THE SECOND
OPIUM WAR
0
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF THE SECOND OPIUM WAR FROM 1856 - 1860
May 20, 1858
The attack on Dagu forts, leading
to the negotiation over the treaty
of Tianjin
October 23, 1856
February 1856
British and French
attacked Canton
May 16, 1858
October 8, 1856
December 28, 1857
The ‘Arrow
Incident’ in
Chinese city of
Canton ,
marking the
start of the
Second Opium
War
The attack
on Canton
by the
British and
French
December 1856
The burning
of foreign
warehouses
The British and French
later destroy the Dagu
forts
June 25, 1859
Discussion of Treaty of
Aigun between Russia and
China
Murder of a French
missionary
August 1860
British and French fail attempt
to pass through the Dagu
Forts
Signing of the Treaty of
Tianjin by the Chinese
government
China signs the Beijing
Convention, marking the end
of the Second Opium War
November 8, 1858
Opium trade being
legalise by the
Chinese once
again (forcefully)
June 1858
October–November 1860
October 1860
British and French captures
Beijing and burns the emperor’s
Summer Palace
CAUSE
& EFFECT
0
The Catalyst for The Second Opium War
October 8, 1856
It all began with the 'Arrow incident,' where a British-registered ship, the 'Arrow,' docked in Canton, a Chinese treaty
port established by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The Chinese authorities boarded the ship on alleged suspicion of
piracy and smuggling, and arrested several crew members of Chinese ethnicity and allegedly lowered the British
Flag.
October 23, 1856
This incident triggered ‘The Arrow War’ also known as The Second Opium War. Britain, driven by its desire to gain
more concessions and expand its trading rights in China, sought excuses to go to war. With their superior military
and industrial strength, they were equivocal in their ability to secure a decisive victory over China, which was
resistant to industrialisation at the time. This prompt the Arrow incident to be the perfect pretext for Britain to send
a warship up the Pearl River estuary and launch an attack on Canton.
As the attack ensued, France, later, decided to join Great Britain in the conflict, using the murder of the French
missionary in February 1856 as a validation to oppose China. However, the French merely did it also in anticipation of
forcing concessions from the Chinese.
The start of a conflict
December 1856
The Chinese, on the other hand, resisted these foreign demands/intrusions by burning foreign factories (warehouses) in Canton
to show their vengeance and frustration. This created more tension, resulting in the final conquest of Canton by the British and
French armies.
May 20, 1858
On top of that, British and French forces launched an attack on the Dagu (Taku) forts, located along the Hai (Peiho) River, near
the city of Tianjin (Tientsin) in China. This forced the Chinese government to engage in negotiations and discussions with the
British and French. Resulting in the formation of the Treaties of Tianjin.
June 1858
The Treaties of Tianjin are signed, gesturing an end to the disputes. This includes several concessions granted to Great Britain
and France, including “allowances for the opening of more ports in China, foreign travel in the interior of China, freedom of
movement for Christian missionaries, and residences in Beijing for Western envoys.” Additionally, The United States and Russia
were also granted the same concession as they were actively involved in the conflict and sought the same benefits. Despite the
Treaties being signed, China does not ratify them. This non-ratification ultimately contributed to the ongoing tensions between
China and Western powers during that period.
November 8, 1858
The British further negotiate in the legalisation of opium trade in Shanghai. China who was at the end of its rope, could only
agree to the British.
The final straw
June 25, 1859
British-led forces, who were escorting British and French diplomats traveling to Beijing, wanted to pass through the Dagu forts,
which the Chinese authorities denied. This refusal led to a skirmish, and the conflict between the two resumed. The British-led
forces suffer heavy casualties and were driven back.
August 1860
In consequence of the earlier conflict, British and French troops took action to destroy the Dagu forts.
October 1860
Following the destruction of the Dagu forts, British and French troops successfully captured Beijing and proceeded to burn the
emperor's Summer Palace.
October–November 1860
The culmination of these events led to the signing of the Beijing Convention, which marks the end of the Second Opium War This
Convention includes three individual concessions with Great Britain (October 24), France (October 25), and Russia (November
14). These agreements ratify the Tianjin treaties with Britain and France, which therefore grants the same rights to other
countries too. Moreover, territorial adjustments were made, with China yielding the southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula to
Britain. The Chinese also accepts the Treaty of Aigun with Russia (refer to timeline), permitting Russia the Manchuria region.
