China Responds to Pressure from the West

A Brady Sprague Power Point

Table of Contents

Advantages of Imperialism Disadvantages of Imperialism Background Information Effects of Imperialism Western Powers Involved Indigenous Response Results of Independence

Advantages of Imperialism Economic gain for Western Europe Strict trade regulations “Canton system”

done away with China saved from complete occupation

by foreigners Britain able to hold permanent colony of

Hong Kong, and control Chinese trade without having to run the entire country

Opium trade profitable for British, Americans and Chinese alike

Disadvantages of Imperialism

Constant rebellion leads to the death of Millions

Opium trade explodes, along with substance addiction in China

Qing Empire loses power and sovereignty

Taiping Rebellion ensues, becomes the bloodiest war pre-twentieth century

Background Information

Qing Empire never had to deal with Napoleon, but British attempts in 1793 to establish diplomatic ties turn European opinion against China

Qing forced to put down countless rebellions of disgruntled peasants

Minority groups (such as the Mongols) feel disenfranchised by the government

Conquest of 1600’s doubles population 1800’s and creates more food, but not enough to alleviate population strain

Large Homeless population emerges

Overall Effects of Imperialism

British rule of the city of Hong Kong Traditional Chinese isolationism and

trade practices rewritten in favor of free trade

Rebellions, such as the Taiping rebellion crushed

Modernization in China Qing Empire controlled by European

interests

Western Powers involved

British fight the First opium war against China. British Navy has no Qing adversary, and British marines dominate Qing Bannerman

Treaty of Nanking signed, giving Hong Kong to the British, ending the Canton system, and creating 4 new trade ports

British and French forces begin a second Opium war from 1856-1860 called the arrow war. Ends with the sacking of the summer palace in Beijing. European forces and money quell the Taiping rebellion

Direct rule over Hong Kong, indirect rule over the rest of the empire

Indigenous response

Hong Xiuquan founds the Taiping movement to drive out all Foreigners, and Qing, from China

Taiping movement captures the city of Nanjing in 1853 and settle it as their capital of the “Kingdom of Heavenly peace”

Taiping hold out against Qing siege for more than a decade

20-30 million people die during the Taiping rebellion, the world’s bloodiest civil war

Taiping rebellion destroys agricultural centers and Imperial buildings in eastern China

Indigenous Response

In 1900, a secrete society of Chinese men called the Boxers held a revolt in an attempt to oust foreigners from the country

Primitive weapons were met by British police forces in Beijing, and they were successfully put down by the British

Gaining Independence

Administration of Hong Kong was not granted to the People’s republic of China by the British until 1997

Following 1912, the Republic of China was established

Results of Independence

Chinese civil war from 1947-1949 People’s Republic of China

established China is today a one-party

communist state China is one of the world’s fastest

growing economies and industrial centers