Opium Wars Background Guide

7/18/2019 Opium Wars Background Guide

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/opium-wars-background-guide 1/19



SMUNC 2015

2

Contents

Letters from the Chairs .................................................................................................................... 3

Historical Context of the Opium Wars ............................................................................................ 4

Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4

Rise of the Qing Dynasty ............................................................................................................ 4

The Fall of the Ming Empire and the Rise of the Qing ........................................................... 4

Peace and Prosperity ................................................................................................................ 5

Troubles ................................................................................................................................... 5

Canton System ............................................................................................................................. 5

British and European Presence in Southeast Asia ....................................................................... 6

Opium Production and Trade ...................................................................................................... 7

Map of the First Opium War ........................................................................................................... 8

Committee Structure ........................................................................................................................ 9

Directives ..................................................................................................................................... 9

Communiqués and Press Releases ............................................................................................... 9

Caucus ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Final Notes ................................................................................................................................. 10

Character List ................................................................................................................................ 11

Qing China Committee .............................................................................................................. 11

English Committee .................................................................................................................... 14

The Crisis ....................................................................................................................................... 17

Works Cited ................................................................................................................................... 18



SMUNC 2015

3

Letters from the Chairs

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the Opium Wars Crisis Committee! My name is Benjamin Yeh, and I will be

overseeing a weekend of drama, diplomacy, debate, deals, victory, and defeat, all because a littletoo many people got addicted to opium, and/or the money that follows in its path.

I am currently a sophomore at Stanford studying bioengineering, although I am really undecided

about future career plans. I became involved in MUN as a freshman in high school, although this

is only my second time in a crisis committee! However, I am sure that this time around thecommittee will be so much more fun that my previous high school experience. That’s right, I do

have high expectations for all of you delegates, but that’s all in the name of the fun, creative, and

sometimes crazy politics that crisis committees are known for!

While the Opium Wars may be a century and a half old, they still have plenty to teach us in

terms of ethics, nationalism, and of course, diplomacy. I hope you are as excited as my co-chairand I about reliving a period of pride and chagrin, of imperialistic domination and unduesubjugation. Aside from the fantastic drama that awaits us all, I hope all of you delegates will

walk away from committee with a deeper perspective into the development of China and Great

Britain’s society and economy.

See you in committee!

Your chair,

Benjamin Yeh

Hi Delegates,

Call me Chris. I am glad you have decided to commit yourselves to this committee of cunningdiplomacy and treacherous fighting where we will immerse ourselves in a nineteenth century

quest for dignity. As a sophomore studying computer science, I am interested in machine

learning and systems, but feel free to talk to me about men’s volleyball and Asian night markets.

I first joined MUN as a freshman in high school, and I’ve never given up on an opportunity toparticipate in a crisis committee.

As we maneuver through the Opium Wars, we must balance the driving force of the economy

against political desires and social ethics. I am excited to see all of you deal with corruption,bureaucracy, and most of all, war. Through this committee, I hope you develop an appreciation

for how far we have come since the era of imperialism and cultural isolation.

See you in committee!

Your chair,

Christopher Yeh



SMUNC 2015

4

Historical Context of the Opium Wars

Introduction

The Opium Wars refers to two separate wars between the Qing Dynasty of China and

Great Britain: the First Opium War, from 1839 to 1842, and the Second Opium War, from 1856

to 1860. Up until the start of the wars, China had a clear upper-hand in China-Europe traderelations. Chinese exports porcelain, tea, and silk brought in huge amounts of silver into the

country, while European countries had very little to gain from the trade. Meanwhile, the Qing

Empire had begun its gradual decline, relying heavily on its silver influx to cover its growingexpenditures. Having expanded to encompass more territory than any empire before it, the Qing

faced problems with both external invaders and internal dissenters. In contrast, the British had

entered the industrial revolution, ripe with new technologies that had helped it become the most

formidable naval force in the world. Further, it had smuggled and infiltrated the Chinese marketwith opium for India, a drug that was highly addictive and detrimental to Chinese productivity.

By 1839, there were clear incentives for war: the Qing sought to defend its people for opium and

other illegal smuggling, while the British sought to tap into the expansive and lucrative Chinese

trade market. Consequently, shots were fired, people were killed, and treaties were signed.Ultimately, these wars were fought predominantly over trade issues, and they began a

new era of China’s relations with the Western countries. China suffered clear military defeats in

these wars, and consequently its rulers were forced to sign treaties opening many ports to foreign

trade. These were the first of the many “unequal treaties” that would plague the Chinese for thenext century. Opium, despite imperial prohibitions, became a regular trade item, and restrictions

imposed under the Canton system were abolished. Under the new treaties, foreign traders were

finally able to venture deep into China’s interior, profiting from previously untapped markets.China’s previous upper hand in trade was gone, and as its economy was undermined, so was its

imperial government.

