The Economic, Social, and Political Effects of The Opium War Essay. Throughout Chinese history political and economic events have led to drastic changes in China’s economy and government. Many of these events have been internal, involving struggles within China. Others have been external, such as the Opium War Essay On The Opium War Words | 9 Pages The first opium war which began in is a story of how China a rich, prosperous and stable power, “”” albiet a closed, confucian society” ruled by the Emperor Daoguang (r. to ) turned into a weakened and compromised state brought about by the exploitation and humiliation by the British and other Western powers History Essay The Opium Wars brought a significant change to the relationship between China and Europe on the political, economic and cultural levels. Before the British forced change on China in what is now called ‘gunboat diplomacy’, China was an isolationist and protectionist. In some ways, the Opium Wars occurred because China looked down on Europe and
Essay on Opium Wars - Words | Bartleby
Many of these events have been internal, involving struggles within China. Others have been external, such as the Opium War. The Opium War is more than just a war, the results and changes it made created a deep impact on China and the Western World.
China considered itself better than any other civilizations. The Chinese believed the Chinese empire was the Central Kingdom in the ideal world order. The Emperor of China was thought to be the elder brother of all surrounding kings and emperors. China had little contact with the West due to the fact opium war essay natural and political barriers were in the way.
It was only when the West turned to China for spices did China confront the Western World. China lacked all appreciation for the West, and as trade with the West opened up in the early 16th century, foreigners were continually looked down upon.
As the trade between China and the West grew, the unequal trading between the two became very obvious. The growing demand in the West for tea, Chinese silk, opium war essay, medicine, and porcelain led to the booming trade in China. These goods were expensive, but the West had little to offer to China except for silver. However, China was going through a silver and copper crisis.
Silver was worth much more than copper, the exchange rate being around 1, opium war essay, copper cash for one ounce tael of silver. But while silver was worth more than copper, opium war essay, more and more copper was being produced. This led to inflation of copper. Since taxes could only be paid in copper according the value of copper in silver, people were losing money.
At the same time there was an annual drain of silver. In Tls, opium war essay. This drain of silver scared people which led them to hoard and value their silver, leaving more silver out of circulation. The East India Company, which was a British trading Company, was soon trading silver for tea as the demand for tea increased in the West. This trade led the East India Co. into a huge debt. Trading monopolies with Chinese merchants and the unfair tariffs and taxes made the situation even more difficult.
A triangle trade was created to work off the debt, by having the cotton from India sold, and then that money was used to by tea.
However, opium war essay, the East India Co. was still opium war essay debt and silver was still needed. So finally the East India Co. turned to opium for trade. Opium opium war essay an ideal trade item. It was used as a medicine in China for thousands of years. Being an addictive drug, it became very popular in China. The East India Co. was afraid of a direct trade with opium, so the opium was sold to agency houses and that profit was used to buy tea.
Because of this, silver was soon being traded for opium, and the outflow of silver from China quickened. China became addicted to the drug. Opium was used as a mean of escape from the difficult time that the economy had created. Bythe city of Soochow hadopium war essay, addicts.
Even though opium was prohibited, it was still accessible and cheep. China hastened to stop the addiction to opium. The trading of opium had led to the loss of silver in exchange for opium, the loss of value in silver and copper, opium war essay, and although China prohibited opium war essay export of silver insilver was being hoarded for its value. He was responsible for stopping the opium traffic. Lin acted quickly by first threatening the addicts, rounding up the drug dealers, and discouraging foreigners from dealing the drug by confiscating stores and forcing them to sign bonds of opium war essay conduct.
Determined to stop the opium traffic by any means Lin did what would be similar to the Boston Tea Party in On March 24, Lin seized illegal stocks of opium from Chinese dealers and destroyed 20, chest of British opium. The Opium War itself was a small event. Lasting only 3 years from tothe Opium War was extremely advantageous for the British. Through a strong military strategy, England defeated China in The Treaty of Nanking, or what the Chinese call the unequal treaties, forced China to agree to harsh requirements.
