The Opium War

Causes: Chinese point of view British imported opium from India causing the Chinese to become addicted As demand increased, silver was drained from Chinese economy In spite of Chinese law making opium trade illegal, British continued the trade

Causes: British point of view Resented being treated as inferiors Chinese put high tariff on British goods and refused to import British textiles British could only trade at Guangzhou (Canton) Harsh Chinese laws applied to British citizens Chinese officials burned British opium

Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking) Called “First Unequal Treaty” Britain gained: ◦ Payment for opium ◦ Control of Hong Kong ◦ Opened 5 ports to trade ◦ Extraterritoriality [British law for British citizens in China]