Rise of the Qing Dynasty

The Fall of the Ming Empire and the Rise of the Qing

The Ming Empire (1368-1644) that preceded the Qing Empire experienced a golden age

in the 1500s with brilliant economic and cultural achievements spurred by increased integrationinto the global economy. International cravings for porcelain, silk, lacquered furniture, textiles,

and other Ming exports brought in thousands of tons of silver into China and drove a vibrant

urban culture. However, the late Ming dynasty was plagued by environmental, economic,

administrative, and politico-territorial issues that led to its collapse. The huge influx of silvercaused serious price inflation; corruption and mismanagement decreased factory efficiency,

leading to series of worker protests and strikes. Most importantly, internal rebellions and outside

pressures on the borders led to the collapse of the Ming.A Japanese invasion of Korea and Manchuria between 1592 and 1598 severely weakened

Chinese forces in northeastern China, allowing Manchurian forces to consolidate after Japanese

withdrawal. With the majority of the military in northeastern China fending off the Manchus,

who had taken Korea in the 1620s, the Ming government was unable to stop internal rebel forcesled by Li Zicheng who had gained popular support for promising a more equal society. In 1644,

Li Zicheng captured Beijing, officially ending the Ming dynasty. A Ming general’s attempt to

restore Ming power by inviting help from Manchu forces backfired. After dispersing rebel



SMUNC 2015

5

forces, the Manchus took the throne themselves and established the Qing empire, and

encompassing the former Ming territories by the end of the 17th century.

Peace and Prosperity

Qing rule under two of the longest-reigning emperors in Chinese history - Kangxi (4th

Qing emperor, r. 1662-1722) and Qianlong (6th Qing emperor, r. 1736-1796) - saw a long periodof relative stability and prosperity in China. Thanks to impressive military conquests, the Qing

Empire doubled the Ming Empire geographically. Population also grew to nearly 350 million

subjects, double the population in all of Europe. Despite their enthusiasm for economic

expansion, the Qing rulers controlled trade fairly strictly. Aiming to to limit piracy andsmuggling and make trade easier to tax, the Qing established the Canton system, which is

explained in more detail below.

TroublesThe Qing Empire began to show declines by the end of the 18th century. Huge population

growth and slow adoption of more efficient New World crops such as corn and sweet potatoes

led to severe environmental strain and damage. The resulting famines and floods led to endemicrebellions, including the famous White Lotus Rebellion that lasted nearly a decade. Corruptionalso plagued the government; at one point, one government official’s fortune exceeded that of

the entire imperial treasury.

Despite a 1729 decree banning opium imports, smuggling and illicit trade continued to

increase. Thanks to its profitability, bribery became rampant as local officials became complicitwith Hong merchants and foreign traders in the opium trade. By the start of the Opium Wars,

there were ten million opium smokers in China, two million of which were addicts. By some

accounts, even the Daoguang Emperor was an opium addict.Aware of the pernicious effects of opium on the productivity of his subjects and military

and the outflow of precious silver from imperial coffers, the imperial court debated whether to

legalize and tax the opium trade, or abolish it altogether. In 1839, the Daoguang Emperor finallysent the reputed official Lin Zexu to oversee the end of the opium trade in Canton. Lin swiftlyconfiscated nearly 3 million pounds of opium, which was destructed within a month. The lack of

compensation for the European merchants’ loss, however, was a major triggering point that

would lead England to declare war on China the following year.

Canton System

Historically, Guangzhou was the major southern port in China and the main outlet for thecountry’s tea, rhubarb, silk, spices, and handcrafted articles that were sought by Western traders.

As a result, the British East India Company and other Western trading companies made

Guangzhou their major Chinese port early in the 17th century. In 1757, in response to a British

attempt to expand their trade to some of the North China ports, the Qing emperor issued an orderthat made Guangzhou, also known as Canton, the only port opened to foreign commerce. The

Chinese tightened their regulations on foreign traders, thus beginning an era of Chinese trade

known as the Canton System, which lasted until the start of the Opium Wars.

