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European Imperialism in China

Explore the reasons behind China’s imperialization by European powers, including resource exploitation, trade imbalances, and the Opium Wars. Discover how the Boxer Rebellion reflected resistance against foreign influence.

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European Imperialism in China

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  1. European Imperialismin China

  2. Why Was China Imperialized? • China had many mineral resources • Large Chinese population was a potential market to sell European products to • Great demand for China’s porcelain, silk, & tea • China had no sufficient military power • China’s strong sense of pride & ethnocentrism increased its isolation from outside “barbarians” & prevented it from learning from other civilizations

  3. The Chinese • Chinese society was based on very traditional values (Confucius – order to society) • The Chinese were ethnocentric - believed their ethnicity was the best

  4. 5 ConfuciusRelationships • ruler  subject • husband  wife • father  son • elder brother  younger brother • friend = friend

  5. The Economy • China had a self-sufficient agricultural & mining economy • Successfully fed 300 million people (good nutrition  population boom) • Had raw materials that Europeans wanted: sugar, ginger, silk, porcelain, tea

  6. Trade with Others • What did Europe have that China wanted? NOTHING • China remained isolated because they didn’t need European goods • Their attitude was if China did not invent it, then China did not need it! • Balance of trade was in China’s favor – they earned more for exports than they spent on imports from others

  7. The British in China • The British imported millions of pounds of tea from the Chinese • Since they were loosing money, they wanted to find something that they could sell to China in great quantities OPIUM was the answer (a crop from India - their other colony)

  8. Opium Trade • Britain flooded China with opium • 12 million addicted to smoking opium by 1835

  9. Chinese Response • Emperor was angry because the opium addiction caused social, moral & economic problems for the country • Letter from emperor’s advisor to Queen Victoria: “By what right do they [British merchants]… use the poisonous drug [opium] to injure the Chinese people?... I have heard that the smoking of opium is very strictly forbidden by your country; that is because the harm caused by opium is clearly understood. Since it is not permitted to do harm to your own country, then even less should you let it be passed on to the harm of other countries.”

  10. The Opium War 1839-1842 • Chinese gov’t banned all trade in opium • Chinese gov’t destroyed a stockpile of British opium at a warehouse in 1839 • British responded by sending warships to China

  11. The Opium War 1839-1842 • Mostly fought at sea • China’s outdated ships couldn’t compete against the British organization and steam-powered gunboats & cannons • British defeated the Chinese

  12. Treaty of Nanjing 1842 Treaty to end the Opium War • China forced to open 5 ports for trade and allow British merchants & gov’t officials to live in those port cities • Gave Britain the island of Hong Kong • returned to China in 1997 • China had to pay for the destroyed opium • Extraterritorial Rights - exemption from Chinese law in certain port cities

  13. Spheres of Influence • The Treaty of Nanjing was the 1st of what would be called the unequal treaties • Other nations (France, Russia, Germany, & Japan) forced China to sign treaties granting them the same trading rights as Britain • The treaties created spheres of influence - area in which a foreign nation controlled trade & investment

  14. Spheres of Influence

  15. Open Door Policy 1899 • US was afraid that Europe would divide up China & that the American traders would be left out • US declares the Open Door Policy – all foreign nations were to enjoy equal trading rights in China • Policy protected American trading rights in China • Policy protected China from official colonization

  16. Keep in mind… European countries & the US never “take over” China, they just economically and politically dominate China

  17. Boxer Rebellion 1890 • Society of the Harmonious Fists (called Boxers) Causes of the Boxer Rebellion: • China’s inability to defend itself against imperialism caused unrest • Empress was thought of as corrupt & not helping to improve people’s lives • Chinese resented special privileges granted to foreigners (extraterritorial rights) • Many traditional Chinese people resented the Chinese Christians who were protected by foreign missionaries

  18. Boxer Rebellion 1890 • The Boxers’ Goal: to drive out foreigners from China • Shouting “Death to the foreign devils,” they surrounded the European section of Beijing & held it under siege for several months • A multinational force of 20,000 troops (British, French, German, Austria, Italy, Russia, Japan, & US) put down the rebellion • Again, European superior weapons are to blame for the loss

  19. Connection… Question: How are the Boxer Rebellion & the Sepoy Mutiny similar? Answer: Both opposed European imperialism & wanted to end foreign domination of their country

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