Imperialism in China: Imperialism in China: The Opium Wars & The Opium Wars &

Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion

Global II: SpiconardiGlobal II: Spiconardi

Imperialism in ChinaImperialism in China

China refused to China refused to adapt to Western adapt to Western CultureCulture History of isolationHistory of isolation

Isolated by jungles, Isolated by jungles, mountains and mountains and desertdesert

Middle Kingdom = Middle Kingdom = EthnocentricEthnocentric

Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism Belief that your Belief that your culture is better culture is better than all othersthan all others

Imperialism in ChinaImperialism in China

Believed they were self-sufficientBelieved they were self-sufficient Had little interest or desire to trade Had little interest or desire to trade

with the Westwith the West Europeans nations saw the market potential Europeans nations saw the market potential

of China (435 million people)of China (435 million people) Hmm…Hmm…

What would the Chinese people be willing to What would the Chinese people be willing to trade for?trade for?

What product would they want that they didn’t What product would they want that they didn’t have?have?

OPIUMOPIUM

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

Opium was used recreationally in China Opium was used recreationally in China starting in the 15starting in the 15thth Century Century

Opium was prohibited in 1729Opium was prohibited in 1729

British start to smuggle opium from India British start to smuggle opium from India into Chinainto China

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

By 1835, 12 million people were By 1835, 12 million people were addicted to opiumaddicted to opium

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

Emperor Daoguang has one of this top Emperor Daoguang has one of this top officials, Lin Zexu write a letter to Queen officials, Lin Zexu write a letter to Queen VictoriaVictoria Read the excerpt from Letter to Queen Read the excerpt from Letter to Queen

VictoriaVictoria According to Lin, what was Britain’s motivation for According to Lin, what was Britain’s motivation for

trading opium?trading opium? Why did Lin oppose the opium trade?Why did Lin oppose the opium trade? What does Lin’s letter reveal about China’s attitudes What does Lin’s letter reveal about China’s attitudes

toward foreigners and Western influence?toward foreigners and Western influence?

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

Emperor Daoguang orders British Emperor Daoguang orders British shipments of opium be confiscated shipments of opium be confiscated and destroyedand destroyed During one seizure of British cargoDuring one seizure of British cargo

20,000 chests of opium were destroyed20,000 chests of opium were destroyed Each chest was worth $1,000Each chest was worth $1,000

In 2007 dollars that’s about $300,000,000In 2007 dollars that’s about $300,000,000

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

Britain attacks coastal Chinese cities to Britain attacks coastal Chinese cities to start the war in October of 1839start the war in October of 1839 Battles took place mostly at seaBattles took place mostly at sea Outdated Chinese ships were no match for the Outdated Chinese ships were no match for the

modern steam-powered gunboats of the modern steam-powered gunboats of the BritishBritish

The Opium WarsThe Opium Wars

The Treaty of NanjingThe Treaty of Nanjing China had to pay reparationsChina had to pay reparations All Chinese ports were opened to the All Chinese ports were opened to the

BritishBritish Britain gained control of Hong Kong Britain gained control of Hong Kong

(Restored to China in 1997)(Restored to China in 1997) Extraterritoriality Extraterritoriality British & other British & other

foreigners were not subject to Chinese foreigners were not subject to Chinese law in 5 major port cities of Chinalaw in 5 major port cities of China

Sphere of Influence/Open Sphere of Influence/Open Door PolicyDoor Policy

Other foreign nations sign treaties Other foreign nations sign treaties unfair to Chinaunfair to China Each nation gets a “sphere of influence”Each nation gets a “sphere of influence”

Sphere of Influence Sphere of Influence an area in which a an area in which a foreign nation controlled trade & foreign nation controlled trade & investmentinvestment

In 1899 the United States proposes the In 1899 the United States proposes the Open Door PolicyOpen Door Policy

Open Door Policy Open Door Policy China’s doors (ports) be China’s doors (ports) be open to merchants of all nationsopen to merchants of all nations

In exchange China would not be colonizedIn exchange China would not be colonized

Sphere of Influence/Open Sphere of Influence/Open Door PolicyDoor Policy

Response to ImperialismResponse to Imperialism

Taiping Rebellion (Refer to reading)Taiping Rebellion (Refer to reading) Empress Cixi wants to strengthen Empress Cixi wants to strengthen

ChinaChina Promotes programs to update the Promotes programs to update the

educational system, and military, educational system, and military, factoriesfactories

Boxer Rebellion (Refer to reading)Boxer Rebellion (Refer to reading)