晚清，列強勢力排山倒海似的進入中國，中國為求生存乃興自強洋務運動，企圖以師夷長技而制夷；此長技之獲得勢須人才，而人才培育之道，以海外留學最為快速，幼童赴美留學乃由此而來。由容閎的親身體認及洋務推動大臣的支持，幼童順利赴美展留學教育，唯後因國內外認知差異，導致計畫中途夭折。被撤回國後的幼童，在已學得的基礎及自身的後續努力下，於各行各業均有優異之表現，成為中國第一批新式的人才，並予中國帶來新的氣象，亦由此經驗為往後各類留學計畫奠定良好基礎，同時更啟發了中國新式教育的理念。

During the late Qing Dynasty, China experienced a series of military defeats and concessions to the western powers. The Self-Strengthening movement was initiated following a series of aggressions from the western powers. China intended to learn technology from the enemy in order to subdue the enemy. In order to learn new technology, the best option for the Chinese government was to send talented students to industrialized countries. This was the beginning of sending selected children to the United Sates. Yung Wing and the minister of the Self-Strengthening Movement advocated sending children to study abroad; however, the program was stopped due to cognitive differences between China and the United States. Students returned to China and made important contributions in many different areas. They became the first westernized talent in China and brought western thoughts back to China. They laid the foundation for studying abroad; meanwhile, they inspired the philosophy of modern Chinese education.