OPIUM WARS

• 1. What was the Chinese-European balance of trade problem in the early nineteenth century?

  • chinese did not have a lot of demand for european goods like europeans did for chinese goods (porcelain, silk)
• 1. What product did the British find to solve this balance of trade problem?

  • opium
• 1. What did the Qing Dynasty rulers do in reaction to the flow of opium? How did the British react?

  • the qing dynasty did not want the opium because it was destructive to their society but the british decided to force the issue, which led to the first opium war
• 1. What concessions did the British extract from China following the First Opium War?

  • china had to open up 5 ports to trade with the british
  • china had to give the island of hong kong to the british 
  • china had to pay for opium they destroyed
  • china had to give reparations to the british to pay for the cost of the war
• • the Opium Wars weakened the Qing Dynasty both militarily and economically, which created an environment of political instability and social unrest that contributed to the conditions leading to the Taiping Rebellion
• • the humiliating defeat of the Qing in the Opium Wars undermined the legitimacy of the dynasty and eroded confidence in its ability to govern effectively, thus emboldening rebel movements like the Taiping Rebellion to challenge Qing authority
• • the treaties signed after the Opium Wars imposed heavy financial burdens on China, exacerbating economic hardships and fueling grievances among the population, which further fueled support for rebel groups like the Taiping
• 1. William Gladstone was a reformer in this period. How did he feel about the First Opium War?

  • he felt it was very injustly 
  • criticized britain for their behaviors
  • believed british were being unethical, immoral, and shameful 
• State building from 1750 to 1900

  1. Political structures

  2. Governance systems

  3. Social cohesion

  4. Economic development
• Factors influencing state building

  • Political stability
  • Ability of rulers to assert authority over diverse populations
  • Trade networks
  • Resource extraction
  • Revenue generation
  • Cultural identity
  • Religious beliefs
  • Social hierarchies
  • Nationalist movements
  • Ideologies
• Political stability and ability of rulers to assert authority


  Essential for state cohesion and longevity
• Economic factors


  Influenced the capacity of states to maintain power and expand their influence
• Social dynamics


  Contributed to state-building efforts
• States sought to foster a sense of shared identity


  Through cultural and institutional means
• Emergence of nationalist movements and ideologies

  Fueled aspirations for self-governance and independence, challenging existing state structures and leading to the formation of new nations
• State building from 1750 to 1900

  1. Interactions with other states

  2. Colonial expansion

  3. Global power dynamics
• Colonialism and imperialism


  • Imposed new political boundaries
  • Disrupted existing power structures
  • Introduced foreign ideologies and institutions
• Technological advancements


  • Transportation networks
  • Communication networks
  • Facilitated state expansion
  • Integration into global economic systems
• Factors influencing state-building processes

  1. Geopolitical rivalries

  2. Military conflicts

  3. Competition for resources

  4. Competition for markets

  5. Competition for strategic advantages
• Geopolitical rivalries and military conflicts

  Influenced the territorial extent and political stability of states
• Competition for resources, markets, and strategic advantages

  Led to alliances, conquests, and territorial disputes, reshaping the geopolitical landscape
• British companies wanted to sell opium in China
• British military forces supported them
• This tells us about the relationship between government and private businesses in this era of capitalism and empire


  It highlights the close relationship between government and private businesses during this era of capitalism and empire
• It demonstrates how governments often worked hand in hand with private enterprises to pursue economic interests, expand markets, and maximize profits, even at the expense of ethical considerations or the well-being of other nations
• This collaboration between government and private businesses exemplifies the intertwined nature of economic and political power during the period of imperialism
• It underscores the role of state-backed enterprises in furthering imperialist agendas
• How the Opium Wars help respond to the Unit Problem

  1. Opium Wars resulted in:

  2. Territorial losses

  3. Economic exploitation

  4. Social upheaval

  5. Cultural disruption in China

  6. Communities in China responded through:

  7. Diplomatic negotiations

  8. Military resistance

  9. Social movements

  10. Attempts at reform
• The Opium Wars provide a detailed example of the complexities surrounding imperialism, the difficulties communities faced under imperial rule, and the various strategies they used to deal with or lessen the impacts of imperialism during this time