China Responds to Pressure from the West

1. A Brady Sprague Power Point China Responds to Pressure from the West

2. Table of Contents • Advantages of Imperialism • Disadvantages of Imperialism • Background Information • Effects of Imperialism • Western Powers Involved • Indigenous Response • Results of Independence

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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