The Chinese government placed a series of regulations on foreign merchants entering thecity, including the prohibition of foreign women. Firearms and warships were prohibited from

the area, and merchants could only reside in a small riverbank area outside the city wall, where

their Thirteen Factories, or warehouses, were located. Under Chinese law, where prisoners were



SMUNC 2015

6

presumed guilty until proven innocent, foreigners were often subject to torture and

imprisonment.Neither the Chinese nor foreign governments were directly involved with the trade, and

there were no formal diplomatic relations between China and Western countries. The Qing

dynasty appointed merchant firms, which in return for paying a large fee to the authorities were

given a monopoly on all trade coming into China. The merchant guild, or hong, that handledtrade between China and the West was known to the Westerners as the cohong (a corruption of

gonghang, meaning “officially authorized merchants”). The cohong merchants had to account for

every foreign ship coming into the harbour and take full responsibility for all persons connected

with the ship. Western merchants could not contact Qing officials directly; instead, only licensedforeign merchants such as the British East India Company (EIC) and the Dutch East India

Company (VOC) were allowed to deal with the cohong.

By the early 19th century, tea exports from China had increased from 2.7 million pounds

in 1751 to over 23 million pounds in 1800. The British demanded greater access to China’smarkets and British traders began to chafe at the restrictions imposed by the Canton system.

Concerned that the China trade was draining silver out of England at a rate of over 3.5 million

pounds per year, the British searched for a counterpart commodity to trade for tea and porcelain.They found it in opium, which they planted in large quantities after they had taken Bengal, inIndia, in 1757. Chinese attempts to halt this opium trade, which had caused social and economic

disruption, played a huge role leading up to the first Opium War between Britain and China.

Britain’s victory in this conflict forced the Chinese to abolish the Canton system and replace it

with five treaty ports in which foreigners could live and work outside Chinese legal jurisdiction,trading with whomever they pleased.

British and European Presence in Southeast Asia

Serious European presence in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia arguably begins with

the Portuguese. Vasco de Gama’s small fleet was the first to reach India in 1498. In 1513, the

first Portuguese ship reached China, landing at Lintin Island near the mount of the Pearl River,very close to Canton. By 1557, the Portuguese had gained consent from the Chinese imperial

government to establish a trading post at Macao. Their dominance of major trading cities along

the Indian Ocean - in large part thanks to a strong military presence - allowed the Portuguese to

enforce monopolies across much of maritime trade in Southeast Asia.The Portuguese did not maintain their dominance for long, however. In 1602, the Dutch

East India Company (VOC) was founded. Thanks to better organization and some key military

victories, the Dutch had displaced the Portuguese as the major European trader in the IndianOcean by the latter half of the 1600s. Performing the kowtow in front of the Chinese emperor,

VOC officials courted imperial favors and established a successful working relationship with

early Qing emperors.

It was the British, however, that would eventually dominate European trading in Canton.Founded in 1600, the British East India Company (EIC) expanded from bases in India and

Singapore towards China, eventually displacing the VOC in the early 1700s. Despite a

conspicuous trade deficit, the English saw China’s gigantic markets as the key to endless profits.

They envisioned selling European, Indian, and American-manufactured products to millions ofChinese consumers. After losing control over its American markets in 1776, Britain focused ever

more on its trade with China, but the Canton system stood in their way of economic expansion.



SMUNC 2015

7

In 1792, the British sent the Macartney embassy to China to propose a more open trading

system to the Qing emperor. Refusing to perform the kowtow and unable to impress the Chinesecourt with gifts and European technological devices, many of which the Chinese had already

seen before, Macartney was unsuccessful in convincing the Qing to change a system that already

steadily brought revenue into imperial coffers. The mission’s failure played a key role in

convincing the British government of the necessity of force to assert its desire for reducedtrading restrictions.

In 1833, the English Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1833 revoking all of

the EIC’s monopolies, thereby allowing other private traders to capitalize on trade in Southeast

Asia.

Opium Production and Trade

The primary site of opium production was operated by the EIC in Patna, India, 600

kilometers upriver (on the Ganges) from the port of Calcutta. Indian laborers were employed at

all stages of the production process. First, a sticky brown resin is collected from harvested poppy

seeds. The crude opium is chemically tested for quality and consistency before it is thrown into

the mixing room to be heated and stirred into a “homogeneous paste.” This paste is then rolledup into balls wrapped in poppy petals and left to dry. Finally, dry opium balls are packaged in

wooden chests (made of timber from the Nepal Forests) before being shipped to Calcutta for

distribution. Each chest contained roughly 140 pounds of opium. Opium trade undoubtedly had ahuge economic impact in the Southeast Asian region, and opium imports to China from India

reached a peak of 81,000 chests in 1884. The opium stocks that Commission Lin destroyed

(some 21,306 chests) amounted to nearly 5 million silver dollars, or about 250 dollars per chest.



SMUNC 2015

8

Map of the First Opium War

Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons



SMUNC 2015

9

Committee Structure

Joint Crisis Committee

The English and the Chinese committees will operate in separate rooms, although limited

communication can be exchanged in the form of directives, communiques, and press releases as

described below. The committees will move forward in time together. For example, if theEnglish committee decides to take military action against the Chinese, the Chinese committee

will be appropriately updated by Crisis Staff.

