The British and the Qing Empire Flashcards
There is not a……..history of the human relationship with opioids, there are multiple…………..histories
Single
Intersecting
How can the relationship with China and the British be characterised
Hugely exploitative
Suffered from extractive economic exploitation. Its wealth drained as Britain’s grew exponentially
To understand how China would react with…….. ……………..in both the 19th and 20th, we need to understand this formative pact of…………and…………exploitation
Foreign powers
Economic
Military
What is the Psychoactive Revolution
David Coutrwright
The trend towards the consumption of more types of drug, in ever more powerful forms,
What was the Single Whip Tax Reform
16th C
The Ming economy west still predominately agricultural
The state decided to change its policy and start collecting its taxes in silver instead
What were some consequences of the Single Whip Reform
Farmers now needed money in order to pay taxes, so they grew cash crops – certain luxury commodities (tobacco) became popular cash crops ]
Production began to develop into larger-scale workshops – increased importance pf wage labour in the period.
Regional specialisation, as inter-regional trade grew, cities became more important. By the late ming china was the richest area of the world
What commodity was Ming China short of
Silver
What was the consequence of the Ming shortage of silver
The Ming relied on silver and ginseng from foreigners
The Manchus monopolised ginseng, and 25% of imported new wolf siskver was being sent to the Manchus to buy ginseng
The Manchus used this silver to build a formidable army, effectively allowing the Ming to sign their own deaths warrant
How were luxury Chinese products seen in Europe
Extremely sought after (Porcelain, tea and silk)
Consumption of tea by British was shared in all aspects of society – fuelled the industrial economy
What was the Qing attitudes to trade and foreign imports
Didn’t want any western goods, only interested in silver
Restricting trade prevented any unwanted foreign ideas from spreading in the country
The limited trade that did take place was highly regulated and limited cultural interactions as much as possible
What was the Qing attitudes to trade and foreign imports
Didn’t want any western goods, only interested in silver
Restricting trade prevented any unwanted foreign ideas from spreading in the country
The limited trade that did take place was highly regulated and limited cultural interactions as much as possible
What repeated refrain has the Qing’s highly restrictive model of trade given rise to
That the Qing empire was closed off from the outside world
Only a partial truth
- Europe did not represent the whole ‘world’
- China had extensive trading links with other economies
- Equally, restricting trade to silver made economic sense as the empire was able to hoard silver and maintain preeminence in the global economy
How did Britain react to Chinese trade resistance
Made a number of overtures in an attempt to loosen Qing control of trade
- 1792, Lord Mcarthy petitioned the emperor.
Argued that increasing trade would be to their mutual advantage.
Chinese refused, not because of trade but because of religion - Thus towards the end of the 18thC the British situation in China had not improved
However, British finally found a commodity that was demanded heavily in China (Opium)
What effect did opium have on China
Forced the closed doors of the Qing empire to open
The country transitioned from a position of prominence to a period of imperial subjugation (Britain and Japan)
The Qing empire found itself entering the modern age clouded in a bliss of sedatives
How did opium still enter China despite being banned
Opium grown in India (caused mass poverty thee as agricultural produce was replaced by this cash crop)
Was smuggled into China by ‘Country Traders’ - East India Company
The Chinese merchant guild also profited as well as foreigners (gatekeepers to China’s trade)
How much did opium imports from India to China increase 1729 - 1832
1729 – 400 chests of opium
1832 – 23,570 chests
What did Xu Naiji argue in relation to the opium imports
Advocated the legalisation of the drug
Arguing that if a profit was to be made, surely it should be made by the Qing themselves
What was the problem with Xu Naiji’s view
Growing social problems caused by opium
- 10% population addicted
- 7/10 army incapacitated
How did the British respond to Chinese calls to stop the opium smuggling
Argued that Chinese restrictions went against the universal principle of free trade
How did the Opium War begin
Imperial court in 1839 investigated the opium trade.
Ordered foreigners to give up all of their illegal contraband (opium) - was then dumped into the ocean.
Refused European calls for compensation. Gave Britain an excuse for war
How has the opium war traditionally been depicted
A mismatch conflict in which a modern industrial power attacked a hopelessly backwards enemy
Yet in reality, the Qing were hardly a weak power.
Britain managed to expose a particular weakness (naval attacks) and exploit this venerability to devastating effect
What was the result of the first opium war
In 1842, the Qing empire sued for peace
The Treaty of Nanjing – canton system demolished, Britain granted Hong Kong, and right to trade freely in treaty ports
What were treaty ports
Where Europeans could trade freely in China
Built their own infrastructure and controlled the areas - many Chinese excluded from their own cities
Racial segregation - Shanghai
How did the Opium war affect Chinese silver
Silver used to flow into China in great quantities
From 1810, the flow of silver was dramatically reversed and the Qing empire began losing silver on a large scale
This resulted in a series of economic depressions, civil unrest and a weakened state
Silver was flowing out of the country to buy illegal opium
