Imperialism in China

Opium Wars
By 1800, China was a prosperous country with a highly developed agricultural system. Because
China was practically self-sufficient, its emperors had little interest in trading with Europeans.
For decades, Europeans could do business only at the port of Canton. Despite pleas from Britain
and other nations, China refused to open other ports to foreigners. The Chinese regarded
European goods as inferior to their own and bought few goods from the European merchants at
Canton. 

European merchants were determined to find a product the Chinese would buy in large quantities.
Eventually, the British East India Company discovered such a product - opium. Opium is a habit
forming narcotic made from the poppy plant. The Chinese government tried to stop the opium
trade by appealing to British royalty. When those pleas went unanswered, the quarrel over opium
grew into a war.

1. Ho
w many chests of opium were brought into China in 1840?

2. Why do you think Chinese officials were unable to stop the opium trade?
In 1839, the Qing emperor instructed Lin Zexu, an important Chinese official, to end
the opium trade with Britain. Lin ordered a large amount of opium seized and publicly
destroyed and sent a letter to Queen Victoria about the problems caused by opium.
Britain refused to stop trading. Below is an excerpt of Commissioner Lin’s official
message to Queen Victoria.

“…We find that your country is distant from us about sixty or seventy
thousand miles, that your foreign ships come hither striving the one with the
other for our trade, and for the simple reason for their strong desire to reap a
profit. By what principle of reason then, should these foreigners send in return a
poisonous drug, which involves in destruction those very natives of China?
Without meaning to say that the foreigners harbor such destructive intentions in
their hearts, yet we positively assert that from their inordinate thirst after gain,
they are perfectly careless about the injuries they inflict upon is!
… We have heard that in your own nation opium is prohibited with the utmost
strictness and severity:- this is a strong proof that you know full well how hurtful
it is to mankind. Since then you do not permit it to injure your own country, you
ought not to have the injurious drug transferred to another country, and above
all other, how much less to the Inner Land (China)! Of the products which China
exports to your foreign countries, there is not one which is not beneficial to
mankind in some shape or other…. On the other hand, the things that come from
your foreign countries are only calculated to make presents of, or serve for mere
amusement. It is quite the same to us if we have them, or if we have them not.”

1. According to Lin, what was Britain’s motivation for trading opium?

2. Why did Lin oppose the opium trade with Britain?

3. What does Lin’s letter reveal about China’s attitudes toward foreigners and
Western influence?

Treaty of Nanking (1842)

Signed on August 29, 1842 by representatives from Great Britain and China, the Treaty of Nanjing
ended the first Opium War, which had raged between the two powers since 1839. At issue were
British claims to free trade in China. By the terms of the treaty, the British received almost
everything they sought, including a large indemnity for the costs of the war, possession of Hong
Kong, and the opening of several major ports to British trade. The Opium Wars erupted anew in
1856, however, as the British sought even more favorable trading conditions. Below is an excerpt of
the 1842 treaty.

I. Lasting peace between the two nations

II. The ports of Canton, Amoy, Fuchou, Ningbo, and Shanghai to be opened to
British trade and residence, and trade conducted according to a well-
understood tariff.
III. Three million dollars to be paid for the debts due to British merchants.
IV. The entire amount of $21,000,000 to be paid before December 31, 1845.
V. All prisoners of war to be immediately released by the Chinese.
VI. The Emperor to grant full and entire amnesty to those of his subjects who
had aided the British.
VII. A regular and fair tariff of export and import custom and other dues to be
established at the open ports
1. How many conditions were favorable to the Chinese?

2. How many conditions were favorable to the British?

3. What effect do you think this treaty will have on the people of China?

THE GREAT POWERS DIVIDE CHINA

1. Based on the political cartoon,

what is happening to China?

2. What motive do the Europeans

have for going into China?
Sensing China’s insecurity, European powers moved swiftly to gain influence along
the heavily populated coastline. Britain, France, Russia, and Germany all gained
territory in China at this time. The United States called for an “Open Door Policy” of
trade, allowing all nations to trade equally.

1. Based on this map, what is the sphere of influence?

2. Why do you think the U.S. would call for an “Open Door Policy”?

3. What might the Chinese people do as a result of the European imperialism in

China?
The Boxer Rebellion (1900)
The Boxer Rebellion was a peasant uprising that attempted to drive all foreigners
from China and to destroy the mongo Ch’ing Dynasty. The Boxers were a secret
society known as the I-ho ch’uan (Righteous and Harmonious Fists). Its members
practiced certain boxing rituals in the belief that this gave them supernatural powers
and made them invulnerable to bullets.

In reaction to imperialism the Boxer movement attracted popular support. As early

as 1899, Boxers were killing Chinese Christians. In 1900 the Dowager Empress
persuaded the Boxers to drop their opposition to the Ch’ing dynasty and unite with it
to destroy the foreigners. All over northern China missionaries and other foreigners
were killed, and in Peking the Boxers besieged foreign diplomats who took refuge in
the foreign legations.

In 1900 an international force landed at Tientsin and fought its way to Peking. In
August thes siege was raised, the city looted, and the imperial palaces were sacked.
The court fled to Sian, and representative of the Dowager Empress had to sue for
peace. The terms of the agreement signed in 1901 was the harshest imposed on
China by Western powers.

1. What was the purpose of the Boxer Rebellion?

2. What even is this similar to?