Directives

Unlike in GA committees, delegates in crisis committees pass directives to communicate

amongst themselves and with the Crisis Staff, instead of writing resolutions. Delegates can writedirectives to issue actions, request updates from the Crisis Staff, and arrange meetings with other

delegates. Except for committee directives, delegates have the option of marking their directives

as either private or public. If marked public, a directive will be read aloud to the entire

committee, but not voted upon. Please note that you shouldn’t assume your messages are secure just because you mark them as private. You may want to include specific measures to prevent

sabotage or sensitive information getting leaked.

There are three main types of directives: personal, joint, and committee. Personal directives are

issued for your character, and they must be achievable within the power of your character. Joint

directives are issued collectively by a group of delegates, and they must have the signatures of

all group members. Committee directives are proposed actions to be taken by the wholecommittee, and they must meet a minimum number of signatories, as stipulated by the chair.

They are introduced to the committee using a “Motion to Introduce,” and they may be formally

discussed using moderated caucuses. Committee directives will be enacted with a simple

majority vote in favor.

The chairs will be placing a high emphasis on historical accuracy and creativity. What that

means is we don’t want to see directives that say, “Ask contact in Chinese government to repeal

anti-corruption legislation.” Instead, we want to see you utilizing your character’s backgroundand influence, focusing on your character’s political and/or economic interests, and coming up

with complete and thoughtful directives that achieve your objectives. The more thought-out your

story line is, the more likely it will be successful in crisis.

Communiqués and Press Releases

Communiqués are public declarations or private communications with foreign governments,individuals, or other entities outside of the committee. Crisis staff will embody the people you

are trying to contact, and update you on your communiqué accordingly. Rules for committee,

joint and personal communiqués follow the same rules as directives.

Press releases are used to present information to the public on behalf of a delegation or larger

group.



SMUNC 2015

10

Caucus

Crisis will be in a perpetual moderated caucus with an underlying speaker’s list, unless otherwise

motioned and voted on. That is, when any caucus elapses without another motion, the committee

will return to the speaker’s list. It is at the Chair’s discretion to honor a previous speaker’s list or

to construct a new one at any given time. Though less common, the Chair will honor a motion

for an unmoderated caucus when it will benefit the productivity of the committee. The rules ofparliamentary procedure are laid out in the SMUNC Delegate Handbook.

Final Notes

The chair welcomes delegates to try and “get into character.” However, delegates must keep to

socially appropriate behavior and language in their speech at all times, regardless of arguablehistorical accuracy. That means swearing (in English or Chinese), racist or sexist slurs, or any

other comments that could be considered disrespectful are not allowed. If you have any

questions, please ask the chair.



SMUNC 2015

11

Character List

Qing China Committee

Chair – Daoguang Emperor: The Daoguang Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Qing

dynasty who ruled from 1820 until his death in 1850. He struggled to deal with internal strife

including corruption and external troubles, most notably the First Opium War. Many historianssee him as an ineffective ruler.

Lin Zexu (Viceroy of Huguang): A Chinese scholar and official of the Qing dynasty, Lin Zexuwas appointed imperial commissioner in late 1838. Lin proceeded to Guangzhou (Canton) where

he summoned British merchants and officials while desperately trying to correct the corrupt

Chinese officials. He forced foreign merchants to surrender their opium cargo for destruction,

and even wrote a letter to Queen Victoria, urging her to end the “poisonous” opium trade.Although he tried to prepare the country for war, he was publicly blamed for the disastrous

outcome and exiled.

Qishan (Viceroy of Zhili): A high-ranking Qing official, Qishan was a member of theinfluential Manchu Borjigit clan. He had hereditary ties to the early princes of the Qing era and is

sometimes known as the last Prince Qing. When Lin Zexu failed at pushing away the British

forces in the First Opium War, Qishan was sent to replace Lin. Nevertheless, Qishan did little to

improve the situation, signing a peace treaty that ceded Hong Kong and provided the British withhuge sums without approval from the imperial court. The Viceroy of Zhili is considered primus

inter pares as the leading member of the Eight Viceroys.

Keying: Keying was a Manchu statesman during the Qing dynasty who supported the

legalization of opium trade in order to make revenue from trade taxes. It is said that when he was

sent to Canton to suppress the opium trade, he hosted a dinner for all of the Chinese merchants

and provided everything they needed except for opium. Before a day had passed, the merchantshad all broken down from opium withdrawal symptoms. He also helped negotiate the Treaty of

Nanking at the end of the First Opium War.

