Diyici yapian zhanzheng, also known as the opium war or the anglochinese war, was a series of military engagements fought between great britain and the qing dynasty of china. The opium wars were two wars which were waged between the great qing and the british government in the mid19th century, triggered by the british governments imposition of the opium trade upon china. The first opium war was a conflict between imperial china and the british empire. Opium war definition, a war between great britain and china that began in 1839 as a conflict over the opium trade and ended in 1842 with the chinese cession of hong kong to the british, the opening of five chinese ports to foreign merchants, and the grant of other commercial and diplomatic privileges in the treaty of nanking. Opium wars, two armed conflicts in china in the mid19th century between the forces of western countries and of the qing dynasty, which ruled china from 1644 to 191112 the first opium war 183942 was fought between china and britain, and the second opium war 185660, also known as the arrow war or the anglofrench war in china, was fought by britain and france against chi. Aug 11, 2017 the irony is intense, however, because it was the western powers that were on the side of opium distribution. How were the opium wars an example of imperialism in china. Lin sent a letter to queen victoria trying to resolve the matter, letting the british know that if they objected to the death penalty that would be imposed on those involved in the opium trade they could sign a different document that would allow them to trade freely at the. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. This article will tackle the causes and effects of the opium wars between china and britain. As a result of the war, britain won trade rights, access to five treaty ports, and hong kong. The resulting concession of hong kong compromised chinas territorial sovereignty.
A few years ago i looked it up on wikipedia and it was still then saying that it was one. British merchants began selling opium to china in the 18th century. The opium wars were two wars which were waged between the great qing and the british. Lin zexu appointed in 1838 to stamp out opium trade zexu destroyed stocks of opium in china. Canton and other ports of the southeast regularly visited illegally by foreign vessels had become oases of corruption. Opium wars, two mid19thcentury armed conflicts between china and western countries. Massive corruption resulting from opium smuggling posed a major problem of authority that challenged the ability of the state to rule. The opium wars in the mid19th century were a critical juncture in modern chinese history.
For years, britain and china traded goods with one another, but the trade was very lopsided in the latters favor. Through an examination of the 19thcentury england china opium trade, this unit introduces students to the. Through an examination of the 19thcentury englandchina opium trade, this unit introduces students to the. Beijings famed old summer palace was gutted as a reprisal for the torture of a british mediation team. Opium wars article about opium wars by the free dictionary.
Opium war article about opium war by the free dictionary. China prohibited the consumption and importation of opium during the early part of the century, but after the second opium war china yielded to british pressure and legalized opium. The two opium wars 18401842 and 18561860 prompted the qing dynasty to initiate a wide range of social reforms, during which many modern colleges sprung up, mainly offering such courses as foreign languages, natural sciences and practical technologies to serve the purpose of learning from the west. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Macdonald fraser, and amitav ghosh, all of which focus on the opium wars, and the strategies. This was the general pattern of trade that provoked the opium war. The immediate issue was chinese official seizure of opium stocks at canton to stop the banned opium. The military confrontations that occurred between china and britain from 1839 to 1842 are known as the first opium war. Opium war in american english noun a war between great britain and china that began in 1839 as a conflict over the opium trade and ended in 1842 with the chinese cession of hong kong to the british, the opening of five chinese ports to foreign merchants, and the grant of other commercial and diplomatic privileges in the treaty of nanking. The british government was extremely insulted by lins destruction of the opium, and took it as a sign of hostility. Significant causes of the opium war professor essays. Treasures with a troubled past a section of the ruins of the old summer palace as they stand today captain, later colonel, harry lewis evans, a picture dated 1857, three years before the culmination of the second. Where did the british get the opium in the opium wars. China the first opium war and its aftermath britannica.
Jan 29, 2019 the first opium war was fought from march 18, 1839, to august 29, 1842, and was also known as the first anglochinese war. You, and hes talking to i believe the foreign minister who is an aggressive proponent of the opium wars, you will be called upon to show cause for your present intention of making war upon the chinese. The two opium wars 18401842 and 18561860 prompted the qing dynasty to initiate a wide. In february 1840 the british government decided to launch a military expedition, and elliot and his cousin, george later sir george elliot, were appointed joint plenipotentiaries to china though the latter, in poor health, resigned in november. The second opium war 18561860, led by an anglofrench coalition, ended in further ignominy for the chinese. Diyici yapian zhanzheng, also known as the opium war or the anglochinese war, was a series of military engagements fought between britain and the qing dynasty of china.
