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Opium Wars
The British needed valuable goods from China, like porcelin. Instead of buying it legally, they illegally began to smuggle in opium in exchange for these goods. The Chinese saw this and how it took a tole on its people, so they tried to stop the smuggling. The Britains, with their superior navy, (it was an all naval war) easily dominated and won. -
Treaty of Nanjing
After the British had easily won the Opium wars, and were on the brink of attacking the city of Nanjing, they and the Chinese came up with a very unfair treaty. The Britains basically forced the Chinese to give them money and rule over Hong Kong. The Chinese got nothing, and even to this day, Hong Kong might be technically in China's rule, but Britain actually has the most control over it. -
Building of the Suez Canal
Isma'il, ruler of Egypt, agreed to have Britian come in and occupy them. this led to modernization in roads , railways, and especially the Suez Canal. It connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and provided a easier route to India for Britain -
Impact of the Sepoy Rebellion
The British East India Company had been a round for ome time by the 19th century. Prior to the rebellion, it controlled more of India than the British government did. The Sepoys, Indian soldiers, decided to rebel against the British that occupied their country, but were easily put down. As a result, the British government saw this as a problem and tightened parliment's rule and control, ending the reign of the British East India Company. Also, Queen Victoria became Empress of India. -
British Raj
The British saw India as the "brightest jewel in the crown," and decided to establish a rule over them in the 19th century. they tried to fix and buiid up India's economy, but also wanted to change the way of the people. While modernization of roads, railways, and telegraph lines helped India, rules on cotton farming and the changes in culture created a negative meaning to the period. Although, the Indian National Congress was formed to get more rights to the people, causng great nationalism. -
Boer War
The Boers, or Dutch settlers, had arrived in Africa long before any other European countries (1652). In the 1800s, Europe realized the importance of Africa with its resources, and countries flocked to Africa and tried to rebel against the Boers for these resources. The Boers blamed the British, starting the war in which the Boers used guerilla tactics to fight. The British fought back with their own form of warfare, putting them in concentration camps, leading to a Britich victory. -
Revolution of 1911
Suddenly, in 1911, a revolution in China broke out with people wanting to overthrow the dynastic cycle that had been there for hundreds of years. The people desired indepence and freedom from the dynasty, wanting to form a democracy. While it may have been a good idea, the next president failed the system when he tried to declare that he had the Mandate or Heaven.