Huang Juezi (Minister Herald): A scholar in the Qing Dynasty, Huang Juezi was stronglyopposed to the opium trade. In June 1838, as the director of the Court of State Ceremonial, he

wrote a memorial to the Daoguang Emperor in favor of abolishing opium. This memorial was

supported by Lin Zexu and eventually the emperor himself.

Howqua: One of the richest businessmen in the world of his time, this leader of the Canton

cohong (or guild of Chinese merchants) dealt opium with almost all of the major western traders.

He was one of the primary targets of Lin Zexu’s crackdown in 1839.

Mowqua: One of the most powerful members in the cohong, Mowqua was second only to

Howqua, with whom he competed in the opium trade.

Yijing: A relative of the Daoguang Emperor, Yijing was a Qing military officer in the FirstOpium War who had gained a reputation after defeating Muslims rebels. However, he led an

unsuccessful attack on the British-occupied city of Ningbo.



SMUNC 2015

12

Yang Fang: An aged general and military commander of Liangguang (Guangdong andGuangxi), he led Chinese troops during the Second Battle of Canton in 1841 and was rebuked by

the Emperor for agreeing to a truce rather than continuing to fight.

Yishan (Governor of Ili and Xinjiang): Yishan was a Qing military commander tasked todefend Guangzhou against invading British troops. Due to his battle failures, he was dismissed

from office by the Xianfeng Emperor.

Sengge Rinchen: Sengge was a Mongolian general who served in the Qing dynasty. He ledChinese cavalry forces against British and French invasions in China as well as rebel forces in

the Taiping Rebellion.

Guan Tianpei: “Commander-in-Chief of Naval Forces” during the start of the Opium War. Heled the Chinese ships in the first skirmish with British forces at the Battle of Chuanbi

(Chuenpee).

Ge Yunfei: A Chinese general who served in the First Opium War, Ge Yunfei commanded theZhenhai garrison at the mouth of the Yong River. (Note: “Yong River” refers to the one that

flows through the Zhejiang province. There is another “Yong River” that flows through the

Guangxi province.)

Empress Xiaoquancheng: Empress Xiaoquancheng was the emperor’s third official spouse and

gave birth to his successor, the Xianfeng Emperor, in 1831. She assumed the role of the

Daooguang Emperor’s empress consort in 1834 after his first empress consort died.

Deng Tingzhen (Viceroy of Liangguang): Deng Tingzhen was the Viceroy of Liangguang (an

administrative region including Guangdong, Guangxi, Portuguese Macau, and what would laterbecome British Hong Kong and French Guangzhouwan) from 1836 to 1840, when he wassucceeded by Lin Zexu. He supported legalization of opium.

Yilibu (Viceroy of Liangjiang): As Viceroy of Liangjiang (aka Viceroy of Nanking) from 1839

to 1840, Yilibu oversaw the Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces. In 1842, the emperorappointed him plenipotentiary to deal with the British, and he was important in negotiating the

Treating of Nanking.

Zeng Guofan: A famous member of the elite Hanlin Academy, Zeng Guofan was a prominentConfucian scholar and military official of the Qing Dynasty.

He Changling: Another member of the elite Hanlin Academy, He Changling had extensive

experience as a Qing government official and mentored many military officials.

Gong Zizhen: A Chinese scholar and poet, Gong Zizhen was a progressive-minded public

intellectual who was critical of Qing society and government.



SMUNC 2015

13

Wei Yuan: A Qing official and scholar, Wei Yuan distinguished himself from Confucian

traditionalists by emphasizing many legalist values, particularly that of “wealth and power.” Hewas one of the first and most prominent critics of the increasing power (especially military)

imbalance between China and Western nations.

Nine Gates Infantry Commander: The military leader in charge of the defense of Beijing andthe Forbidden City. Additional responsibilities include firefighting, patrols, security checks, the

arresting of criminals, prison keeping.

Viceroy of Shaan-Gan: The Qing leader in charge of political, economic, and military affairs inthe provinces of Shanxi, Gansu, and western Inner Mongolia, all of which are strategically

important territories due to their proximity to the Silk Road and central Asia.

Viceroy of Yun-Gui: The Qing leader in charge of political, economic, and military affairs inthe provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou in the south of China. These territories are also known for

their mineral wealth and natural diversity. One of the Eight Viceroys of China.

Viceroy of Sichuan: The Qing leader in charge of political, economic, and military affairs in thestrategically important province of Sichuan and the city of Chongqing. This territory is vital to

the economy of the Empire, given its vast agricultural and mineral wealth.

Viceroy of the Three Northeast Provinces: The Qing leader in charge of political, economic,and military affairs in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, which comprise Manchuria.

