China & the West in the 1800s Western pressure forced China to open to foreign trade and influence. Qing China was self-sufficient (salt, tin, silver, & iron mines) (rice, maize, & peanuts) (silk, cotton, & porcelain)

Guangzhou: only port where Britain was allowed to trade (silver for tea) British merchants smuggled opium into China for nonmedical use. By 1835, twelve million Chinese were addicted to it. Lin Zexu was sent to stamp out the trade.

British Opium Factory

Britain’s refusal to stop smuggling resulted in the Opium War of The antiquated Chinese military was no match for steam-powered British gunboats and soldiers armed with modern muskets Treaty of Nanjing - four more ports opened to trade - Britain obtained extraterritorial rights - Britain obtained island of Hong Kong

Opium War Naval Battle

Taiping Rebellion (1850s – 1860s) - By 1850, China often suffered from food shortages. (pop. up 30% in just 60 years) - corrupt government; dikes not inspected or repaired = flooding - largest rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan - had visions; fight “evil” Qing - captured much of S.E. China - finally crushed after fourteen years - at least twenty million people died

Self-Strengthening Movement - honest Chinese officials worked to end government corruption, and update the education system, and the military. Dowager Empress Cixi (ruled ) - initially backed the self-strengthening movement but eventually crushed reforms - result was other nations able to create spheres of influence within China (controlled trade) Open Door Policy: U.S. sent messages to governments insisting that China remain open to trade with all nations (1899)

Dowager Empress Cixi ( )

Boxer Rebellion (1900) - poor peasants & workers resented the special privileges granted to foreigners - formed a secret organization: the Society of Harmonious Fists - surrounded the European section in Beijing for several months - 20,000 soldiers from Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Japan, & the U.S. arrived & defeated them. - Qing court realized that changes were needed - Empress Cixi sent officials to study different governments; decided on constitutional monarchy

Japan Modernizes Japan adopted the Western model by industrializing & expanding its influence overseas. Under the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, Japan isolated itself from most contact with other nations in the 1600s. (feudal system: lords, samurai, & peasants) In 1853, U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry entered Tokyo harbor with four warships & “requested” trade.

American & Japanese Impressions of Commodore Perry’s ships

Perry returned in 1854 to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa. - two ports opened - U.S. allowed to establish embassy By 1860, other Western nations had forced open trade ports and obtained extraterritorial rights as well. The samurai could no longer protect Japan.

Samurai

Samurai in full armor

The Meiji Era ( ) - The Tokugawa shogun stepped down as the Japanese people rallied around their young emperor, Mutsuhito (age 15). - Meiji = enlightened rule - The emperor decided that the best way to oppose Western imperialism was to adopt Western ways. - Feudal lords gave their land to the emperor to benefit the entire country. - Emperor sent statesmen to Europe & North America to study their civilizations.

Emperor Mutsuhito (age 21 & 55)

- modeled constitution after Germany’s - copied German army & British navy - adopted U.S. system of universal public education - imported teachers & sent students abroad to study - Industrialization: state-supported companies built thousands of factories & shipyards and opened new coal mines - By early 1900s, Japan’s economy was as modern as any in the West.

Japanese Imperialism - Like Europe, Japan concluded that empire = military & economic security - In 1894, Japan convinced foreign governments to give up their citizens’ extraterritorial rights. - Sino-Japanese War ( ) > fought over Korea > Japan obtained its first colonies > Europe made Japan give Korea and N. Chinese lands back.

Sino-Japanese War ( )

- Russo-Japanese War ( ) > Russia & Japan now main powers in Asia > Russia occupied Korea and Port Arthur (ice-free port) > Japan surprise attacked Russia in January > Entire Russian Pacific fleet captured or sunk (no Japanese ships were even damaged) > July 1904, siege of Port Arthur begins

Russo-Japanese War

Siege of Port Arthur

> Port Arthur surrenders on December 20, (a surprise, since many supplies left) > huge land battles in Manchuria; both sides suffer heavy casualties > Russia & Japan now looking for a way to end the war with honor.

Russian & Japanese soldiers

> Russian Baltic fleet sets sail for Korea on October 2, > It accidentally sinks several British fishing ships on Oct. 8, > Upon reaching Madagascar, learns that Port Arthur has fallen. (stays ten weeks to refit) > Arrives at Straits of Tsushima on May 14, > Japanese navy “Crosses the T” (Russians lose 20 major warships & 5,000 sailors) (Japanese lose 3 torpedo boats & 116 sailors)

Japanese flagship at Tsushima

Russian fleet at Tsushima

> U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt offered to mediate peace treaty > allows both sides to end war with honor; “Teddy wanted it.” > Japan obtained Korea & Russia withdrew from Manchuria. Japan made Korea a protectorate and fully annexed it in ruled as harshly as West did its colonies > forbade public protests > made schools replace study of Korean language & history with Japanese > gave Korean land to Japanese settlers > forbade Koreans from owning businesses

Teddy mediating treaty 1905