Opium Wars

Ancient Civilizations: Day 14

Ancient Geography

• Notable Locations: • Notable Dates:o 1759 CE: European

commercial presence restricted in China

o 1839-1842 CE: Opium Wars

o 1842 CE: Treaty of Nanjing

World Drug Trade

Opium Production and Consumption

Chinese Trade

• In 1759 the Qianlong emperor restricted European commercial trade to the waterfront of Guangzhou.o Paralleled China's xenophobic history of foreignerso Merchants could only deal with specially licensed

Chinese firms.

• China had little demand for European products.o European merchants paid for silk, porcelain, lacquer

ware, and tea with silver bullion.

British Empire (1920s)

Trading Addiction

• British East India Company wanted to find alternatives for buying Chinese goods with silver.o Turned to opium trading

• Opium grew in India and Central Asia.o Shipped to China in exchange for Chinese silver.o Trade expanded rapidly

early 19th c. 4.5K chests (133 lbs each) by 1839 40K+ chests

• CHINA IS ADDICTED TO OPIUM!!!

Opium Den

Cold Turkey

• 1830s, China had a significant trade problem as well as drug problem.

• Opium trade drained large quantities of silver from the treasury and created serious social problems.

• 1839, Chinese government took steps to eliminate the illicit trade of opium.o Read Primary Source

Opium Wars (1839-1842)

• British commercial agents pressed the government to reopen the drug trade by using military force.o Opium Wars (1839-1842)

• China stood no chance against the British Empire.o British infantry and navy

superior.

Treaty of Nanking (1842)

• Britain forced China to accept their conditions in the Treaty of Nanking:o Cede Hong Kong to Britaino Britain received most-favored trading statuso Extraterritorial status for British subject

not subject to Chinese laws

• Impact:o legalized the opium tradeo Additional countries enacted similar policies with

China.o Foreign merchants controlled much of the Chinese

economy.

Foreigners in China

Boxer Rebellion

• The current ruler at the time, Cixi - emperor's aunt, feared foreign occupation in China.

• Supported an anti foreign uprising known as the Boxer Rebellion.o Violent movement spearheaded by the 'Society of

Righteous and Harmonious Fists' organized to get rid of "foreign devils"

• Rebellion subdued due to multinational military force.o China forced to pay for damages and allow foreign

soldiers to occupy merchant ports.