Read and answer as your QOD- Life is good for you as a member of the local government in 19 th -century China, but it could be even better. People from the West are eager to trade with your country. China, however, produces all that its people need, and government officials discourage contact with foreigners. Many foreign products, such as ceramics, are inferior to Chinese goods. The foreigners, however, do offer items that can improve your life, including rifles, cameras, and small sticks called matches that can be scraped against a rock to start a fire. You are curious about inventions. But you wonder why the foreigners are so eager to trade with China and what they hope to gain. Would you trade with the foreigners? Why or Why not?

Ming and Qing Dynasties Practiced isolationism Did not want influence from the West Put trade restrictions and regulations on trade from the West Were self-sufficient Not interested in “strange objects”

China’s Self-sufficiency Agricultural economy Mining and manufacturing industry- salt, tin, silver, iron. Produced silks, cottons, and fine porcelain SO- they had little interested in trading with the West How do the European get the Chinese to increase trade with them?

Opium! Had been used in China for medicinal purposes British smuggled it in for non-medicinal uses By 1835, 12 million Chinese were addicted to the drug. Almost all men under 40 smoked it. Europeans- trade deficit to trade surplus.

Trade leads to war… Opium caused great social, moral, and monetary problems for China. Emperor desired to stop trade, British refused. Opium War in 1839 between the Chinese and British

The Opium War Battles took place at sea Chinese no match for the British and are easily defeated Treaty of Nanjing

Treaty of Nanjing British get… –Hong Kong –$–$ –Access to more Chinese ports Extraterritorial rights- U.S. and other foreigners have exemption from Chinese law at four Chinese ports. (Chinese resented this privilege and the foreigners) Trade of opium continues

Problems… Population increasing, food production remaining the same, so.. –People are hungry and unhappy Taiping Rebellion –1 million peasant rebel forces –Wanted an equal and peaceful China –Captured large areas of Southern China –By 1864, the 14 year rebellion was crushed –Farmland destroyed, 20 million died

Influence in China Sphere of Influence- a region in which a foreign nation controls trade and investments Open Door Policy- China’s “doors” open to merchants of all nations

Boxer Rebellion Poor peasants and workers resented foreigners Began a campaign against the Empress and foreigners Boxers attacked European section of Beijing- were eventually defeated by the Euro.

Boxer Rebellion

Effects of the Boxer Rebellion Chinese Boxers lost but, –A strong sense of nationalism had emerged –China must resist foreign intervention –The government must become responsive to the needs of the people