Transcript Chapter 22
Chapter 26 East Asia Under Challenge Causes of Decline • Internal Factors – Corruption – Peasant unrest – Incompetence – Rapid population growth • External Factors – Foreign ships and guns – Foreign ideas Opium War • Causes – European unhappiness with being on the unfavorable side of trade – British East India company grew opium in India and shipped it to China reversing the balance of trade. – Chinese made the trade illegal – The Chinese blockaded Guangzhou to force traders to surrender their Opium. • The government of Great Britain defended its East India company and so the Opium War commenced. The War (1839-1842) • China, unable to stop a British fleet from sailing up the Chang Jiang initiated a peace treaty • The Treaty of Nanjing was held in 1842. Effects • The Treaty – Opened 5 coastal ports to British trade. – Limited taxes on imported British goods – Gave Britain the island of Hong Kong – Chinese had to pay for the war – Europeans were given their own areas to live in (5 ports) and not be subject to Chinese laws - extraterritoriality Taiping Rebellion • Leader: Hong Xiuguan- proclaimed to be Jesus’ younger brother; out to destroy the Qing Dynasty and make reforms. – To give land to all peasants as common land – Treat women equal to men – To outlaw alcohol, tobacco and foot binding • One of history’s most devastating civil wars; 20,000,000 people died in a 14 year struggle. • In 1865 Great Britain and France seized Beijing in 1860. – The opium trade was legalized – New ports were opened to the West – Kowloon Peninsula was surrendered to Great Britain. Attempts to Remain Independent • Self-strengthening Reform – China adopted Western technology while keeping Confucian values and institutions. • Some wanted democracy, but that was too radical for most. The Advance of Imperialism • Russia forced China to give up territories in Siberia • European states began to create spheres of influence – Tibet was freed by the struggle between Russia and Great Britain – Warlords negotiated with foreign powers to exchange trading, mining and building rights for money • Japan defeated China over inroads to Korea. • Germany demanded territories after two missionaries were murdered in 1897. • China conceded and then everyone wanted a piece. More Attempts to Remain Independent • Guang Xu launched massive reform campaigns to westernize China • Empress Dowager CiXi – took over for the next 50 years. Open Door to China • John Hay proposed a policy of Open Door access to Chinese markets for all nations • Secret Society= Society of Harmonious fists – they wanted foreign influence out – Hated Christian missionaries – Hated Chinese Christians • They became known as the boxers and their revolt the Boxer Rebellion.