China Resists Outside Influence

China and the West The Chinese looked down on all foreigners and the Qing Emperor was not impressed with Western technology. Since China was largely self-sufficient due to good farming, they did not need products from the West. The Chinese also had extensive mining and manufacturing industries that provided jobs for thousands of people. They produced beautiful silks and fine porcelain that was desired by foreign societies.

Trade with China Foreigners could only trade at one port which was monitored closely by the government. The balance of trade was in China’s favor, meaning the Chinese exported (sold) more goods than they imported (bought). The British especially wanted Chinese tea.

Tea-Opium Connection The British wanted Chinese tea, so they needed to find a Western product that the Chinese desired to trade for. There was ONE product that the Chinese would buy from Europeans in large quantities – this product was opium, a habit-forming narcotic. The British smuggled opium into China and by 1835 more than 12 million Chinese were addicted to the drug.

Opium War The addiction to opium alarmed the Qing emperor, who wrote the British Queen requesting a stop to the opium trade. Britain refused to stop trading opium, which led to the Opium War between Britain and China.

Results of the Opium War Britain’s advanced navy crushed China’s outdated ships. China was forced to sign a peace treaty, the Treaty of Nanjing, which gave Britain the island of Hong Kong. Another treaty gave foreign citizen “extraterritorial rights”, meaning they were not subject to Chinese law at the ports where trading occurred. These “extraterritorial rights” led to resentment towards foreigners and the opium trade.

China’s Internal Problems China’s HUGE population was outgrowing the food supply, and hunger was becoming widespread. Opium addiction continued to rise. The Chinese people began to rebel against the Qing Dynasty.

Taiping Rebellion Hong Xiugquan (Hong Shee-oo-choo-ahn) recruited followers to build a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.” All people would share China’s immense wealth and no one would be poor. In this Taiping (means great peace) Rebellion, Hong’s peasant army captured the city of Nanjing. Hong made Nanjing his capital, but stepped back to let other officials rule.

Taiping Rebellion The leaders of new Taiping government quarreled with one another. British, French, and Qing troops launched attacks and brought down the Taiping government. About 20 million people died in the rebellion.

Foreign Influence Grows External pressure on China from foreign powers was increasing. Some officials wanted reform (to be like the West), while others clung to traditional ways.

China Struggles to Change Dowager Empress Cixi (tsoo-shee) was committed to tradition, but was open to some reforms. She wanted to self-strengthen China by improving education, diplomatic service, and military. Factories were created to manufacture steam-powered gunboats, rifles, and ammunition. Many were not happy about these reforms.

Open Door Policy Foreign nations took advantage of China’s vulnerability and set up spheres of influence to increase their control over China’s economy. The U.S. worried that other nations would soon divide China into colonies and prevent them from trading with the Chinese, so they declared an Open Door Policy, which opened China’s trade to all nations. The Open Door Policy protected the U.S.’s trading rights with China, and China’s freedom from colonization.

Chinese Nationalism Many Chinese pressed for stronger reforms. Emperor Guangxu (Gwahng-shoo) wanted to modernize China, but Qing officials saw his reforms as threats to their power. The Qing officials brought Dowager Empress back to the throne and she reversed any of Guangxu’s reforms.

The Boxer Rebellion Widespread frustration led to violence. Poor peasants and workers resented the special privileges given to foreigners, as well as Chinese Christians who adopted a foreign faith. A secret organization was formed, known as the “Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists” or “Boxers” Their campaign against the Dowager Empress and foreign privileges was called the Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion The Boxers marched on Beijing shouting “Death to the foreign devils!” A multinational force quelled the revolt within months. A strong sense of nationalism grew out of the rebellion. The Chinese people believed their country needed to resist foreign intervention and that the government must be more responsive to the people’s needs.

China’s Reform In 1905, Dowager Empress sent Chinese officials around the world to study governments. They recommended that China restructure its government like the constitutional monarchy of Japan. A national assembly was convened and stated that by 1917, China would be a full constitutional government. However, China still experienced unrest for several more decades.

Japan Modernizes

Japan in the Early 17th Century Japan had shut itself off from other nations. Society was a rigidly structured feudal society, in which shoguns gave land to lords, to be worked by peasants and protected by samurai.

Japan Ends it Isolation Japan kept rejecting foreign requests to trade. In 1853, U.S. Commodore Perry used ships with cannons and rifles to threaten Japan if they did not sign a treaty. Under the terms of the Treaty of Kanagawa, Japan opened two ports to the U.S. Once the U.S. had its foot in Japan’s door, other Western powers soon followed. By 1860, Japan permitted foreigners to trade at treaty ports and granted extraterritorial rights.

End of the Tokugawa Shogunate People were angry that the shogun had given in to foreign demands. The people urged the young emperor to force the shogun to step down Emperor Mutsuhito established a new government, the Meiji era (means enlightened rule) which lasted for 45 years.

Meiji Restoration Mutsuhito wanted Japan to adopt modern ways. 1) Feudal lords gave up private lands to the emperor. 2) Officials studied Western ways and adapted them for Japan. - Modeled after Germany’s strong central gov’t & constitution 3) Further discipline in their army and navy 4) Adopted universal public education 5) Japan began industrializing (railroad line, factories for tea & silk, ship and weapon production)

Growth of Japan’s Empire Japan sought to eliminate rights of foreigners by assuring that foreigners would be treated fairly in Japan; Western nations were convinced to drop extraterritorial rights. Japan saw building an empire as a way to protect its security and strengthen its economy. National pride played a major role in their desire to imperialize.

Growth of Japan’s Empire Both Japan and China had interests in Korea, and signed a “hands-off” agreement to not send their armies into the region. China broke the agreement in order to help put down rebellion in Korea. Japan protested by sending their troops into Korea to fight the Chinese. This led to the Sino-Japanese War, in which Japan acquired Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands in its victory.

Growth of Japan’s Empire Japan soon went to war with Russia over the lands in Manchuria, which was under China’s rule. Japan agreed to recognize Russia’s rights in Manchuria if Russians stayed out of Korea. Russia refused, to Japan launched surprise attack, beginning the Russo-Japanese War. Japan achieved victory and the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) gave Japan the captured territories. Russians were forced out of Manchuria and Korea.

Japan Occupied Korea Japan attacked Korea and made it a protectorate and slowly took control away from the Korean king. Japan officially annexed Korea (brought Korea under their control). Japanese were harsh rulers. No public protests No Korean newspapers or schools Must study language & history of Japan Koreans “forbidden” to do business While Japan did modernize Korea, their harshness led to nonviolent protests and Korean nationalism.