Booklet 1 My Notes 1860-1870 Flashcards
Who were the Manchu people
Minority racial group from north east China
Which racial group is the majority?
Han
When did the Qing Dynasty rule from and to?
1644-1911
Role of the emperor
. Sons of heaven
. Lived in the Forbidden City
Banner armies
Local gentry led armies that were divided under 8 banners and were expected to fight for the emperor when called on
Tributary states
. Looked to China for trade and security
. States included Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, Thailand, Burma and Nepal
Was was the system of law?
Hierarchal system - most serious crimes are against the imperial household or government
How were most crimes punished?
Flogging/beatings
How were the most serious crimes punished?
Death or exile
Who was exempt from corporal punishment
Scholars and royalty
Subsistence farmer
Growing crops and raising livestock sufficient for one’s own use without any surplus for trade
Canton system
Foreigners were restricted trade to 13 officials in Canton, no private trade was permitted and trade had to be made through this port
Tael
A silver coin or small bar used in trade, China had official currency until 1933
Where do most of the population live?
Along the Yellow and Yangtze River or in the growing coastal cities like Shanghai meaning the population had access to water for drinking, cooking and cleaning
How long is the Yangtze?
1,400 miles
X% of the world’s farmland supported x% of the world’s population - what does this represent?
7% of the world’s farmland supported 20% of the world’s population which represents the efficiency of the farmland
What was there little demand for in China?
Foreign goods so foreigners had to buy Chinese goods with silver
Negatives of Canton system
. Kept mainland China cut off from the rest of the world
. Hard to get foreign products into the country
Positives of the Canton system
Kept trade stable and regulated
What was banned by the government in 1800?
Foreign import and domestic opium
What was banned in 1813?
Opium smoking
When was opium smoking banned?
1813
What products was China interested in buying from Britain?
Opium and cotton
How many Chinese addicts of opium were there by 1820
1 million
What % of Chinese were subsistence farmers
80-90%
What did they farm in the north?
Cotton, fruit and soya beans
What did they farm in the south?
Rice, tea, sugar cane
More books produced in…….
Chinese than any other language
When did China build their first canal compared to Britain
7th century, Britain built their first canal in 1769
4 reasons why foreigners find relations with China difficult
. No special considerations for ‘aliens’ under law
. Canton system
. Foreign traders mistrusted and Emperor had no interest in developing diplomatic ties
. Trade with neighbour states for centuries
Why did Japan stop trade with China
Could not accept Chinese superiority
How was tension between foreigners and China caused by Catholics?
. Missionaries moving in
. Missionaries opened schools teaching politics and the western language
How was tension between foreigners and China caused by Europeans?
. Europeans were eager for Chinese decor and goods
. European philosophers exposed Chinese society
How was tension between foreigners and China caused by China?
. Law was enacted which sentenced Europeans to death for spreading Christianity
. Bible was translated in 1807 but could only operate under imperial supervision
. British, USA and French missionaries lost popularity as anti foreign feeling grew
What were the four problems facing China in the 1790s?
. Growth of luxury in cities
. Spread of corruption in local governments
. Uncontrolled population growth
. Problems with suppressing rebels
What age did Gong believe China was in in the 1800s
Age of chaos
Why were there few foreigners in China from 1790-1815
. Napoleonic wars left Britain and France few resources to expand
. No other enemies of China were powerful at the time
Consoo fund
Mutual guarantee system where each major Hong Kong merchant paid 10% of his trading profits to be used as a cushion in an emergency - by 1810 payments to Qing gov out of the fund reach 1m taels a year
Was it the East India Company or private traders that used Opium to encourage trade?
British private merchants not the East India Company which was sanctioned by the British Crown
How did the imperial government try to stop opium trade in the 1830s?
. Emphasised health dangers
. Organised five men mutual responsibility towns
Who did Lin Zexu write to to stop opium trade?
Queen Victoria
What occurred between the British and Chinese in September and October 1839 and where?
Clashes in Hong Kong harbour
First opium war in 1840 in 5 stages
. Britain wanted to extend trade into China
. Europe dispatched 16 warships, 4 newly armed steamers and 4000 troops
. June 1842 British captured Shanghai and halted traffic on the Grand Canal
. China could not match Europe, used monkeys, and lost - had to pay compensation
. Hong Kong transferred to British crown
Terms of the Treaty of Nanjing (5 terms)
. Peace and friendship between Britain and China
. Opening of 5 cities for British use e.g. Shanghai
. $6 million paid by Qing, further payment of $12 mill
. Abolition of Canton
. Release of British prisoners
Why did the British win the first Opium War
. Innovations in technology
. Emergence of steam ships
. 16 war ships
. 400 troops
Positives of Opium War for China
. Lin ordered scholars to find information on western nations
. China developed new technology to match the west
What was article 8?
. Any privileges to foreign countries must be extended to British subjects