Of Opium and Boxers…

China Before the Age of Imperialism

China was self-sufficient in the 1700s and 1800s. What does self-sufficient mean?

They didn’t want to trade with other countries. What is the term for a country that does not want to trade?

But those sneaky British….

The British don’t give up so easily. So they went to plan “B.”

The British began selling opium to the Chinese. Opium is a highly addictive drug.

The Chinese government tried to keep it out of China. Think about how our government tries to keep drugs out of America. Does it work?

Escalation!

The Chinese wanted to stop the opium, so they killed the British in China to keep the opium out.

But the British didn’t appreciate this and declared war.

The Opium War was a big loss for China and allowed the British (and other imperials) in.

And yet, at the same time!

China was already having problems. The Taiping Rebellion was an attempt to

create a China without poverty. As Western (imperial) countries continued

entering to trade, China began to change. All of this pushed the Chinese Emperor to

attempt reforms (think Meiji Restoration) which failed.

The Reaction to the Open Door Policy!

The imperial countries were forcing the Chinese to accept trade.

Eventually, America forced China to follow the “Open Door Policy.” What was that?

Some Chinese formed a group called the “Righteous and Harmonious Fists” (we call them the Boxers) which tried to force Westerners from China by using martial arts!

The Boxer Rebellion

The Boxers attacked Europeans, Americans, and Japanese who had moved to China.

They killed missionaries, businessmen, and others.

They were finally defeated by eight countries that fought against them.

The Results of the Rebellion

China was forced to pay the countries that were attacked.

Imperial countries were allowed to keep their spheres of influence

But nationalism began to grow in China!