Dec 23, 2009

Salem on History | Opium Wars

At a glance:

Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
Categories: Government and Politics, Military History, Economics, Land Acquisition and Expansion, Territory Redistribution
Subcategories: Colonialism, Colonies, Settlements, Wars, Battles, Empires, Dynasties, Trade, Commerce, British Empire
Curriculum: 19th Century European History, British History, French History, Asian History
Geographical Location: China
Date: 1839-1842; 1856-1860

Article abstract: At issue: Continued and increased trade between the Western powers and China, colonial domination of China. Result: The defeat and subjugation of China; forced acceptance of the opium trade; payment of indemnities; loss of territory.

Background

The principal reason for the Opium Wars was the British desire for economic and imperialistic expansion. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, a mass market had developed in Britain for Chinese tea. Paying for the tea presented problems because the Chinese did not want British goods in...

[The entire page is 946 words long]

Salem on History | Opium Wars

At a glance:

Background

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