How did the West establish spheres of influence in China?

China and the New Imperialism

Early Contacts with Europeans

• 16th century – Portuguese traded for silk and tea• Portuguese followed by the Dutch and English

Chinese History

• 1644 – conquered by Manchus• Qing dynasty• Chinese forced to wear pigtails (sign of subservient

status)

• 18th century• Manchus began restricting Europeans – missionaries and

traders

Emperor Daoguang

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

Turning Point

• By the 1800s, 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

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

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

Unequal Treaties

• In 1842, the British made the Chinese accept the Treaty of Nanjing

• Britain received a huge indemnity, or payment for losses in the war

• The British gained the island of Hong Kong• China had to open five ports to foreign trade• Guangzhou, Amoy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai

• British citizens were granted extraterritoriality, the right to live under their own laws and be tried in their own courts

• This was the first in a series of “unequal treaties” that forced China to make concessions to western powers

• During the mid-1800s, under pressure from the West, China opened up more ports to foreign trade and let Christian missionaries into China

Signing of the Treaty

“Chinese Tribute Money Entering the Mint”

Illustrated London News, November 12, 1842

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

The Taiping Rebellion

• As peasant misery increased, a rebellion broke out• The Taiping Rebellion lasted from 1850-1864, 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

Effects

• The rebellion almost toppled the dynasty • The rebellion caused an estimated 20-30 million

deaths• The dynasty survived but was weakened• During the rebellion, the Europeans kept the

pressure on China• Russia seized lands in northern China

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

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

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

Spheres of Influence

• 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• In 1899, the United States called for an • “Open Door policy” in China

US Open Door POlicy

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 reforms• Empress Ci Xi regained control • Guang Xu Imprisoned• Reformers fled for their lives

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

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

Foreign Influence and Christianity

Nationalism and Confucian

Ideals

The Boxer

Rebellion

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

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 foreigners2. Democracy- representative democracy 3. Livelihood- economic security for all

Chinese

Sun Yixian

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)