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Challenges in China

Challenges in China. Closing and Opening the Door. Superiority and Fear. Strict restrictions on trading activity Qing Dynasty determined to keep China closed Two Main Reasons: Sense of Superiority Tian Xia: Zone Beneath the Heaven Morally on a different level

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Challenges in China

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  1. Challenges in China Closing and Opening the Door

  2. Superiority and Fear • Strict restrictions on trading activity • Qing Dynasty determined to keep China closed • Two Main Reasons: • Sense of Superiority • Tian Xia: Zone Beneath the Heaven • Morally on a different level • Economically had enough in their own country to conduct healthy trade • Fear of Imperialism • Watched European expansion all around them • External pressure coupled with internal turmoil=overthrow

  3. Trading with the West • Restrictions began to be lifted slightly • One-way trading occurring, China as trader • Deficit rising for West • Desire to balance it out • China entirely too self-sufficient What do they need, oh what do they need?

  4. Opium • Opium: Chinese vice by 1830’s: 12 million addicted • Addiction crossed all social boundaries • Western countries smuggling in opium now saw trade surplus • Fear w/in government, no military to protect and no money to arm military

  5. Drug Czar of China • Special Commissioner Lin Zexu given authority by the emperor to enforce new laws to crackdown • Imprisonment, and even death for smoking or trading opium • Two months in Canton: 1600 arrests and 11,000 lbs. of opium • Forced foreign merchants to hand over thousands of lbs. of opium • Burned in public demonstration • Stated trade should be abolished with West • British outraged

  6. Opium War • Chinese no match for British • Fight was all in vain • Chinese suffer a humiliating defeat • Treaty on Nanjing 1842 • Increased trade • Increased scope of British activity, Hong Kong given up • Control of custom duties lost by China, now negotiated • Opium War: Not really about opium, but about what China represented

  7. Effects cont…. • Tianjin Treaty • More ports opened for trading practices • Disruption of native industries • Adaptation required • Defeat of Opium War turned worldview upside down • Foreign warships allowed free entrance • Westerners exempt from Chinese laws • Chinese who worked for westerners also exempt

  8. Cont… • Foreign intervention leads to chaos • Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864 • Christianity plays role • Unrest rampant • Required Manchu's to seek military support, private armies unwilling to disband • Multiple attempts at reform, trying to hold on • Self-strengthening policy

  9. Effects on Economy • Tea and silk producing regions prospered • Farmers abandoned food production • Result: higher food prices • Civil unrest • Increased ports saw Canton lose position and wealth, many lost jobs • Textile industries: • Home textiles basically eliminated

  10. Social and Political Changes • Began to “intellectually” discover the west • Wei-Yuan: in order to fight the west one must learn from the west” • Foreign Ministry established • Challenges • Enterprises controlled by feudal bureaucrats • Corruption, lack of vision, poor administration • Manchu Dynasty weaknesses exposed

  11. Cont…. • Capitalism was developing, much slower pace • Cixi’s attempts at progress not enough, lost focus • Inadequately prepared for western “invasion” • Boxer Rebellion: response to western activity and control on canals and rivers • Foreigners target of frustration • Heavy retaliation from foreign troops • Opens door for tense relationship between Russians and Japanese

  12. Cont… • Qing control beyond borders crumbling • Western nations picking apart territories, gaining control • Reform needed, no general consensus or direction • Sun Yat-sen (Sun Yixian) • Encouraged “Nationalism” • Ended Manchu rule for good • One step forward, declares a republic • Weakness: Lacked support in great numbers

  13. Rich Country, Strong Army • Tokugawa Shogunate time of peace and stability • Inflexible • Bakufu rigidity increases as things begin to disintegrate • Isolation looks to be only answer • Increases levels of suspicion on all sides

  14. Americans Open Door • 1853 Commodore Perry makes strong impression • Fear? Interest? Treaty of Kanagawa • Ports opened • Privileges granted • Europe follows suit

  15. Change?? • Initial resistance • Attempts to thwart western activities unsuccessful • Shogunate system dismantled

  16. Meiji Restoration 1868 • Bring back the emperor • Figure head • Symbol of Japanese culture • Advisors made political, military, and economic decisions • Social classes restructured • Feudal lords no more • Samurai's no longer • Hereditary rights abolished • Goal: • Modernization • Retain independence

  17. Strength and Change • Military vamped up • No private armies • Conscription enacted • Education system reformed • Modeled after American and French system • Colonialism explored • Korea and Taiwan early conquests • Raises concern for European nations

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