Viceroy of the Southern Rivers: The Qing leader in charge for the management, administration,and defense of the rivers of Southern China, especially and most notably the Pearl River Basin,

which is key to the local economy.

Officials Appointed by the ChairMinister of Defense – Zeng Guofan

Minister of Justice – Wei Yuan

Minister of Revenue – He Changling

Minister of Personnel – Gong Zizhen



SMUNC 2015

14

English Committee

Chair – Lord Melbourne (Prime Minister): British Whig statesman who served as Prime

Minister at the start of the Opium Wars. He supported war efforts and opposed William

Gladstone’s and Lord Stanhope’s anti-war efforts.

Lord Palmerston (Foreign Secretary): Lord Palmerston was a British statesman who servedtwice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century. During the First Opium War, he served as

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and oversaw the victory over China. He insisted on very

harsh terms in the Treaty of Nanking.

Sir Robert Peel (Leader of the Opposition): A British Conservative statesman, Peel served 2

terms as Prime Minister spanning years before, during, and after the First Opium War. Hepushed against war efforts. He is sometimes considered a traitor to the Tory party.

William Gladstone: A leading Tory politician who saw opium as a lowly trade product and

feared that the Opium Wars would tarnish the reputation of the British. He accused Lord

Palmerston of waging war “to protect an infamous contraband traffic.” He unsuccessfully tried tocure his sister’s opium addiction.

Sir Charles Elliot (Chief Superintendent of British Trade): Charles Elliot was a British navalofficer and diplomat. At the time of the First Opium War, he had arisen to the position of Chief

Superintendent of British Trade. Unlike Lord Palmerston, Elliot was opposed to the opium trade.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Hong Kong as a British colony, later becoming its

first administrator in 1841.

Sir George Elliot (Commander-in-Chief, Royal Navy East Indies and China Station):

Charles Elliot’s cousin and Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound’s brother, George Elliot was also

a British naval officer and diplomat. During the Opium War, he served as Commander-in-Chiefof the East Indies and China Station and joint plenipotentiary with Charles Elliot. (Note: This

character is Charles Elliot’s cousin and was born in 1784. Do not confuse with other British

naval officers named George Elliot!)

William Jardine: A surgeon by training, Jardine switched to commerce when he discovered the

opium trade to be more profitable than medicine. Finding a loophole in the British EIC’s

monopoly, Jardine was one of the early successful private traders in Canton. He partnered withJames Matheson to establish a firm that later became the largest British trading hong (or firm) in

Asia. Jardine was one of the main advocates of war with China.

Lancelot Dent: The senior partner of the wealthy hong (or firm) Dent & Co. at the start of theOpium War, he was put under arrest by a warrant from Lin Zexu in 1839 for his deep

involvement in the opium trade.

William Hutcheon Hall: A rising figure in the British Navy, he was well-acquainted with steamengines and steam boats. Although he was not even a lieutenant at the start of the war, he

assumed command of the first iron warship, the Nemesis, whose shallow hull allowed it to travel



SMUNC 2015

15

up the shallow Chinese rivers. The Opium War was both a test for the naval use of iron ships and

for Hall’s ability to command a fearful vessel in battle.

Hugh Gough (Commander-in-Chief, Royal Army, China): Another rising figure in the British

military, Gough had plenty of battle experience and was already a major-general before the start

of the Opium War. During the war, he was appointed commander-in-chief of all British landtroops in China; a good performance would help him advance towards the coveted rank of

lieutenant general, and eventually, field marshal.

James Bremer (Commander-in-Chief, Royal Navy): An officer in the British Royal Navy, hehad extensive experience from the Napoleonic Wars and the First Anglo-Burmese War. He

served twice as commander-in-chief of the British naval forces in the First Opium War.

George Eden (Governor-General of India): The earl of Auckland, George Eden wasGovernor-General of India from 1836 to 1842. He was a member of the Whig party.

Sir William Parker (Second Sea Lord): A British navy officer, William Parker held the rank ofthe Second Sea Lord at the start of the First Opium War. Towards the end of the war, hesucceeded Sir James Bremer (who succeeded Sir George Elliot) as the Commander-in-Chief of

the East Indies and China Station.

Thomas Spring Rice (Chancellor of the Exchequer): A British Whig politician, Thomas Riceserved as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1835 to 1839, granting Rice power over economic

and financial matters of Great Britain.

Sir Charles Adam (First Naval Lord): A British naval officer, Charles Adam served as First

Naval Lord (the Royal Navy’s professional head) from 1835 to 1841.