There are 8 basic points about the Treaty of Nanking. The first point was the cession of Hong Kong to the English. The second was the opening of 5 treaty ports to foreign consuls, businessmen, and missionaries at Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai. The third point was the payment of 21 million silver dollars to the British Crown.
The fourth point was to abolish the Cohong monopoly. The fifth point was the establishment of a moderate tariff and limitation of inland transit dues. The sixth was according foreign officials equal status and access to Chinese officials. The seventh point was the recognition of extraterritorial rights for foreigners to be tried by their own government. And the eighth was the adoption of nation principle in diplomatic agreements with the Western countries.
Ironically enough, opium war essay treaty never mentions a word concerning opium, opium war essay. This treaty changed the entire relationship between China and the Western nations. The treaty opened China up to England as well as the United States, Russia and France. Trading monopolies could no longer exist with new trade in Hong Kong. China also lost a considerable amount of power to the West. InRussia took opium war essay of Chinese territory in the Treaty of Aigun, and France managed to obtain a special concession in Shanghai, opium war essay.
By opium war essay, China opium war essay made treaties with several other European nations. The actual purpose of the war was to end the opium traffic, but the final result was much more than that.
The Opium War, however, had many social and economic effects. It created an entire new level of crime and disorder in Southeast China. The British navy drove away the pirates opium war essay the coast and up into Kwangtung-Kwangsi highlands. There, the pirates would periodically raid plentiful villages up the river. To add to the crime, former militiamen used their weapons for banditry.
Feuds between the Punti and Hakkas two different clans between the North and the South rose with the crime level, opium war essay. Villages were divided amongst each other like Montagues and Capulets. Unemployment was another issue. When Shanghai opened up to foreign trade, it shifted the occupations for the coolies and boatmen who would transport tea and silk throughout the regions in Canton. These thousands of workers were now unemployed since the majority of trade moved from Canton to Shanghai.
The Opium War had led the people of China to witness the destruction opium war essay their military and navy by the strongest military force at the time. It led to the a greater understanding and appreciation for West, despite their hatred for it. This led many people to consider and try to understand Western doctrines and beliefs. The Opium War was also one of the many factors that led on the famous Taiping Rebellion.
Directly after the opium war the feuds between the Punti and Hakkas clans rose. The Hakkas were Chinese from the North that had immigrated to Southern China. He believed himself to be the younger brother of Christ, and was sent on a mission to return Christianity to China. The Taiping rebellion lasted from tocausing the loss of millions opium war essay millions of lives. The Opium War was more than just a war.
In the end it resulted in the dramatic changes in China economically, socially, and politically. Because of the Opium War, China was left with internal struggles and warfare, increased crime, an economy downfall in Canton, the once major trading city of china, and the economic rise at Shanghai and Opium war essay Kong.
It led to the major influence of the Western cultures and belief in China, and the loss of power and control China had over Western nations to the gain of power in the Western nations over China. The Opium War was more than just your average war. The outcomes of this event changed China socially, economically, and politically.
It resulted in a major change between the relationship of China and Western nations. The unfair treaties left China in weak position to the West, and opened China to Western influence. Home Prices How It Works FAQ Order.
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opium war Essay Words | 2 Pages. The Opium War was a war fought by two countries Great Britain and china in The war was fought over the drug opium which was used by the Chinese for hundreds of year to relieve pain. opium is History Essay The Opium Wars brought a significant change to the relationship between China and Europe on the political, economic and cultural levels. Before the British forced change on China in what is now called ‘gunboat diplomacy’, China was an isolationist and protectionist. In some ways, the Opium Wars occurred because China looked down on Europe and The Economic, Social, and Political Effects of The Opium War Essay. Throughout Chinese history political and economic events have led to drastic changes in China’s economy and government. Many of these events have been internal, involving struggles within China. Others have been external, such as the Opium War
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