CHAPTER 26 – CHALLENGE & TRANSITION IN EAST ASIA Lesson 1: The Decline of the Qing Dynasty (China)

Dynastic rule & the decline of the Qing Earlier this year we learned that China had the same system of rule for about 2,000 years. Called dynastic or “IMPERIAL” rule the Chinese were ruled over by a series of Emperors based on the idea that the Emperor’s power was by divine right. The last of these dynasties was the Qing, and their fall will begin a period of political chaos to China. Although the Qing were at the height of their power in 1800, a century later key factors were part of their long, slow decline: Corruption, peasant uprisings, government incompetence; Rapid population growth accompanied by food shortages; Growing exposure to ships, guns & ideas of foreigners from the West especially

Qing trade practices/policies The Qing restricted European merchants to 1 port with limited merchants – which the British did not like. The British were exporting more FROM China than they were importing TO China. This is called a TRADE DEFICIT – the British tried to negotiate with the Chinese to improve the trade imbalance, but they failed. “As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange & ingenious & have no use for your country’s manufactures.” Qing Emperor to British Trade Reps in 1700’s When trade negotiations failed, the British turned to trading OPIUM.

Opium Wars Opium grew well in India – a British colony - & the British East India Company shipped it directly from there to Chinese markets. Demand for the drug - which was highly addictive – was very strong & the Chinese willingly parted with tons of silver to feed their addictions. Opium was illegal in China & the Emperor first appealed to the British Government on moral grounds to stop the trafficking in opium; when that failed the Chinese blocked the only port opened to British trade & the British responded with force, officially starting the Opium Wars. British warships easily defeated China & in the Treaty of Nanjing the Chinese Emperor was forced to agree to open 5 more ports to trade, limit taxes on British imports, & pay for the costs of the wars. Europeans living in the 5 new ports had EXTRATERRITORIALITY – meaning they were not subject to following Chinese laws & instead could follow their own laws.

Western Influence in China After the concessions made by China to the British under the Treaty of Nanjing, foreign presence & influence in China continued to grow. Other Western nations, including the US, were also allowed to operate in those 5 ports. This was only 1 problem the Qing faced… Economic problems within China led to the TaiPing Rebellion. Although it was unsuccessful it was a long & bloody civil war that lasted 14 years & left 20 million dead and it further eroded the power of the Qing Dynasty, which was slowly losing support & significance. The Chinese military, led by regional “warlords” became an important factor in keeping peace & calling for reform. Some Qing supporters responded to the call for reform by backing a policy of SELF- STRENGTHENING (China would adopt Western technology BUT keep its old Confucian values & institutions). Some reformers called for democracy in China – but that idea was considered too radical for most .

Imperialism in China… Western nations did not officially create “colonies” in China. Instead they established SPHERES OF INFLUENCE, which were areas in which foreign powers had exclusive economic rights & privileges. This is how Britain, France, Germany, Russia & Japan all established influence in China. One of China’s last Emperors proposed radical political & educational reforms to try to keep the Dynasty in control, however, he lacked universal support & he was removed from power. The US at this time proposed an OPEN DOOR POLICY in China that would keep Chinese markets more open despite the existence of spheres of influence within the nation. This policy protected the weak Chinese dynasty AND furthered trade opportunities for the US.

The old imperial government was about to fall! Boxer Rebellion… By this time many Chinese people were fed up with foreign interference in their lives & one group (the Society of Harmonious Fists) nicknamed the “Boxers” wanted to push foreigners out of China once and for all. They slaughtered foreign missionaries & Chinese Christians along with foreign business people. Instead of LIMITING foreign presence, their actions led to an INCREASE as an army of western allied forces went into China to restore order & demand MORE concessions from a Qing leader who was barely holding on to power. A sign of how weak the Qing had become was their payment of a heavy INDEMNITY – or payment for damages – to the powers that had crushed the Boxer Rebellion. The old imperial government was about to fall!

Links Downfall of Qing Opium Wars