Final answer:
Yuan Shih-kai became the president of the new Chinese republic after the fall of the Qing dynasty, despite Sun Yat-sen's significant contributions to the revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the collapse of the Qing dynasty, Yuan Shih-kai, the head of the Imperial Army, agreed to serve as president of the new Chinese republic. Although Sun Yat-sen is revered as the "Father of the Nation" and played a crucial role in the Xinhai Revolution which led to the end of the Qing Empire, he could not secure the role of president due to the power held by Yuan Shih-kai and his military leverage. After Yuan's power grab and subsequent death, Sun Yat-sen was able to reassert his influence, eventually forming the Kuomintang (Nationalist) Party and reestablishing a Republic in Canton. However, it was indeed Yuan Shih-kai who took the position of president immediately after the fall of the Qing dynasty.