25-5 China and the New Imperialism

1800s-Qing dynasty in decline as western powers gain power in East Asia

The Trade Issue

Prior to 1800s Chinese rulers place strict limits on foreign traders

-trade was restricted to a small area in southern China

-China sells silk, porcelain and tea in exchange for gold and silver

China enjoys a favorable balance of trade- ______

foreign countries had a trade deficit-______

Two developments in the late 1700s transform China’s relations with the western world:

(1)

(2)

The Opium War

-in the late 1700s British merchants begin to make huge profits in the trade of ______which is

grown in ______for Chinese ______which was popular in Britain

soon the Chinese are addicted to drug

silver flows out of China in payment for the drug thereby disrupting the economy

Chinese government ______opium and executes Chinese drug dealers

China calls on Britain to stop the trade

Britain refuses and insists on its right to free trade

1839-______starts

-China destroys $6 million of opium that British brought to Canton

-China sends warships to clash with British merchants

-British gunboats easily defeat Chinese boats with outdated weapons

-British gunboats bombard coastal and river ports

1842-Treaty of Nanjing

China agrees to the following stipulations

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Other nations then also demand unequal treaties from China, and get them!

Internal Problems

By 1800s the Qing Dynasty is in decline

*Massive floods*Starvation*Extravagant court

Taiping Rebellion

Peasants rebel (1850-1864) in arguably the most devastating peasant revolt in history

-Hong Xiuquan-leader of the rebellion

-believed that God had given him the mission to destroy the Qing dynasty

-wants a new dynasty called the ‘Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace’

Demands-redistribution of land to poor, end high taxes, equality of women and men

The rebellionis crushed after 14 years with between 20 to 30 million Chinese dead

______

1860-Russia seizes land on China’s north border-builds port of Vladivostok

1894-Japan quickly defeats China

Japan takes over control of Taiwan

______

China seems weakSphere of influence: Russia, Germany, France, Britain

1899-USA demands Open Door Policy or equal access to trade with China

The Qing Dynasty Falls

1899- Boxer Uprising- Boxers start secret society-the ______

1900-Boxers attack foreigners across Chinaoutside nations crush the Boxers

1908-Empress Ci Xi diesTwo-year-old boy assumes throne

1911-Sun Yat-sen (Sun Yixian) becomes president of new Chinese republic