Opium Wars
Also called: First Opium War · Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
The Opium Wars (1839–60) were two wars in which Britain used force to keep and expand its opium trade in China. Britain bought Chinese tea, silk and porcelain, and this drained away its silver. To get the silver back, the East India Company sold Indian opium in China through the port of Canton. When China tried to stop the opium trade, Britain went to war. The wars weakened the Qing dynasty and made the demand for reform stronger.
Example
The First Opium War (1839–42) ended with the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. China had to hand Hong Kong to Britain and open more ports to foreign trade.
Don't confuse with
- Sino-Japanese War (1894–95): Fought between China and Japan, not Britain. China lost Taiwan to Japan.
Related concepts
- Qing dynasty
- Triangular trade
- Treaty of Nanking 1842
- Semi-colony
- Taiping Rebellion
- Self-Strengthening Movement
- Hundred Days' Reform 1898
- Kang Youwei
- Liang Qichao
- Boxer Rebellion