1. China and the new Imperialism
Chapter 9 Section 5

2. I. Trade Between Britain and China
China had a favorable balance of trade with Europe.
China traded tea, silk, porcelain, and spices for European gold and silver.
Late 1700’s: the balance tipped against China:
China’s power began to decline.
China did not participate in the Industrial Revolution.

3. Trade between Britain and China
The Opium War:
The First “War on Drugs”
Britain traded opium (grown in India) for Chinese tea.
The Chinese became very addicted to opium. Started paying high prices in silver, hurting their economy.
Opium was illegal in Britain.
The Chinese gov’t outlawed opium and killed drug dealers. They demanded Britain stop the opium trade, but Britain refused.

4. Trade between Britain and China
Opium smokers

5. Trade between Britain and China
Chinese warships attacked British cargo ships off the coast of China, starting the first war against drugs.
The war lasted two years. The Chinese were easily defeated by the British.

6. Trade between Britain and China
Chinese warships destroyed by superior British merchant ships in the first battle of the Opium War, 1839.

7. Trade between Britain and China
1842- The British force the Chinese to sign the Treaty of Nanjing:
China had to pay indemnity to Britain for damages.
China had to give Hong Kong over to the British.
China had to open 5 new ports for foreign trade.
China let British citizens in China have extraterritoriality- they could live in China under British laws.

8. Trade between Britain and China
The Treaty of Nanjing left China weak and vulnerable to more imperialist domination:
The Partition
of China