1. China and the New Imperialism
Aim: How did the Europeans establish spheres of influence in China?

2. Trade Issue
China sold the Europeans silk, porcelain, and tea in exchange for gold and silver
China enjoyed a trade surplus, selling more than it bought
Westerners had a trade deficit, buying more from the Chinese than they sold to them
This made westerners mad!

3. Opium Grips China
During the 1700s, British merchants introduced Indian opium to China
The opium was traded for Chinese tea
Many Chinese citizens became addicted to the drug, money flowed out of China to pay for opium
This disrupted the Chinese economy and depleted the Chinese treasury

6. The Opium War
The Chinese government outlawed opium and executed drug dealers
They called on Britain to stop the opium trade
The British refused , calling for free trade
British gunboats bombarded Chinese coastal and river ports
The British used their superior weapons and tactics to defeat Chinese forces and continued to trade opium

7. Unequal Treaties
In 1842, the British made the Chinese accept the Treaty of Nanjing
Britain received payment for losses in the war
The British gained the island of Hong Kong
China had to open five ports to foreign trade
British citizens were granted extraterritoriality, the right to live under their own laws and be tried in their own courts

8. The Taiping Rebellion Peasants tried to overthrow the government
Failed but weakened the government
China tries to modernize but loses the Sino-Japanese war and is humiliated

9. Hundred Days of Reform
In 1898, emperor Guang Xu launched the Hundred Days of Reform
The movement was aimed at modernizing China
Changes impacted schools, the military, and cities
People in China still upset about Western influence in their country

10. Boxer Uprising In 1899, the situation exploded
A secret organization, the Righteous Harmonious Fists, wanted to expel all foreigners from China
In 1900, the Boxers attacked foreigners across China
The western powers and Japan sent in troops to put down the uprising

12. Aftermath China had to make more concessions to the western powers
After the rebellion, even conservatives saw the need for modernization to kick out the foreigners
It took until 1911 to finally have complete control of their own country.
This set the stage for westerners to force trade with Japan….