After the Wuchang Uprising, Yuan Shikai was dispatched by the court to crush the revolution. Supported by imperialist, Yuan pressured the Qing emperor to abdicate and forced the revolutionaries to comprise and make peace, and a deal was finally reached between the two sides: Yuan Shikai declared his agreement on “republic”, while the revolutionaries agreed to turn over the presidency; both sides agreed on the articles of favorable treatment of the Qing emperor after his abdication were signed. On February 12, 1912, the Qing emperor announced the abdication of the Qing throne and accepted the articles of favorable treatment, marking the end of feudalism that lasted over two thousand years in China. The Imperial Edict of Abdication was drafted by Zhang Jian and delivered by Yuan Shikai to the Qing court after discussion by the Nanjing Provisional Senate. On February 13, Sun Yat-sen stepped down as president. On February 15, Yuan was elected as the new provisional president by the provisional senate.