THE OPIUM WARS

Discussion Question
•  Think back to your 7th grade history class if you can.

•  Who can tell me how the Chinese viewed the Western World in the
1700 and 1800’s?
China
•  Ruled by the Qing
Dynasty

•  Isolated from
Western world.

•  Very limited trade

with Europe.
•  All on Chinese terms.

•  Look down on
Europeans
•  Prevention Barbarian
Ordinances
British Trade in China
•  Limited to city of
Canton.

•  British want:
•  Silk, porcelain, tea

•  British sell:
•  Opium
•  Highly addictive drug
•  Grown in India
1st Opium War
•  1839-1842

•  Fought between:
•  Britain and China

•  Cause:
•  China bans use of opium
& destroys British opium
chests.
•  Britain wants China to
pay for destroyed goods.
British Naval Power
•  British have steam
powered war ships

•  Chinese have wind

powered wooden boats

•  British outgun Chinese

10 to 1

•  British bomb coastal

cities and seize ports.
Result of 1st Opium War
•  Treaty of Nanking
1842

•  British get:
•  Hong Kong
•  5 port cities to trade in

•  Marks start of
“modern” history for
China.
Discussion Question
•  Do you think the British were justified in attacking the
Chinese in the 1st Opium War?

•  Why or why not?

2nd Opium War
•  1856-1860

•  Fought between:
•  British & French vs. Chinese

•  Cause:
•  Chines seizure of British ship
The Arrow

•  British want to:

•  Legalize opium trade
•  Open more ports
•  Stop getting taxed on goods
The War
•  British:
•  Seize city of
Canton

•  Burn Summer
Palace

•  Destroy forts along

coast

•  Chinese plea for

peace
Results
•  Results:
•  80 new ports opened

•  European Christians gain

rights and access to China

•  Opium legalized

•  British French each get 8

million in silver

•  Chinese sold as indentured

servants to USA

•  Foreign trade opened to all

Europeans
Boxer Rebellion
•  1899-1901

•  Boxers=Society of the
Harmonious Fists
•  Trained in martial arts
•  Are anti-imperial & anti-
European
•  Want to restore China to
former glory
Boxer Rebellion
•  Boxers attack & kill
Europeans and Chinese
Christians

•  Briefly supported by
Empress of China.

•  European coalition sends

20,000 troops to put down
the Boxers

•  Chinese government must

pay heavy fines to Europe
as punishment.
Discussion Question
•  In what ways was the Boxer Rebellion a response to the
Opium Wars?

•  Do you think the Chinese were treated unfairly during this

time? Or were they at least partially to blame because of
their policies and actions? What would you have done?