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Opium War - Coggle Diagram
Opium War
Major Events
1839: The Chinese government confiscated and destroyed over 20,000 chests (about 1,400 tons) of opium stored by British merchants in Canton (Guangzhou). This act provoked outrage in Britain and led to the outbreak of war
1839: Fighting began when British warships destroyed a Chinese blockade at the Pearl River estuary near Hong Kong.
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1841: After failed negotiations, British forces attacked and occupied Canton in May. The Qing forces were outmatched by the British military
1842: The British captured Nanjing (Nanking), ending the First Opium War. The Treaty of Nanjing was signed, requiring China to pay a large indemnity, cede Hong Kong to Britain, and open five treaty ports to British trade
Second Opium War (1856-1860): Britain and France fought China again, resulting in the capture of Beijing, the burning of the emperor’s summer palace, and further territorial and commercial concessions by China
Consequences
The Treaty of Nanjing and subsequent treaties forced China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open more ports to foreign trade, pay large indemnities, and grant extraterritorial rights to foreigners
The wars marked the beginning of China’s “century of humiliation,” during which it lost sovereignty and was subjected to a series of “unequal treaties” with Western powers
The influx of foreign traders and missionaries increased Western influence in China, leading to economic changes but also social unrest and resentment
The Opium Wars weakened the Qing dynasty, contributed to internal divisions, and set the stage for uprisings such as the Taiping Rebellion
The wars ultimately led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the rise of the Republic of China, as well as laying the groundwork for the later rise of Communism
Globally, the wars showcased the dominance of Western military technology and imperial ambitions, altering the balance of power in East Asia
Causes of War
Trade imbalance between China and Britain. The British imported large quantities of tea, silk, and porcelain from China but had little that interested the Chinese in return, resulting in a drain of British silver reserves.
To address this imbalance, the British East India Company began exporting opium from India to China, leading to widespread addiction and social problems in China
The Chinese government attempted to ban the opium trade to protect its people and economy, seizing and destroying large quantities of opium in 1839, which angered the British and sparked the conflict
The British refusal to submit their citizens to Chinese law after incidents involving British subjects further escalated tensions
The other factors included European imperialism and the desire of Western powers to open Chinese markets to their goods
Personal Reflection
The Opium War profoundly shaped global interactions in the 19th century by exposing the vulnerabilities of traditional empires in the face of Western industrial and military power. It marked a turning point where international relations became increasingly defined by imperial force rather than mutual respect. The war could potentially have been avoided if both sides had engaged in more equitable trade negotiations and respected each other’s laws and sovereignty. The British insistence on continuing the opium trade, despite its devastating effects on Chinese society, and the Chinese government’s inability to effectively modernize and defend its interests, both contributed to the conflict.