However, outside nations colonized and took parts away from the Qing Dynasty. Another way European nations display a terrible impact
Struggling to maintain social order and strength, the Qing Dynasty placed restrictions on opium trade; however, this backfired, provoking retaliation from British traders and leading to a war that would create the Unequal Treaties. The detrimental socio economic effects opium had on China were beginning to surface during the late 1830’s, causing an influx of smokers and a decline in bullion. Although China’s economy suffered, this was the most viable foreign trade option for the British. There was low demand for the cotton the British offered to China, but the increased profits from opium would do more than compensate. Thus, British merchants took various measures to circumvent China’s policies to stop the illicit trade and managed to find
Britain’s forced introduction of opium in 1825 in China had devastating effects on its population and economy. The people of China express their just displeasure with the British people and its monarchy in documents 1, 2, and 9. In Document 1, a Chinese emperor is addressing the King George of England in 1793 in a letter.
Unfortunately, this thinking prevented the Chinese from learning from western technology and science. As a result the West was able to easily defeat the Qing in key battles such as the Opium War in 1839 to 1841. In contrast to the Ottomans, the Qing was unable to compromise with the West and Europe forced its way into China. However, both societies were influenced by Western methods, despite attempts to restore traditional ideology and campaigns by both Chinese
However, during this time period this control of Indian commerce was at its strongest because of British actions of conquering Indian territories. Whilst in China, the economic continuity was a bigger issue; it was the continuity of opium trade way before the Opium War and after. The only distinct is that before the war it was illegal, and after the war China was forced to legalize it. However, it was still a part of Chinese economy whether legal or illegal.
Asia between 1750-1900 experienced outrageous amounts of imperialism. China was put under spheres of influence, meaning that they had areas of their nation which were controlled by outside nations for the imperializing nation's benefit. Britain traded English wool and Indian cotton for Chinese tea and textiles; however, as Chinese demand slackened, Britain sought other means of attracting trade with China. By the 1830s, Britain realized it could make up the trade deficit with China by selling Indian opium into the Chinese market, making opium Britain's most profitable and important crop in world markets. Eventually, opium poured into China and soon Chinese merchants already addicted themselves and buying for an addicted population paid British
THE OPIUM WARS And its Affect on America The Dream of Trade Throughout the 19th century, Americans dreamed of exploiting China 's market. Especially after the United States expanded to the West Coast, prospects for a lucrative and expanding Far Eastern trade energized U.S. merchants and manufacturers. However China 's imperial government took steps to discourage international trade. When U.S. merchant ships first began arriving in the Far East in the 1780s, they were restricted to trading only through Hong Kong, on the South Coast of China. That restriction persisted for another half century, preventing the China trade from rising above a minute percent of U.S. global commerce.
The people of China began to recognize how they were not only being westernized but losing their culture. Therefore, the secret society and others retaliated, driving foreigners and major European powers from China. Rather than lessening foreign influence, the rebellion increased foreign influence. The Qing dynasty was greatly weakened due to forced acceptance of foreign military assistance to put down the uprising. As the last imperial dynasty of China, they turned to a Republic.
The Opium Wars marked a crucial turning point in Chinese history and led to a deep sense of indignation and bitterness, as well as a search for a new sense of identity among the Chinese people. One of the key causes of the Opium War was the trade imbalance between China and Great Britain. The British merchants began importing large quantities of opium into China, leading to widespread addiction and social devastation among the Chinese population. The War itself was sparked by the Chinese government's attempts to curb the importation and use of opium. The war resulted in a decisive British victory, with China forced to sign the Treaty of Tianjin/NanKing, which opened up several Chinese ports to British trade and allowed British missionaries
Because everyone in China was unhappy, they all began to rebel and revolt. During this abhorrent time, the White Lotus Rebellion occurred. European imperialism fundamentally altered civilization in China in various ways. Next, when the Qing dynasty starts to decline, Europe starts to demand more
Things were going well until the Ming dynasty started to decline and collapse. The spread of corruption throughout the country created this result. On the other hand, the Qing dynasty had similar goals as
In 1839, the Chinese government tried to ban opium from a port city called Canton. Columbia University 's article, China and the West, says that, “the Chinese are defeated by superior British arms and which results in the imposition of the first of many “Unequal Treaties.” These treaties open other cities, “Treaty Ports” — first along the coast and then throughout China — to trade, foreign legal jurisdiction on Chinese territory in these ports, foreign control
The First Opium War is the best example of this imperialist lens, this war was fought between China and the United Kingdom, with the British attempting to defend the opium trade in China. Imperialism is defined as, “the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation, especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas. ”[7] The first Opium War had a significant impact on imperialism because of the relationship between Great Britain and China. Great Britain wanted to open China to trade because they had strict trade regulations.
The Opium Wars came from China 's attempts to suppress the trade and consumption f Opium. The first war took place from 1839 to 1842 and the second war was from 1856 to 1860. The Opium wars marked a new beginning in terms of China’s relationship with the west. Regular trade had been going on with the British since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1600’s. As European economic power rose, Chines goods such as silk, porcelain and tea became highly sought after.
This all brought economic decline to the nation and made it difficult to rebound. Therefor, imperialism had been detrimental at the time to the economy of china.
