China's Problems In The 19th Century

To What Extent did interference from European nations contribute to China’s problems in the nineteenth and early twentieth century?

The Europeans contributed to China’s problems in nineteenth and early twentieth century to an extent that caused China to rise up and modernize. China for many years was an imperialist ‘nation’ with different dynasties that ruled for thousands of years. For most of the 18th century, the Qing emperors claimed that China was superior to other nations. They kept the idea that China was the center of civilization and had little need of foreign technology, learning or goods. By the end of the 18th century however, European powers were demanding more trade and access to a greater number of Chinese trading ports. Early

However, British merchants finally found a solution to their trade imbalance through the drug opium. Opium use had existed in China but mainly for medicinal purposes. The British East India Trading Company held a monopoly over the production and sale of opium. In 1773 the opium trade with China began, British ships in India loaded with opium soon flooded the Chinese market. The Qing government attempted to pass several laws and rules against its trade but the flow of opium into China continued. By the early 19th century, the trade balance had changed completely and China could no longer just pay with trading goods but in addition Britain received silver from them. The economic impact this had, the widespread of social problems from growing number of addicts and the death of the emperor’s own son from overdose caused him to act. He attempted to ban the import and trade of opium in the country but this decision which would eventually lead to the outbreak of the Opium Wars. The Opium Wars were two wars which were fought between western powers and China over the demand of trading rights, including the illegal importation of opium. The first war was fought between Britain and China between 1839 and 1842. Suffering defeat in the first war, it eventually lead for the treaty of Nanjing to be established giving the British access to 5 trading ports as well as the

After the events of the first Opium War, many ports and land in Chinas was seized by the British and other European powers. Apart from the growth of trade in China, Christian missionaries began to walk the streets of China and sharing religion and culture with the locals. A large percentage of the population became Christian and caused opposing ideas on religion in the country. The Emperor saw Christianity as a threat in the country because he did not want the people to follow a leader outside of China, the Pope. A very important figure at this time was a man named Hong Xihuan who believed to be the brother of Jesus and started the Taiping Rebellion. The Taiping Rebellion was a war fought in 1850 to 1864 because of religious conflict in China, it was founded upon the principles of Christianity and equality. He established Nanjing as the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The war was fought against a cult like group supporting Christianity and the Qing Dynasty who were dealing with many other complications at the time such as the second opium war. The Taiping rebellion ended when Hong Xihuan died of food poisoning, his death lead to his army being unprepared for the qing dynasty’s final attack to crush the rebellion. The Taiping Rebellion led to the deaths of millions of