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Imperialism in China
China's imperial system flourished under the Qing dynasty during the 1700s. China was the center of the world's economy as many Europeans and Americans sought Chinese goods. However, during the 1800s and 1900s, China began to face many major economic pressures from these Western imperialistic countries. Unable to deal with these nations backed by strong militaries, many Chinese began to see their government as weak. This led to many revolts and internal strains. -
The First Opium War
The British had a high demand for Chinese tea imports. However, the Chinese did not want most European goods. The British decided to import opium from India to trade with China. Many Chinese became addicted to this drug. As a result, much of China's silver supply was being traded away for opium. To solve this trade imbalance, Chinese officials attempted to ban opium exports. The British resisted this ban and declared war on China in a series of conflicts known as the Opium Wars. -
Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking) and Unequal Treaties
Superior military arms allowed the British to defeat the Chinese. The Opium War ended with the Treaty of Nanjing. This treaty made the Chinese open several ports for British trade, give control of Hong Kong, and also give extraterrioriality to British citizens living in China. Other European nations also pressured the Chinese government to sign more official treaties. These treaties became known as the "Unequal Treaties." As a result, many spheres of influences were established within China. -
Taiping Rebellion
After the failed efforts to remove Western influence and the opium trade, a revolt was soon staged by a leader named Hong Xiuquan. Hong believed himself to be the younger brother of Jesus. He declared his mission to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a new dynasty called the Taiping. Terrible destruction erupted in Southern China and the Yangtze Valley. Millions of people were killed. This event severely weakened the Qing dynasty and made Western intrusion even easier. -
The Second Opium War
In 1856, the Qing dynasty faced another Opium War. A British boat docked in Hong Kong was seized by the Manchu government to search for a notorious pirate. The British used this event as an excuse to go to war and fight for more trading rights. The British teamed up with the French and sent expeditions to seize Guangzhou. The forces then moved north and captured forts near Tianjin. The Qing dynasty was forced to give in and sign the Treaties of Tianjin, further opening more ports. -
The Self-Strengthening Movement
After the humiliating defeat of the Second Opium War and the Treaties of Tianjin, the Qing dynasty realized its technology and military was weak in comparison to Western countries. The Qing dynasty declared a movement to aquire knowledge about western culture and development. The Qing hoped to strengthen the nation while preserving traditional Confucian values. However, this movement proved unsucessful due to a lack of support and inadequate resources. -
The Open Door Policy
The United States demanded equal trading rights within China. Rather than establishg their own sphere of influence, the US announced the Open Door Policy. This policy stated that all ports in China open for trade would be available to all countries. US Secretary of State John Hay started this policy by creating notes stating principles of the policy. The Open Door Policy limited the growth of the spheres of influences in China. -
First Sino-Japanese War
Japan had quickly become modernized after Western contact. The country became imperialistic and sought after Korea, a dependent colony of China. A rebellion in Korea broke out in 1894. The rebels wanted Korea to be free of Chinese rule. The Chinese and Japanese sent troops to Korea. The Japanese were better equipped and more powerful than the Chinese. Japan quickly won victories over land and sea. In 1895, China was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki, losing much land to Japan. -
Boxer Rebellion
Chinese nationalists viewed the Open Door Policy as an insult to their nation. The policy was believed to threaten profits enjoyed within spheres of influences. A secret group known as Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fists led an uprising known as the Boxer Rebellion. This group was against the spreading of Western ideas. The society consisted of peasants who practiced a form of martial arts. Western powers organized a force to end the rebellion. -
The Chinese Revolution
As the Qing dynasty faced more and more pressures and rebellions, the Chinese began to see their dynasty as weak. Dissatisfaction brought a revolution to overthrow the Qing dynasty. The revolution began as a protest over ownership of railways in Sichuan province. When the revolution sparked new sentiment, nationalists were determined to establish a republic in China.Qing rule was eventually overthrown and the Republic of China was established. -
Nationalist Party and Chinese Communist Party
The Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party (founded in 1921) work and compete to reunify China politically.The very rapid change in China’s international status and self-image as a leading civilization leads the Chinese on a quest to reestablish China’s place in the world — a quest that continues today