2.1 Causes and events of the First Opium War

The First Opium War marked a turning point in China's history. Britain's desire for Chinese goods, especially tea, led to a trade imbalance. To address this, British merchants smuggled Indian opium into China, despite its illegality under Chinese law.

The war exposed the Qing Dynasty's weaknesses and ushered in the "Century of Humiliation." China was forced to open treaty ports, cede Hong Kong to Britain, and grant extraterritoriality to British subjects. This set a precedent for further foreign encroachment and unequal treaties.

The First Opium War

Economic and political causes

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• Growing British demand for Chinese goods especially tea (porcelain, silk)
  • Trade imbalance in China's favor as British had little to offer in exchange such as wool, cotton, and opium
• British sought to address trade deficit by selling Indian opium to China
  • Opium trade was illegal under Chinese law but British merchants smuggled it into the country
• Qing Dynasty's isolationist policies and attempts to restrict foreign trade
  • Canton System limited Western traders to the port of Canton (Guangzhou) and required them to deal with Chinese middlemen (Cohong)
• Chinese confiscation and destruction of British opium in 1839
  • Chinese Commissioner Lin Zexu ordered the seizure and destruction of 20,000 chests of British opium, seen as a direct challenge to British commercial interests

Key events and battles

• British expedition led by Captain Charles Elliot arrived in China in June 1840 to force concessions from the Qing government
• Battle of Kowloon in July 1839
  • British victory over Chinese forces demonstrated the superiority of British naval power
• Capture of Chusan Island in July 1840
  • Strategic location for British naval operations and a base for further attacks on the Chinese mainland
• Battle of the Bogue in February 1841
  • British captured forts guarding the Pearl River estuary, opening the way to Canton (Guangzhou)
• Capture of Canton in May 1841
  • British occupied the city, forcing Chinese officials to negotiate and agree to British demands
• Battle of Chinhai in October 1841
  • British victory gained control of the Yangtze River, a key waterway for trade and transportation
• Battle of Chapu in May 1842
  • British victory further weakened Chinese resistance and morale
• Battle of Woosung in June 1842
  • British captured the town, threatening the nearby city of Shanghai and demonstrating their ability to strike deep into Chinese territory
• Battle of Chinkiang in July 1842
  • British victory led to the capture of Nanjing, the southern capital of the Qing Dynasty, forcing the Chinese to sue for peace

Role of British East India Company

• East India Company held a monopoly on British trade with China granted by the British government
  • Oversaw the production and export of opium from British India to China, which became a major source of revenue for the company
• Company's opium trade was a major source of revenue helping finance its operations and expansion in Asia
  • Opium sales accounted for up to 20% of the company's total revenue by the 1830s
• East India Company lobbied the British government to intervene in China
  • Sought to protect its economic interests and force China to open up to trade on more favorable terms for the British
• Company's merchants and ships played a key role in the First Opium War
  • Provided logistical support and intelligence to the British military, such as transporting troops and supplies, and gathering information on Chinese defenses

Significance of Chinese defeat

• Treaty of Nanking in 1842 ended the war with China making major concessions:
  1. Opening of five treaty ports (Canton, Amoy, Fuzhou, Ningbo, and Shanghai) to British trade and residence
  2. Cession of Hong Kong Island to Britain as a crown colony
  3. Fixed tariffs on British goods and extraterritoriality for British subjects in China
• Chinese defeat exposed the weaknesses of the Qing Dynasty
  • Undermined the dynasty's legitimacy and control over the country, leading to internal rebellions (Taiping Rebellion) and further foreign encroachment
• Marked the beginning of the "Century of Humiliation" for China
  • Period of foreign domination and exploitation lasting until the mid-20th century, with China forced to grant concessions to Western powers and Japan
• Set a precedent for further foreign encroachment and unequal treaties
  • Other Western powers (France, United States, Russia) soon demanded similar privileges, leading to more conflicts (Second Opium War, Sino-French War)
• Contributed to the rise of Chinese nationalism and anti-imperialism in the 20th century
  • Inspired Chinese intellectuals and revolutionaries (Sun Yat-sen, Mao Zedong) to seek ways to modernize and strengthen China to resist foreign aggression