The British in China

Imperialism in China O Imperialism in China O China was a major target of European Imperialism. A number of significant events that occurred during this period are listed below. O Opium Trade O First and Second Opium Wars O Treaty of Nanking, 1842 O Tientsin Treaty, 1858 O Peking Conventions, 1860 O The Chinese culture attempted to deal with the European culture by attempting to isolate themselves from any contact with the Europeans whom they considered barbarians.

China in the 1800’s O Even in the past China was the most populated nation in the world O Although it was not industrialized China was able to meet the needs of the people and was virtually self sufficient O China had little interest in trading with European nations as they felt that the goods were inferior to Chinese goods

Continued… O In fact the European nations were only allowed to trade at one port – Canton O This made the imperial powers desperate to access the huge Chinese market O To do this they had to find a product the Chinese would trade for

The War on Drugs O The British East India company soon found the product – opium O The drug was highly controlled in both England and India but was manufactured and smuggled into China to extend British control O Many of the Chinese became addicted to the drug and were then dominated by the British

Continued… O The Chinese government was so weakened by the smuggling that they were powerless to stop it O Even pleas to Queen Victoria fell on deaf ears and the opium trade continued O The drug trade in south-east Asia eventually led to open war between the British and the Chinese

Continued… O The Chinese were overmatched and the British easily defeated them forcing an unfair treaty on the Chinese

The Treaty of Nanking O The Treaty of Nanking opened four more ports to British goods and allowed the British East India Company to extent their power into China O With China weakened the other countries of Europe soon carved out spheres of influence O Even Japan took part in dividing up China

The Open Door Policy O Fearing that China would be carved into colonies the United States suggested the Open Door Policy O This guaranteed the trading rights of all nations in China and prevented the colonization of China

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Assignment O Read pg. 573 – 581 O Answer focus questions on pg. 573 O Answer section review questions 1-5 on pg. 581