For example, a chest approximately 5 lbs of opium cost only. The opium wars were two wars which were waged between the great qing and the british government in the mid19th century, triggered by the british governments imposition of the opium trade upon china opium had been used in traditional chinese medicine for a long time before the british came, mostly to treat disease. In a similar way today, the current fashion for synthetic derivatives of opium began with prescription drugs, not black markets. Before this war, china was an autonomous feudal state. The opium war article about the opium war by the free. The opium war in this descriptive essay the movement for china to prohibit opium and the formation and the devolution of the first opium war from 1839 till 1842 and its aftermaths for china will be shown. Opium wars, two armed conflicts in china in the mid19th century between the forces of western countries and of the qing dynasty, which ruled china from 1644 to 191112. The british wage two wars on china to have better access to chinese markets, especially to sell opium grown in british india. All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at ancient china opium wars. This effort was led by the british who sought the opening of all of china to their merchants, an ambassador in beijing, legalization of the opium trade, and the exemption of imports from tariffs. The british sent 42 warships from their outposts in india, beginning the first opium war 18391842. Early in the 19th century, british merchants began secretly taking opium into china. The second opium war was also known as the arrow war or anglofrench war in china. It faced the qing dynasty and the british empire, and broke out as a result of the differences between both countries regarding opium trafficking, as the chinese wanted to prohibit this activity, that was very profitable for the british.
Opium wars definition, a war between great britain and china that began in 1839 as a conflict over the opium trade and ended in 1842 with the chinese cession of hong kong to the british, the opening of five chinese ports to foreign merchants, and the grant of other commercial and diplomatic privileges in the treaty of nanking. The first opium war 183942 was fought between china and britain. Britain and france, along with troops from russia and the united states, attacked more chinese cities. Opium war definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The great principles of justice are involved in this matter. The war was the second opium war, which culminated in 1860 with the palaces being ransacked, first by french and then british troops. Chinese merchants accepted only silver in exchange for things like tea, china, silk, and other unique chinese products. The opium wars, also known as the anglochinese wars, were the first opium war. In the mid1850s, the european powers and the united states sought to renegotiate their commercial treaties with china.
Opium addiction destroyed lives, and the drain of silver was causing fiscal problems for the qing government. Opium wars first opium war 18391842 second opium war 18561860 bibliography. It was, however, john quincy adaas rather than palmerston who succinctly summed up the ideological position by defining the war as a kowtow. The opium wars, opium legalization and opium consumption in china. Opium is a drug that is obtained from certain species of poppy flowers. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at ancient china opium wars webquest print page. The opium wars is the name given to two nineteenthcentury wars between china and western countries. In june, 16 british warships arrived in hong kong and sailed northward to the mouth of the bei river to. Mismanagement in the aftermath of the british east india companys loss of its monopoly in 1834 abstract the histories of the opium war, of which there are many, have posited that the roots of the conflict are diverse and interconnected, ranging from cultural differences to conflicting perspectives on trade.
The great opium war revival foundation for economic education. In 1838, china began seizing opium stores, so britain opted for the only logical response when ones illegal drug trade is halted. The second opium war, sometimes called the arrow war, or the second china war started on october 8, 1856. The british won the war and even acquired the island of hong kong as a new colony. The first opium war was fought between china and great britain from 1839 to 1942. The clashes included the first opium war 18391842, with the british naval forces, and in the. Opium had been used in traditional chinese medicine for a long time before the british came, mostly to treat disease. With a new war on opium, certain evils will be incurred. They gave us notice to abandon the contraband trade, the trade in opium. It is used both as a pain reliever and for recreational purposes. The second opium war also known as the second anglochinese war, the second china war. The term opium wars refers to two infamous imperialist wars that britain fought.
Treaty of nanking first of the series of unequal treaties the treaty offered only compensation from china to britain and nothing in return the conditions were. Opium wars, 183942 and 185660, two wars between china and western countries that marked the shift of wealth and power from east to west. The opium wars 183942 and 185660 were two wars between china and western countries. The first opium war 183942, also known as the opium war and as the anglochinese war, was fought between the united kingdom of great britain and ireland and the qing empire over their conflicting viewpoints on diplomatic relations, trade, and the administration of justice for foreign nationals. The immediate issue was chinese official seizure of opium stocks at canton to stop the banned opium trade, and threatening the death penalty for future. The first opium war 183942 was fought between china and britain, and the second opium war 185660, also known as the arrow war or the anglofrench war in china, was fought by britain and france against china. Opium wars simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. At the time, britain along with europe and the us, all wanted to have commercial trades with china again. Dierci yapian zhanzheng, also known as the second anglochinese war, the second china war, the arrow war, or the anglofrench expedition to china, was a war pitting the british empire and the french empire against the qing dynasty of china that lasted from 1856 to 1860. Hong zhu, shiyan lou, in development and reform of higher education in china, 2011. Several chinese cities were completely occupied by foreign forces as defined in treaties, such as dalian. Opium wars definition of opium wars by the free dictionary. Opium wars synonyms, opium wars pronunciation, opium wars translation, english dictionary definition of opium wars.
The opium wars were two wars in the mid19th century involving great qing and the british government and concerned their imposition of trade of opium upon china. In the second opium war, from 1856 to 1860, a weakened china fought both great britain and france. The opium war was one of the most important points of inflexion in the history of china. French soldiers also took a big part in this war, which started when the chinese took over one of the british ships in the port of guangzhou, called the arrow. War, a phrase you will quickly hear is luo hou jiu yao ai da, which literally means that if you are backward, you will take a beating.
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