China Resists Outside Influence

China Resists Outside Influence Chapter 12, Section 1

Setting the Stage • Chinese looked down on all foreigners • 1793 – Qing Emperor agrees to receive an Ambassador from England • Brings gifts (clocks, globes, musical instruments, and a hot-air balloon) • Emperor was not impressed • Not interested in “strange objects” and gadgets from the West

China and the West • China was self-sufficient • Healthy agricultural economy (rice, maize, sweet potatoes, and peanuts) • Mining (salt, tin, silver, and iron) • Manufacturing (silk, high-quality cotton, and fine porcelain) • Only place westerners were allowed to do business was the southern port of Guangzho) • Europeans eventually found a product they would buy…

What are the Chinese willing to buy from Europe? • Opium - Narcotic made from the poppy plant • Chinese doctors used it to kill pain • Late 18th Century – British begin to smuggle opium into China for non-medical use • By 1835 as many as 12 million Chinese were addicted

Opium War • Emperor Qing was angry and one of his advisors writes a letter to Queen Victoria • The pleas to stop the illegal opium trade are ignored • 1839 – Opium War • Battles took place mostly at sea • China’s outdated ships were no match for British steam-powered gunboats • 1842 – Treaty of Nanjing • Gave British the island off Hong Kong

Extraterritorial Rights • 1844 – additional treaty gives U.S. and other foreign citizens extraterritorial rights • Not subject to Chinese law at Guangzhou and four other ports • Chinese resent foreigners and the trade in opium they conducted

Growing Internal Problems • Number of Chinese grew from 430 million in 1850, a gain of 30% in 60 years • Food production barely increased • Hunger was widespread • Opium addiction increased as people became discouraged

Taiping Rebellion • Taiping means great peace • Late 1830s – Hong Xiuquan began recruiting followers to help him build a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace” • All people would share wealth and no one would live in poverty • 1850s – massive peasant army of one million people • Took control of large areas of southeastern China

Taiping Rebellion(continued) • 1853 – Hong captures the city of Nanjing and declares it the capital • Hong gives family members and trusted lieutenants in charge of the government of his kingdom • Constantly feuded among themselves • Qing and British troops launch attacks • 1864 – combination of internal fighting and outside assaults brings down Taiping government • At least 20 million people die during the rebellion

1862 – 1908 – Dowager Empress Cixi • Supported the self-strengthening movement • Updated education, diplomatic service and military • Set-up factories to manufacture gunboats, rifles, and ammunition

Other Nations Step In • Many nations took advantage of China’s continuing problems • Attacked China • Treaty Negotiations gave other nations increasing influence over China’s econonomy • Many European nations and Japan gained a strong foothold in China • Sphere of influence – an area in which a foreign nation controlled trade and investment.

Other Nations Step In(continued) • Americans worried that other nations would divide China into formal territories • 1899- United States declares the Open Door Policy • China’s “doors” should be open to merchants of all nations • Britain and other nations agree • Protects U.S. trading rights and China’s freedom • Country still at the mercy of foreign powers

Upsurge in Chinese Nationalism • Chinese demanded change because of their loss of power • 1898 - Emperor Guangxuintroduced measures to modernize China • Educational System • Strengthening the Economy • Modernizing Military • Streamlining Government

Upsurge in Chinese Nationalism(continued) • Most Qing officials saw these reforms as a threat of power • Called Dowager Empress back to the royal court • On her return she placed Guangxu under arrest, took control of government, and reversed reforms • No change occurred and the Chinese people continued to get frustrated

Boxer Rebellion FRUSTRATIONS RESULTS Formed the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Boxers) Campaign against Dowager Empress became known as Boxer Rebellion • Poor peasants and workers resented special privileges of foreigners • Resented Chinese Christians for adopting foreign faith

Boxer Rebellion(continued) • Spring 1900 – Boxers invade Beijing • “Death to the foreign devils” • Kept European section of the city under attack for several months • Dowager Empress expressed support but did not provide military support • August 1900 – multinational force of 19,000 defeated Boxers in Beijing

Results of the Boxer Rebellion • Strong sense of nationalism emerged • Chinese people realized their country must resist more foreign intervention • Government must become more responsive to their needs

The Beginnings of Reform • 1905 – Dowager Empress sends a select group of Chinese officials on a world tour to study different governments • Japan, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Italy • 1906 – officials return and recommended basing their government on the constitutional democracy of Japan • Change was slow

The Beginnings of Reform(continued) • 1908 – announcement that they would establish a full constitutional government by 1917. • China continued to experience unrest for the next 4 decades • Japan also experiences pressure from the West…

China Resists Outside Influence