How did Shi Huangdi unify China?

Lots and lots of force

Qin ShiHuangdi's reign was based off of using force to unite the people. He was one of the only emperors to use legalism, a system developed by Han FeiZi. This style of government taught that strength is a leader's greatest virtue, and issued strict punishments for crimes.

One of ShiHuangdi's first actions was to abolish feudalism. He split China into 36 military districts. He appointed officials to govern these districts, and established a secret police system to watch over the officials. ShiHuangdi gave land to peasants, but forced them to pay high taxes. He jailed, tortured, and killed critics, and burned many of their books. Some of the only books that were spared were books on agriculture, which he treasured as "valuable knowledge".

Qin China's districts

Although his methods were quite... questionable, ShiHuangdi did bring unity to China. He established a universal system of weights and measures, making trade easier. He also repaired roads and extended canals, allowing people to travel more freely.

The unity that Qin ShiHuangdi established only lasted for a short period of time. His major downfall was the construction of the Great Wall. This project piled on to the already skyrocketing taxes, and peasants were angry that thousands of people had died to complete it. Eventually, the Qin dynasty collapsed due to high taxes, forced labor, and cruel policies.