1. China and the New Imperialism
Ch. 25 sec. 5

2. Trade Issue
Prior to the 1800s, China placed strict restrictions on trade
European merchants and traders were limited to a small area in southern China
China sold the Europeans silk, porcelain, and tea in exchange for gold and silver
China enjoyed a trade surplus, exporting more than it imported
Westerners had a trade deficit, buying more from the Chinese than they sold to them

3. Turning Point
By the 1700s, two developments changed Chinese-Western relations
China entered a period of decline
The Industrial Revolution created a need for new markets and gave the Europeans superior military technology

4. Opium Grips China
During the 1700s, British merchants introduced Indian opium to China
The opium was traded for Chinese tea, which had become extremely popular in England
Many Chinese citizens became addicted to the drug
Silver flowed out of China in payment for opium
This disrupted the Chinese economy and depleted the Chinese treasury

7. The Opium War
The Chinese government outlawed opium and executed drug dealers
They called on Britain to stop the opium trade
The British refused , calling for free trade
In 1839, Chinese warships clashed with British merchants, triggering the Opium War
British gunboats bombarded Chinese coastal and river ports
The British used their superior weapons and tactics to defeat Chinese forces

8. Unequal Treaties
In 1842, the British made the Chinese accept the Treaty of Nanjing
The British gained the island of Hong Kong
China had to open to foreign trade
British citizens were granted the right to live under their
own laws and be tried in their own courts
During the mid-1800s, under pressure from the West, China opened up more ports to foreign trade and let Christian missionaries into China

9. Internal Problems By the 1800s, the Qing dynasty was in decline
Irrigation systems and canals were poorly maintained, leading to massive flooding of the Huang He valley
A population explosion put stress on the government
An extravagant court, tax evasion, official corruption, and bribery in the civil service system led to an increased burden on the peasantry

10. The Taiping Rebellion
As peasant misery increased, a rebellion broke out
The Taiping Rebellion lasted from , and was devastating for China
The rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, a village school teacher
He wanted to establish a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”- the Taiping
Hong’s ideas were considered radical by Chinese leaders
He supported land reform, community ownership of property, and equality for women and men
He called for the end of the unpopular Qing dynasty

13. Effects The rebellion almost toppled the dynasty
The rebellion caused an estimated million deaths
The dynasty survived but was weakened
During the rebellion, the Europeans kept the pressure on China
Russia seized lands in northern China

14. Reform Efforts
By the mid-1800s, educated Chinese were split over the need to adopt western ways
Some believed it was the key to strengthening China
Most scholar-officials rejected western ways and focused on Confucian ideals
By the late 1880s, the empress Ci Xi had gained power
She was conservative and surrounded herself with advisers who were committed to Confucian traditions

15. Self-Strengthening Government
In the 1860s, reformers launched the “self-strengthening movement”
They imported western technology- modern factories, shipyards, railroads, mining, and light industry
The movement made little progress because the government did not support it

16. War with Japan Japan began to modernize after 1868
It than began to compete with the European nations for a global empire
In 1894, China and Japan fought the Sino-Japanese War
Japan won and gained Taiwan, an island off the coast of China

17. Spheres of Influence The crushing defeat revealed China’s weakness
The western powers carved out spheres of influence along the Chinese coast
Britain, France, Germany, and Russia all claimed a sphere of influence in China
The United States did not claim a sphere, but was worried that the European powers would close trade to U.S. merchants
In 1899, the United States called for an “Open Door policy” in China
The European powers accepted the policy

18. Hundred Days of Reform
Reformers blamed conservative officials for China’s humiliation
In 1898, emperor Guang Xu launched the Hundred Days of Reform
The movement was aimed at modernizing China
Reforms impacted schools, the military, and the bureaucracy
Conservatives opposed the reforms
The empress Ci Xi regained her control and Guang Xu was imprisoned
Reformers fled for their lives

19. The Qing Dynasty Falls
As the 19th century ended, the Qing dynasty was in decline
The Chinese did not like having foreign troops in their country
They also resented Christian missionaries

20. Boxer Uprising In 1899, the situation exploded
A secret organization, the Righteous Harmonious Fists, wanted to expel all foreigners from China
In 1900, the Boxers attacked foreigners across China
The western powers and Japan sent in troops to put down the uprising

21. Foreign Influence and Christianity Nationalism and Confucian Ideals
The Boxer Rebellion
Foreign Influence and Christianity
Nationalism and Confucian Ideals

24. Aftermath China had to make more concessions to the western powers
China expanded economically
-Mining
-Shipping
-Railroads
-Banking
-Cash crop exportation
-Foreigners invested in small industry
A Chinese business class emerged and began pressuring the government for more rights
After the rebellion, even conservatives saw the need for modernization
Women were allowed to attend schools
Science and mathematics were stressed in school
More students were sent abroad to study

27. Three Principles of the People
The Boxer Rebellion led to increased nationalism
In 1900, a constitutional monarchy was introduced
Some began pushing for a republic
Sun Yixian (also known as Sun Yat-sen) wanted to rebuild China on “Three Principles of the People”
1. Nationalism- drive out the foreigners
2. Democracy- representative democracy
3. Livelihood- economic security for all Chinese

28. Sun Yixian

29. Birth of a Republic The Qing dynasty fell in 1911
Sun Yixian was named president of the Chinese republic
For the next 37 years, China faced constant warfare (foreign and domestic)