 Although they were not colonized they were still dominated by the Europeans  They began to resent the way the Europeans had come to power in China  Many organization pledged to rid China of “foreign devils”  The most famous was the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists

 They were called Boxers by the Europeans  In 1900 the Boxers laid siege to Peking the Chinese capital  They were defeated by a coalition army of British, French, German, Austrian, Italian, Russian, and American Troops

 Although the Boxers were unsuccessful they were the start of a growing nationalist movement in China  This new nationalist movement had the goal of forming a national Chinese Republic

 Was the climax of disputes over trade and diplomatic relations between China and the British Empire.  As trade grew, the West found themselves to have a large and rising trade deficit with China.  The western countries were increasingly anxious to balance their trade with China.  The Chinese had a self-sufficient economy, and showed little interest in Western products.  In 1820, the West found a product which China did not have, opium.

 Between 1829 and 1855, opium smuggling developed rapidly along China's South Coast.  In 1820, 9,708 chests of opium was smuggled in per year.  15 years later, the smuggled opium rose to 35,445 chests, a growth of 400%.  British and United States merchants brought opium from the British East India Company's factories.  Virtually all men under 40 smoked opium.  The total number of addicts in China in the 1830's was as high as 12 million.  China was defeated in the Opium War.

 Farmers abandoned the production of food stuffs to produce silk and tea.  As a result, food prices were driven very high.  Western capitalism changed the Chinese economy.  It enhanced the development of China's urban market economy.  These fundamental changes in the Chinese economy brought changes at the social and ideological levels.

 Before the Opium War, the Chinese concept of European countries was not understood.  After the Opium War, China discovered the Western way and were introduced to China:  Western political ideas  social structures  Technology

 The Opium War exposed the weaknesses of the Chinese feudal system.  The cost of the war all fell on the shoulders of the farmers.  The government could no longer protect, and govern its people.  As China's economy collapsed, poverty was wide spread, insurrection sprang up all over the country.  The Opium War helped to discredit the Manchu government and encouraged popular movements.

 Read pg. 581 – 587  Answer Focus questions on pg. 581  Answer Section Review question 1-5 on pg.587