Overall, the Beijing Convention signified the end of hostilities, the broadening of concessions to multiple nations, and territorial
changes in China's relations with foreign powers, highlighting a pivotal moment in China's 19th-century history, marked by shifts
in its relationship with foreign powers.
SOURCES
0
SOURCE 1:
This was a photo portraying the aftermath of the
Battle of Taku Fort in Tianjin, China, during the
Second Opium War. It unfolds when British-led
forces, who were escorting British and French
diplomats traveling to Beijing, wanted to pass
through the Dagu forts but was stopped by the
Chinese authorities. As a result, a fight broke out
and the British-led forces suffered heavy
casualties and were driven back. However, after
a delay, the British and French troops destroy the
forts at Dagu, and they then proceed upriver.
Photograph by Felice Beato, August 1860.
The severe damage depicted in the picture is palpable, highlighting the insurmountable strength
British had over China. Factors such as China being backwards in industrialisation and preexisting instability (due to previous events that occur during the war) could serve as an
explanation to the severe loss.
SOURCE 2:
This was a satirical French commentary on the
Second Opium War. This picture could be
perceived as a propaganda to show other
countries that the French position in the world
stage lies high. This would have resulted in a
sense of fear and prevent other country from
provoking France. Additionally, this serves as a
humiliating reminder to China that they were
hopeless and desperate.
Daumier (1808-79), 1858. Full credit: Pictures from History / Granger, NYC
SOURCE 3:
This is an illustration of Qing official taking down
the British flag on the Arrow, the trigger for the
Second Opium War. Great Britain desires to be
granted more concessions that further extend
British trading rights, consequence them into
seeking for excuses to go to war and gain
treaties with China, as during the time Britain
superior military and industrial strength gave them
the certainty to a definite win against China (who
at the time resist to be industrialised).
Credit: Humanities Textbook
The ‘Arrow incident’ provided a perfect pretext for the British to send a warship up the Pearl River estuary
to launch an attack on Canton. As the attack ensued, France, later, decided to join Great Britain in the
conflict, using the murder of the French missionary in February 1856 as a validation to oppose China.
However, the French merely did it also in anticipation of forcing concessions from the Chinese.
HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE
0
IMPORTANCE OF THE WAR TO THE PEOPLE LIVING AT THE TIME
The importance of the Second Opium War to the people living at the time cannot be overstated. This war had profound and farreaching consequences for both China and the European powers involved. In particular, Chinese people were significantly impacts
by:
Loss of Sovereignty
The Second Opium War further eroded Chinese sovereignty and control over its own territory and was deeply humiliating for the
Chinese people. Britain, France and other foreign powers extracted even greater concessions and privileges than those granted in
the Treaty of Nanking following the First Opium War. It weakened Qing Dynasty's authority and control over China's political and
economic landscape for many decades.
Nationalism and Anti-Foreign Sentiment
The Second Opium War, like the First, fuelled nationalist sentiments and rebellion against foreign intervention and territorial losses in
the broader Chinese population. It led to the emergence of reform movements aimed at modernizing China and strengthening it
against foreign encroachments over many decades. These nationalist sentiments are a key part of China's historical memory, and
heavily influence its foreign policy and territorial disputes today.
In summary, the Second Opium War had a profound impact on the economic, social and political lives of the people living at
the time. It left an indelible mark on both China and the Western powers involved and contributed to the shaping of modern
China and its relations with the rest of the world.
HOW DEEPLY WERE PEOPLE’S LIVES AFFECTED BY THE WAR?
The Second Opium War had a deep and lasting impact on the lives of Chinese people. It was seen as a continuation of the humiliating
events of the First Opium War, and it further exacerbated the suffering of Chinese people in multiple ways:
Loss of Lives and Destruction
The Second Opium War resulted in a significant loss of life and widespread destruction, especially in regions directly affected by the
conflict. Various battles and the siege of Beijing, in particular, led to considerable casualties and damage to infrastructure.
Loss of culture
The presence of foreign troops, missionaries and civilians, in the treaty ports, became a palpable source of irritation and clash between
Western values and traditional Chinese culture. Likewise, the forceful introduction of Western customs, education, religion, and advanced
technologies to the local population led to both fascination and resistance Chinese intellectuals and the broader population.
