrary injustice. In addition, it laid the foundations for the prosperity and stability of the Han Dynasty, which would go on to become one of the longest-lasting dynasties in Chinese history.