Rowland Hill (Commander-in-Chief, Royal Army): A British army officer with extensiveexperience in the Napoleanic Wars, he became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in

1828, a post he held until 1842. (Note: This is the general Rowland Hill, not the teacher.)

John Hobhouse (President of the Board of Control for India): A Whig statesman, JohnHobhouse served as President of the Board of Control for India from 1835 to 1841, overseeing

the British East India Company.

Charles Poulett Thomson (President of the Board of Trade): A merchant and Whigstatesman, Charles Thomson championed the cause of free trade and financial reforms. From

1835 to 1839, he served as President of the Board of Trade.

Hussey Vivian (Master-General of the Ordnance): From 1835 to 1841, Hussey Vivian was theMaster-General of the Ordnance (MGO), an important senior military position not subordinate to

the commander-in-chief.

Viscount Melgund (First Lord of the Admiralty): From 1835 to 1841, he served as First Lordof the Admiralty, the president of the Board of Admiralty which commanded the Royal Navy.



SMUNC 2015

16

Note that he was not a professional (i.e. military) officer, but rather a civilian (i.e. politician)

lord. He was a member of the Whig party.

Viscount Howick (Secretary at War): As Secretary at War from 1835 to 1839, Viscount

Howick managed much of the administration, organization, and financial operations of the

Army, but had limited influence over military policy. He was a Liberal politician, and promotedfree trade between Great Britain and her colonies.

John Russell (Home Secretary): As Home Secretary (a cabinet-level position) from 1835 to

1839, he oversaw issues of policing, immigration, citizenship, and, perhaps most importantly forthis crisis, national security.

Lord Cottenham (Lord Chancellor): As Lord Chancellor, Cottenham controls the judicial

system of Great Britain and also serves as the presiding officer for the House of Lords. Controlof the courts gives Cottenham the authority to determine any cases of high treason and other

great crimes against Great Britain.

Viscount Morpeth (Chief Secretary for Ireland): As the most important member of the Britishadministration in Ireland represented on the Cabinet, Morpeth has the power to enforce the

decisions of the Cabinet on Ireland and has great influence over the political, economic, and

military resources of Ireland.

Lord Glenelg (Secretary of State for War and the Colonies): As Secretary of State for War,

also known as the War Secretary, Glenelg was responsible for the British Army and the various

colonies of the Empire, except for India. Glenelg also ran the War Office as a result of hisposition.

Sir John Campbell (Attorney-General): As Attorney-General, Sir Campbell is the top legaladviser to the Government and its various departments and members. He must be able to advisethe Government on the legality of its decisions in the context of British law. Perhaps most

importantly, the Attorney-General may also choose to investigate and pursue cases of treason

and other crimes against the state amongst members of the Government as the Government’s top

prosecutor.



SMUNC 2015

17

The Crisis

The crisis will begin January 1839. Any events (including military appointments, battles,legislation, etc.) occurring after this date has not yet taken place. All characters are assumed to

be alive for the duration of the committee. Note that the chairs have chosen to give some of the

Chinese characters additional appointments to ensure a more equal distribution of power amongthe delegates. The chairs may extend this practice during committee if necessary. Any ambiguitywill be resolved at the start of the committee. Questions can also be addressed via email to the

chairs before the start of the conference.

On the Chinese side, the Daoguang emperor has finally realized the detrimental effects of opiumon his population and especially the military. There have already been numerous inconclusive

debates about possible paths of action, whether to legalize the drug or to ban it completely.

Nonetheless, the incorruptible official, Lin Zexu, has won the emperor’s favor, although it willbe several months before he arrives in Canton to assume his role.

In Great Britain, news has been spread about the possibility of the Chinese ending the opiumtrade. While each delegate has personal opinions about the morality of the drug and potentialwarfare, they must also prescribe to contemporary realities of politics, particularly that of the

Whigs and the Tories. In general, the Tories are more war-hungry, while the Whigs, the

dominant party, are less inclined for military action. However, both are eager to defend and

display national pride. For military officers, successful displays of leadership and victories mayanticipate more wealth and recognition from the Queen.

Delegates representing Chinese and British leaders will seek to promote both their selfish

interests and the interests of their respective nations in the context of tensions surrounding theopium trade conflict. While they must adhere to historical conventions regarding their roles, they

must be creative in asserting their powers. For example, Chinese generals and military officersmust recognize that reporting a military loss to the emperor could result in penalty of death, or at

least stripping of one’s title and wealth. However, they must somehow find ways to acquirereinforcements and more military resources as they best see fit themselves.



SMUNC 2015

18

Works Cited

Bulliet, Richard W., Pamela K. Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick, Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L.Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. 3rd ed.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print.

“Canton system”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. EncyclopædiaBritannica Inc., 2015. Web. 10 Aug. 2015 <http://www.britannica.com/event/Canton-system>.

