In the XIX century, China pursued a policy of isolation from the West.As a result, trade between East and West has sharply decreased. China was guided by the intention to get rid of the negative influence of Western ideas on the people of the East. Until 1830, only the port of Guanzhou remained open to foreign ships, and the Chinese traded only in silver. In this situation, English traders, trying to correct the trade imbalance, decided to import opium, a product that the Chinese did not have, but they really wanted to have it. Until 1828, China was enriched with silver through its exotic goods, which merchants bought from Europe.
The law of the Chinese Empire was banneddrug use except for medical purposes. But despite this, British Hong Kong bought opium, which produced the province of Bengal and Malva under the auspices of the British East India Company. Because of this, the supply of opium to China increased more than fourfold. In 1833, the British government lifted the monopoly of the East India Company, and opium poured into the Chinese market, and silver rushed to the West. This became the main prerequisite, on the basis of which the Opium Wars broke out.
Soon, 90% of Chinese men under the age of 40 had opiumaddiction. By 1837, China paid for opium 4.5 million silver dollars, accounting for 57% of the country's total imports. The confiscator of the emperor Lao Lin Jie-hee established that in 1839 the Chinese spent 100 million taels on opium. This he concluded that if opium dependence continues to spread throughout the country, then soon China will not only have nothing to defend, but also not to do anything. Here, the beginning of the Opium War. The illegal importation of opium into China was punishable by death, but from 1821 to 1837 it increased fivefold. The port of Guangzhou, where bribery flourished, vice and disrespect for the authorities, became a point of collision between the interests of the two countries.
First Opium War
In 1839, Emperor Emperor Dao Lin Jiasuioperative measures against foreign merchants and their Chinese counterparts. Arrested 1,600 people and confiscated 11,000 pounds of opium. This was the first thing that the Opium Wars showed themselves.
In June of the same year, 2000 boxes withopium, detained foreign merchants involved in them. These merchants were kept in custody until they issued opium for 9 million. Money was burned in public. Opium wars were brewing more clearly.
On the order of Lin Jiesu, the port was closed toforeign ships. In response, Charles Elliot blocked the Zhujiang River. This was followed by a sea battle. Chinese propagandists called it victorious, but it was followed by an operation of the Royal Navy, which destroyed a large number of Chinese ships.
In January 1841, Fort Bogwe was taken.As a result, England gained control over the hill above the port. A little later the British took over and on land. Imperial troops were poorly prepared for military operations, and the British defeated them in Ningbo and Chinhai. Soon under the control of England was the South of China and the province of Zhenjiang.
The world at any cost
In 1841 the port was sold to England.By the middle of 1840, the Chinese government was forced to sign a number of treaties, under which the British gained control over the western coast of China. Under the treaty of 1842, China conceded to Great Britain Hong Kong, opened five ports for British merchants, accepted English terms of trade and paid compensation to merchants for the damage caused. English merchants henceforth did not obey the Chinese laws and could behave freely on the territory of China.
The sale of opium at bargain prices began beforethe end of the peace negotiations. All restrictions on drug trafficking were erased by 1858. As a result, China began an independent cultivation of poppies, and by the beginning of 1900 annually provided itself with 22,000 tons of opium.
Second Opium War
However, new encounters were inevitable inexisting conditions. Opium war in China did not end with the adoption of a peace treaty. In 1854 Great Britain demanded the opening of all ports of China for trade, the legalization of the importation of opium, the release of British goods from duty, and the permission to establish an embassy in Beijing.
In 1856 the Chinese authorities detainedthe Arrow ship. He was suspected of smuggling and piracy. The British authorities insisted that this ship is not under the rule of Chinese laws, and demanded the release of sailors.
In 1857 in the Canton were sent to the Britishtroops. Against China at that time, America, Russia, France took up arms. But Britain and France, without the knowledge of other countries, seized the port of Canton. In 1858 the port of Taku was taken. After that, military operations ceased. The result was the opening of 11 ports for trade with the West. Western missionaries could freely convert the people of China into the Christian faith. China was obliged to pay compensation to France and Britain in the amount of 10 million taels and to give the port of Kowloon under British control. In addition, China was forced to export cheap labor to North America, which resulted in such a rapid and cheap construction of the US railway. Opium war in China led to the division of the country by Western countries, the erosion of religious values and the fall of the ruling dynasty.
