Consequences - Short Term

Question 1

Short Term Consequence 1 - Nanjing Treaty

Answer 1

A direct consequence of the War is the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing on 29 August 1842, the first unequal treaty signed over the next century that would impact China’s economic and political power

Question 2

Short Term Consequence 2 - Canton Trade System

Answer 2

Nanjing treaty abolished Canton trade system and opened 4 new trading ports and removed regulations designed to keep out foreign influence

Question 3

Short Term Consequence 3 - Most Favoured Nation Status

Answer 3

Reparations were 21 million dollars which weakened the Qing economy, subsequent treaties by the British, USA and French further enhanced the foreign rights and granted these Western nations ‘most favoured Nation Status’ which removed China’s sovereignty

Question 4

Short Term Consequence 4 - Treaty Significance

Answer 4

The Qing Dynasty failed to understand the significance of the Treaty of Nanjing, They did not realise that it would set a precedent for relations with other western nations in the 19th C

Question 5

Short Term Consequence 5 - Unequal Treaties

Answer 5

21 unequal treaties imposed by Western powers between 1839-1933 under the threat of ‘gunboat diplomacy’, China’s failure to enforce treaty terms resulted in further conflict, including the Second Opium War 1856-60

Question 6

Short Term Consequence 6 - Century of Humiliation

Answer 6

Treaty of Nanjing not only important for socio-economic impacts but also signaled beginning of ‘Century of Humiliation’ for China, a term used to define the period of Western Powers subduing China

Question 7

Short Term Consequence 7 - Historical Narrative

Answer 7

Century of humiliation powerful historical narrative, unequal treaties play a central role showing the trauma of China’s colonial past. The political power of historical narratives to build national unity is demonstrated here

Question 8

Short Term Consequence 8 - Present Day

Answer 8

The relationship between the past and present is needed to understand the Treaty of Nanjing and China’s perspective towards the West today. The current CCP political party uses the Century of Humiliation to justify China’s policies today

Question 9

Short Term Consequence 9 - Declining Dynasty

Answer 9

Treaty era weakened the Qing Dynasty, but it can be argued the ultimate fall of the Qing is more important, unequal treaties after wars hastened the fall of the declining Qing empire. The Qing had lost the ‘mandate of heaven’ and revolution was inevitable after the wars.