Brainscape China Booklet 1 - 1860-70

Question 1

What does ‘imperial’ refer to in China?

Answer 1

The rule of dynasties and emperors.

Question 2

Where did the Qing dynasty come from?

Answer 2

Manchuria

Question 3

What was a ‘Tributary State’?

Answer 3

Countries that paid tax/tribute to China in exchange for protection and trade. e.g. Korea, Tibet, Vietnam

Question 4

Who was Confucius?

Answer 4

A 5th Century BC scholar whose philosophy of accepting fate, influenced Chinese society for thousands of years.

Question 5

What was a banner army?

Answer 5

The emperor relied on the armies of powerful families from the provinces.

Question 6

Explain the Mandate of Heaven.

Answer 6

The force of history that justifies the holding of power by those in authority. Floods, famine, drought, war could overthrow a dynasty.

Question 7

What was Western Imperialism?

Answer 7

The spread of economic and political control by European countries over parts of Asia and Africa.

Question 8

There were 50 Treaty Ports by 1900. What were they?

Answer 8

Trading areas controlled by westerners. These were won through a series of ‘unequal’ treaties.

Question 9

Name THREE western powers interested in China.

Answer 9

Britain, France, Germany, America.

Question 10

Who was the emperor in 1860?

Answer 10

Xian Feng (also spelt Hsienfeng)

Question 11

Who was Cixi?

Answer 11

Concubine who became Xianfeng’s Empress and ruled on his behalf. Later regent for son and nephew.

Question 12

Explain the Canton System for trade with foreigners.

Answer 12

13 merchants were chosen by the imperial government to trade with foreigners from Canton. NO private trade was allowed.

Question 13

Why was the Canton System good for the Imperial Government?

Answer 13

Controlled movement of goods, set prices, collected tariffs, Consoo fund made Emperor money, kept foreigners in Canton

Question 14

What goods did foreigners want from China? Name 3.

Answer 14

Silk, porcelain, tea.

Question 15

Who started using opium to encourage trade?

Answer 15

British private merchants, NOT the East India Company which was sanctioned by the British Crown.

Question 16

Name a cause and event in the First Opium War 1839-42.

Answer 16

Cause: Emperor seized opium and arrested British traders, British sent 16 warships and 4,000 troops, sea battle and destruction of Chinese junks(ships) - remember monkeys?,

Question 17

Give THREE main results of the Treaty of Nanjing 1842.

Answer 17

5 Treaty Ports including Shanghai, Hong Kong to Britain, $21 million compensation to British, Canton System abolished, release of all British prisoners, fixed rates on trade goods

Question 18

Britain secured article 8: they were a ‘most-favoured nation’. What does this mean?

Answer 18

Any deals or treaties secured with other nations must also be extended to Britain.

Question 19

What does extraterritoriality mean?

Answer 19

When foreigners are not subject to the laws of the country, but can only be tried using their native laws.

Question 20

What was the Arrow Incident, 1856?

Answer 20

A Chinese ship, registered through Hong Kong, was seized and the sailors arrested for piracy in Canton. It’s British registration had run out, but it still flew a British flag. The Chinese government were legally justified, but the British considered this an attack on their extraterritoriality.

Question 21

What were the events of the Second Anglo-Chinese War?

Answer 21

British attacked Canton, Shanghai and north towards Tianjin. The British, with support from the French, Russians and Americans took the Dagu forts and moved on Beijing.

Question 22

What does the quote ‘swept them away like dry leaves in a late autumn wind’ refer to?

Answer 22

Mongolian Cavalry of 3000 defeated in one day, Dagu bamboo stakes and soldiers’ martial arts were no match for cannons and guns.

Question 23

As the foreigners attacked Beijing in 1856, where was emperor Xian Feng?

Answer 23

Hunting, as an excuse to retreat.

Question 24

The Treaty of Tianjin was signed in 1858. What were the 5 big wins for foreigners?

Answer 24

Extraterritoriality, all inland waterways were opened to foreign ships, foreign ambassadors to live in Beijing, 10 new treaty ports, free movement for Christian missionaries.

Question 25

Name one domestic rebellion in the 1850s-60s that further weakened the Qing.

Answer 25

Taiping Rebellion, Nian Rebellion, Muslim Rebellions.

Question 26

What does ‘yi’ mean and what does it suggest about feelings towards foreigners?

Answer 26

Yi means ‘alien’. Most Chinese, especially educated, thought that foreigners were barbarians and called them foreign devils.

Question 27

Why did Chinese kill 17 French missionaries and burn 4 churches in Tianjin, 1870?

Answer 27

Rumours orphans were being killed by nuns and their limbs used for aphrodisiacs before sex play between monks and nuns. Heightened anti-foreign feeling.

Question 28

What was the Self-Strengthening movement 1865?

Answer 28

Attempt to modernise China, e.g. Jiangnan Arsenal and Fuzhou Shipyard.

Question 29

What was the Zongi Yamen?

Answer 29

Zongi Yamen = Foreign Ministry set up un 1865, the first Ambassador to England was Guo Song Tao

Question 30

What was the Tongwenguan?

Answer 30

Tongwenguan = Interpreter’s College, so Chinese could learn foreign languages for trade.