Economic impact
The Second Opium War was driven by selfish economic interests of the Europeans. Foreign merchants and businesses gained greater
access to Chinese markets and resources, while addiction to opium and economic exploitation China intensified. These events had a
profound impact on Chinese industries and agriculture, and lead to China’s economic decline and an uprise in European economies during
this period.
In summary, the Second Opium War had profoundly negative multifaceted impacts on the lives of Chinese people. In essence
the Second Opium War intensified the challenges initiated by the First Opium War by further eroding China's sovereignty and
causing significant economic and cultural disruptions and catalysing social and political transformations.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY THE WAR?
The Second Opium War was fought by United Kingdom and France against the Qing dynasty of China over a period of 4 year
(1856 to 1860). The Chinese side suffered heavy losses, with an estimated 2,100-2,801 killed and wounded, while the British and
French lost 134 and 25 soldiers respectively, while their wounded number equalled 642 and 146 respectively. The United States
was officially neutral but later aided the British in the Battle of the Barrier Forts (1856) and the Battle of Taku Forts (1859) and lost
11 soldiers and had 23 wounded.
FOR HOW LONG THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR LASTED?
The effects of the Second Opium War lasted a significant period. The enduring consequences of the war continued to shape
China's trajectory well into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and influenced its relationship with foreign powers.
Political Consequences and Transition to a Republic
The Second Opium War played a key role in the decline of the Qing Dynasty and also contributed to the development of political
reform movements including the Hundred Days' Reform and the Xinhai Revolution, which lead to the eventual establishment of the
Republic of China in 1912, and marked a fundamental change in China's political structure and governance.
Treaty Concessions and Extraterritoriality
The Treaty of Tianjin (1858) and the Treaty of Beijing (1860) that ended the Second Opium War expanded the number of Chinese
ports open to foreign trade and residence, allowing Western powers to exert even more influence and control over these areas
well into the early 20th century. Foreigners were granted extraterritorial rights, which meant they were not subject to Chinese law
in these regions. Even today, issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity continues to be relevant, especially in the
context of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In summary, the effects of the Second Opium War were long-lasting and continued to shape China's trajectory for many
decades after the war itself. The consequences of this conflict were not limited to a specific time frame but had a profound
and enduring impact on China's political, economic, and social development well into the 20th century.
HOW RELEVANT IS THE WAR TO THE PRESENT?
The Second Opium War has significant historical importance to present-day China, in terms of national pride, foreign policies and
territorial claims:
Global Implications
The Opium Wars were part of a broader context of imperialist expansion and European colonialism in the 19th century. They
exemplified the aggressive pursuit of economic and territorial interests by Western powers in Asia. The events of the Opium Wars
were watched closely by other nations with colonial ambitions, and they set precedents for similar conflicts and power struggles
in other parts of the world as a prelude to the post colonisation era.
Historical Perspective on China's Rise
China's rapid economic and political rise in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is often examined in light of its historical
experiences, including the humiliation of the Opium Wars. Understanding this history helps provide context for China's pursuit of a
stronger global role and its approach to diplomacy and trade.
Modern Diplomacy
The legacy of the Opium Wars continues to influence China's diplomatic approach. It informs China's foreign policy decisions and
its efforts to assert itself as a major player in international affairs.
In summary, while the Opium Wars themselves occurred in the 19th century, their historical, political, and cultural legacies
continue to be relevant in the context of China's identity, diplomacy, and international relations in the 21st century.
Understanding this history is crucial for comprehending China's position in the world and its interactions with other nations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Timeline of the Second Opium War (Arrow War) | Britannica
Opium Wars | Key Facts | Britannica
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bibendum ante ullamcorper, tincidunt augue. Nunc sed lorem aliquam, malesuada lectus eu,
placerat lorem.
The 1st and 2nd Opium Wars: Britain Versus China (thoughtco.com)
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bibendum ante ullamcorper, tincidunt augue. Nunc sed lorem aliquam, malesuada lectus eu,
placerat lorem.
Overview of the Second Opium War (thoughtco.com)
The 1st and 2nd Opium Wars: Britain Versus China (thoughtco.com)