The British in
China
Imperialism in China
O Imperialism in China 1820-1900
O China was a major target of European Imperialism. A
number of significant events that occurred during this
period are listed below.
O Opium Trade
O First and Second Opium Wars
O Treaty of Nanking, 1842
O Tientsin Treaty, 1858
O Peking Conventions, 1860
O The Chinese culture attempted to deal with the European
culture by attempting to isolate themselves from any
contact with the Europeans whom they considered
barbarians.
China in the 1800’s
O Even in the past China was the most
populated nation in the world
O Although it was not industrialized China was
able to meet the needs of the people and was
virtually self sufficient
O China had little interest in trading with
European nations as they felt that the goods
were inferior to Chinese goods
Continued…
O In fact the European nations were only
allowed to trade at one port – Canton
O This made the imperial powers
desperate to access the
huge Chinese market
O To do this they had to find
a product the Chinese would
trade for
The War on Drugs
O The British East India company soon found
the product – opium
O The drug was highly controlled in both
England and India but was manufactured
and smuggled into China to extend British
control
O Many of the Chinese became addicted to
the drug and were then dominated by the
British
Continued…
O The Chinese government was so weakened
by the smuggling that they were powerless
to stop it
O Even pleas to Queen Victoria fell on deaf
ears and the opium trade continued
O The drug trade in south-east Asia
eventually led to open war between the
British and the Chinese
Continued…
O The Chinese were overmatched and the
British easily defeated them forcing an
unfair treaty on the Chinese
The Treaty of Nanking
O The Treaty of Nanking opened four more
ports to British goods and allowed the
British East India Company to extent their
power into China
O With China weakened the other countries
of Europe soon carved out spheres of
influence
O Even Japan took part in dividing up China
The Open Door Policy
O Fearing that China would be carved
into colonies the United States
suggested the Open Door Policy
O This guaranteed the trading rights of
all nations in China and prevented the
colonization of China
Video
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alJaltUm
rGo
Assignment
O Read pg. 573 – 581
O Answer focus questions on pg. 573
O Answer section review questions 1-5 on pg.
581