Opium War Dbq

Opium was primarily used for medicinal purposes, but later became too addictive and was banned. The usage of opium was very large.

Greater availability of Opium stimulated bigger international trade between China and British India. China had a lot of things to offer to the western civilizations such as: silk, tea, porculan, and others.

The first Opium War occurred in the year 1840. The Chinese government was made aware of the dangers of opium smoking among the Chinese people and banned it in 1839. But the Qing government did not allow reasonable time for it to fade away nor did they put forth enough effort to enforce the new law. The result was that opium traders were caught off guard but not scared enough to obey the law. The enforcement of the law, although weak, gave the British traders

little hope of the legalization of opium in China.

It was good business in the begining, but after some time it hit Chinesse economy.

The British government felt it was their responsibility to compensate the British traders because it was they who encouraged the British traders to grow opium and sell it in China.

About 12 million Chinesse were addicted to this drug, and Chinesse government was forced to do something about that.

The only choise they had is to ban imports in 1836.

The British administration's budget was hopelessly in deficit and there was no way that the parliament was going to issue compensation to the British traders. Also the news of the isolation of the British community in China stirred anger among the British people; they felt humiliated.

Britain, who didn't had this problem, did not accept that because China was blocking international trade.

The Chinese government banned opium for no other reason than it being a dangerous drug. Britain on the other hand, infuriated by the ban on opium and containment of its citizens, started an armed conflict with China to continue to sell drugs in China. This is hardly a justification for starting the war, but Britain's economic trouble forced the British to start the war.

Chinesse tried to explain how bad impact this drug had on their economy but also on their people (moral aspect), but Britain, and rest of the Western world did not understand this and in 1839. Britain proclamed war on China, called First Opium

War.

The First Opium War was more like a gamble, the British were betting on military superiorit.
Opium was getting alot of money to the Britain, because 50% of Chinesse import at that time was that, and prohibition would cause enormous economical loss to Britain.

This war ended with Britain's victory due to naval superiority.

The Second Opium War was between China on one side and Western powers on the other side. It was cause in October 8. 1856 when Chinesse captured and imprisoned 12 British men, because they were suspected for piracy, and Britain responded by force together with France who wanted to revenge French missionary who was executed by Chinesse officials. They attacked and ocupied Chinesse region called Canton, and make a Treaty of Tianjin, but Chinesse did not wanted to accept that because it oppened more Chinesse ports and enable Britain to establishment of foreign legislation in Beijing, city that was closed untill then. Chinesse did not want to accept that because it was humiliation and they refuse to sign that treaty. This led to extension of the war, Britain attacked Beijing, but Chinesse were too strong and make them to withdraw, but this was not over. In Hong Kong, Western powers Britain, France and USA attacked once again and Beijing was captured in October 6., 1860. Treaty of Tianjin was finally ratified by Chinesse government.