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The First Opium War

            Throughout the nineteenth century, China possessed a superior view of itself when compared to Western countries. China was able to support itself; and it did not look to other countries for trading or diplomatic relations. Earlier than the nineteenth century it had to defend itself from other countries that were looking to settle into the land to make a profit in trading. For example, England and the East India Company played a big role in China's trading policies during this time period. Britain forced the importation of opium into China even though the Chinese did not want this. China was forced to acknowledge other countries and deal with diplomatic relations due to the events that led to the Opium War. The first Opium War was caused by the unequal trading between China and England resulting in England imposing the trading of opium upon China, and a final outcome of the Opium War was that China is forced to have diplomatic relations with other countries rather than keep to itself.
             In the early nineteenth century England traded with China through the East India Company. Woolen and metal products were traded for silks and more importantly tea. England relied heavily on tea imports and soon it became quite a problem when Britain .
             imports of tea from China exceeded Britain exports to China. England had to make up the deficit in silver, which China happily agreed to, since silver was used as the cash .
             currency at the time. To help alleviate the decrease in the deficit, Lord Macartney was sent to China in 1792 to arrange a treaty on trading policies and to obtain consent to allow a minister to reside at the Qinglong Emperor's court. Macartney was aware of Chinese opinion of foreigners, but wanted to be treated as a "representative of an equal power" (Fay 31). In order to persuade the emperor, Macartney brought with him gifts that represented the types of items that Britain could offer to China.


Essays Related to The First Opium War

1. Opium War

The Opium wars were a terrible time for the Chinese people in their history. ... The first Opium War occurred in the year 1840. The Qing government was made aware of the dangers of opium smoking among the Chinese people and banned it in 1839 (First Reading). ... The First Opium War was more like a gamble, the British were betting on military superiority over the Chinese military. ... Although the Chinese losses from the first Opium War were very limited and insignificant, it was very shocking to the Qing government that there was nothing to stop the British troops from advancing. ...

  • Word Count: 2004
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography

2. Chinese Opium Wars

However, to say that the Opium War happened completely without warning is a completely inaccurate. ... At this time war was unforeseeable, and it was not until the trade balance tipped firmly into Britain's favour that the Opium War was beginning to become a possibility. ... Three thousand chests of opium were seized at first, then another eleven thousand and then destroyed. ... At this stage war was now a very imminent certainty, and although it was not likely when trade first began with Britain, it was always a possibility which was known by the Chinese, as they recognised the vast ...

  • Word Count: 1759
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Opium Smoking in China

Discussed first will be when smoking of opium began in China, and early instances of it occurring. ... First the sheer size of the opium market and then the lasting impact opium has had on the Chinese economy. Opium first began as an offshoot of tobacco smoking. ... Very early evidence of opium smoking goes back as far as 1617, but first real significant appearances don't occur until 1723-1724, when the smoking of opium mixed with plants or tobacco is described. ... For one to try and look at the economic effects opium on China one should first look at the size of the market a...

  • Word Count: 2070
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Vietnam War and Drugs

Vietnam Drugs Marijuana, Amphetamines, Opium and Heroin were a serious problem from 1968 onward during the Vietnam War. ... Opium and Heron came in 3rd place of the most used drugs. ... Binges were very common during the last year of the War due to the remarkable low price and astound purity. ... Opium was very addictive and was less common. ... Many veterans were first time users and stopped using when they returned home. ...

  • Word Count: 380
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Narcotic Culture Review - A History of Drugs in China

Narcotic Culture had many interesting points and ideas, however there are three emphasized topics that come to mind: Opium before the war, the war on drugs, and the aftermath. The first third of the book looks at the spread of all substances and opium before the war, the war on opium, as well as the consumption and uses of opium following the war. It makes a point of stating China is often seen in a light that portrays it as the only consumer country, where as opium was widely used in other countries for recreational and medical purposes, such as Turkey, Persia, and India.5 This notion is fo...

  • Word Count: 1062
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Decline of Qing Dynasty

One of the most important reasons that led to the decline of Qing Dynasty was the Opium war. This war began because British merchants began making a huge profits by growing opium in India and sell it to Chinese. ... This war started because of the Japanese pressure on China. ... Where the first principle was a nationalism. ... They also wanted a fair and free trade where there would be no opium coming into the country. ...

  • Word Count: 505
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Drug Reform Policy

The first American anti-drug law was an 1875 San Francisco ordinance, which outlawed the smoking of opium in opium dens. ... It was followed by other similar laws, including federal laws in which trafficking in opium was forbidden to anyone of Chinese origin, and restrictions on the importation of smoking opium. The laws did not have anything really to do with the importation of opium as a drug, because the importation and use of opium in other forms- such as for common medication- were not affected. The laws were directed at smoking opium because it was perceived that the smoking of opium wa...

  • Word Count: 2031
  • Approx Pages: 8

8. China's Response to Western Imperialism

China had to go through many defeats such as the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion before they came back victorious from the Korean War. However, China's response to Western imperialism was successful because they got rid of Western presence with rebellions and wars such as the Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion, and the Korean War. ... The two Opium wars were just the start of Western Imperialism. ... This was one of the first confrontations with the West, and it was a complete failure. ... China was successful because from 1839 when the first Opium War started to 1953 when the Korean War ...

  • Word Count: 867
  • Approx Pages: 3

9. China's Response to Western Imperialism

China had to go through many defeats such as the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion before they came back victorious from the Korean War. However, China's response to Western imperialism was successful because they got rid of Western presence with rebellions and wars such as the Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion, and the Korean War. ... The two Opium wars were just the start of Western Imperialism. ... This was one of the first confrontations with the West, and it was a complete failure. ... China was successful because from 1839, when the first Opium War started, to 1953 when the Korean Wa...

  • Word Count: 867
  • Approx Pages: 3

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