China & European Imperialism World History - Libertyville HS

The Manchu Dynasty ( ) Founding the Dynasty –Manchu were settled nomads, the Jurchen, from Manchuria –Rebelled against Ming & destroyed dynasty –Claimed Mandate of Heaven (Ming lost – rebellions, famine) –AKA Qing Dynasty

Manchu Dynasty Ethnic tension in Manchu Dynasty –Manchu were ethnically Jurchen –Most of China were ethnic Han –This meant a minority group ruled China Extent of Empire –At height, 13 million sq miles –Expanded into Tibet, Russia, Taiwan

Extent of Manchu Dynasty

19 th C: Foreign Pressure Problems facing Manchu –Economic stagnation (agr based economy) –Population explosion (famines) –Antique gov’t system not strong –Isolation from rest of world, esp. Europe Britain, Germans, Russians, French & Japanese divide China

Contact w/ European Nations 1793: Brits attempted alliance w/ Manchu (refused) After 1815, world trade, dominated by Europeans, expanded quickly –Massive Chinese markets drew Europeans –Chinese trade goods (silk, tea, ceramics) Caricature: “The Reception”

Chinese Trade w/ Europe Chinese demanded silver bars in payment (no mfgr’d goods) Brits, French didn’t want to give up limited specie Brits, French sold opium into China (addictive) for Chinese silver

First Opium War ( ) Manchu gov’t outlawed opium in China British gov’t declared war –Royal navy destroyed outdated Chinese wooden navy –British army, w/ rifles, artillery, crushed Chinese

First Opium War Treaty of Nanking –Demanded reparations (payments) for Brit losses –Unrestricted access to Chinese markets for European countries –Annexed Hong Kong as British city

Second Opium War ( ) Brits tried to re-negotiate Treaty of Nanking –Allow Brit trade access to Chinese rivers –Est. permanent Brit embassy in Peking (capital) –Chinese refused to sign = war Chinese crushed, again

Second Opium War Treaty of Tianjin –All official Chinese docs to be written in English –Brit warships given unlimited access to Chinese rivers –Christian missionaries allowed –Other foreign embassies allowed –Opium importation legalized

The Empress Dowager Tsu His started as peasant concubine of Emperor ( ) –Very intelligent, clever, manipulative –Outwitted 8 regents to become regent to her son –After son died (1874) she continued to rule in nephew’s name, until her death in 1908 –Known as “Empress Dowager” or the “Dragon Lady –Focused her reign on keeping China whole in face of foreign aggression

Boxer Rebellion (1900) Righteous Harmony Society (“Boxers”) –Native Chinese focused on throwing “foreign devils” out of China –“Devils” included Catholic, Protestant missionaries & their Chinese converts –Empress Dowager attempted to remotely control the Boxers

Boxer Rebellion German ambassador murdered by Boxers in Beijing –European delegations besieged in Beijing embassies by Boxers, Chinese troops, for 55 days –European nations, US allied vs Chinese to save their citizens

Boxer Rebellion Eight nations, European and America, conquered Beijing –Dowager Empress fled city –Treaty ending fighting was harsh Reparations Permanent European, US presence in China

End of Manchu After death of Empress Dowager, baby emperor took over Regent council established –Rebellions broke out; regions est. indep. Gov’ts –1912: Child Emperor forced to abdicate Ended 2000 years of Chinese emperors, as local warlords ruled