Beginning of European contacts :
- arrival of the Portuguese 1st, followed by Spanish, dutch, English & French.
- establishment of contacts with the Chinese through canton, which was preferred by the Europeans because of its strategic position.
- making canton the only ‘open port’ for European trade by the Chinese emperor in 1757, & imposition of a number of restrictions upon the Europeans.
Meaning of opium wars & treaty port system:
- “opium wars” were the anglo – Chinese wars fought between 1840 – 42 & 1856 – 58.
- they were waged by England against China ostensibly to protect her opium trade, but really to achieve the greater object of acquiring a political footing & extra – territorial rights.
- “treaty port system” was the system in which the Europeans were allowed to trade with china through the specific ports.
- through the system, the Europeans forcibly opened the gates of china to the inroads of European colonialism & imperialism.
1st opium war:
Causes:
- superior attitude of the Chinese towards Europeans
- monopoly privileges of the “co-hong” merchants.
- desire of the new british merchants to find new markets.
- foreign resentment against tariff irregularities in china.
- resentment against application of the Chinese law of talion or eye – for –eye.
- clash of Chinese & English interests over the question of opium trade (activities of Lin Tse – hsu)
- immediate cause – Kowloon Incident.
Course:
- 1st phase = april 1840 – January 1841
- 2nd phase = February 1841 – may 1841
- 3rd phase = june 1841 – August 1842.
Consequences (treaty of Nanking) :
- opening of 5 treaty ports to the west.
- revision of tariff rates in a fair & regular manner.
- acceptance of the principle of equality (abolition of kowtow)
- payment of a large war indemnity system
- abolition of the “co-hong” system.
- british to co-operate in suppression of contraband goods, particularly opium.
2nd opium war :
Causes :
- dissatisfaction of the Europeans with the outcome of the treaty of Nanking.
- resentment of the Chinese against the continuing opium trade & the ‘pig trade’.
- growing desire of the Europeans to extend Chinese market for their goods.
- desire of the Christian missionaries to travel & propagate their religion freely in the interior of china.
- European desire to have diplomatic representation at Chinese imperial court.
- immediate cause – Lorcha Arrow Incident.
Consequences (treaty of Tientsin) :
- opening of ten more treaty ports.
- maintenance of European resident ministers at perking
- toleration of Christianity in china
- revision of tariff rates favorable to Europeans
- permission to European warships in all treaty ports.
- legalization of opium trade.
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