“Captain Sir William Hutcheon Hall (1797?-1878).” Royal Museums Greenwich. National

Maritime Museum, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.

<http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/14207.html>.Chaitanya, Krishna. A History of Indian Painting: The Modern Period . New Delhi: Abhinav

Publications, 1994. 103. Print.

“Charles Poulett Thomson, Baron Sydenham”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia

Britannica Online.

Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 08 Sep. 2015

<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Poulett-Thomson-Baron-Sydenham>.“China”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia BritannicaInc., 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015 <http://www.britannica.com/place/China/Cultural-life>.

Chrisholm, Hugh. “Cottenham, Charles Christopher Pepys.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. 11th ed.

Vol. 7. Cambridge: U, 1910. 252-53. Print.

“Christopher Webb Smith (1793-1871) and Sir Charles William D’oyly (1781-1845).” Arts of

India. Christie’s, n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.

<http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4147631 >.

“Daoguang”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia

Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Daoguang>.

Dillon, Michael. China: A Modern History. London New York New York NY: I.B. Tauris,Distributed in the United States and Canada exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Print.“From Reform to Revolution, 1842 to 1911.” Asia for Educators. Columbia University, 2009.

Web. 08 Sept. 2015. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1750_reform.htm>.

Gao, James Zheng. “Chronology.” Historical Dictionary of Modern China (1800-1949).

Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2009. Xix-Xx. Print.“George Eden, earl of Auckland”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.


<http://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Eden-Earl-of-Auckland>.“Gong Zizhen”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.


<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Gong-Zizhen>.

Hale, Edward Everett. “How To Live.” Ed. Theodore L. Flood and Frank Chapin Bray. The

Chautauquan 6 (1886): 187. Chautauqua Press, 6 July 2011. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

<https://books.google.com/books?id=msVZAAAAYAAJ>.

Hanes, William Travis, and Frank Sanello. Opium Wars: The Addiction of One Empire and the

Corruption of Another. Naperville, IL: Source, 2002. 65-200. Print.



SMUNC 2015

19

“Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica

Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 08 Sep. 2015

<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-George-Grey-3rd-Earl-Grey>.

Hill, J. Spencer. The Indo-Chinese Opium Trade: Considered in Relation to Its History,

Morality, and Expediency, and Its Influence on Christian Missions. London: HenryFrowde, 1884. Google Books. 23 July 2008. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

<https://books.google.com/books?id=jg0qAAAAYAAJ>.

“John Cam Hobhouse, Baron Broughton”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica

Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 08 Sep. 2015

<http://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Cam-Hobhouse-Baron-Broughton-de-

Gyfford>.

“Lin Zexu”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. EncyclopædiaBritannica Inc., 2015. Web. 17 Aug. 2015 <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Lin-

Zexu>.

“Lord Chancellor.” Glossary. UK Parliament, n.d. Web. 08 Sept. 2015.<http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/lord-chancellor/>.

Meyer, Karl E. “The Opium War’s Secret History.” The New York Times. The New York Times,

27 June 1997. Web. 31 Aug. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/28/opinion/the-

opium-war-s-secret-history.html>.Perdue, Peter C. “The First Opium War.” MIT Visualizing Cultures. Massachusetts Institute of

Technology, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.

<http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/opium_wars_01/>.Rodas, Luis Guillermo Pineda. The Role of Opium in the Expansion of the British Empire from

1764 to 1825. Diss. Universität Leipzig, 2012. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Academica.edu. Web. 31

Aug. 2015.<https://www.academia.edu/1444383/The_role_of_Opium_in_the_Expansion_of_the_British_Empire_from_1764_to_1825>.

“Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.


<http://www.britannica.com/biography/Rowland-Hill-1st-Viscount-Hill>.Schell, Orville, and John Delury. “Wei Yuan.” Wealth and Power. The Asia Society, n.d. Web.

08 Sept. 2015. <http://sites.asiasociety.org/chinawealthpower/chapters/wei-yuan/>.

Silverman, Rachel Emma. “Howqua (a.k.a. Wu Bingjian) (1769-1843).” Rich & Richer. Dow

Jones & Company, 1999. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.<http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/mill-1-timeline-howqua.htm>.

The Opium War. Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific, 2000.<https://books.google.com/books?id=2W1Jmh2QpukC>.

Winther, Paul C. Anglo-European Science and the Rhetoric of Empire: Malaria, Opium, and

British Rule in India, 1756-1895. Lanham, MD: Lexington, 2003. Print.

Zexu, Lin. “Letter of Advice to Queen Victoria.” Letter to Queen Victoria. 27 Aug. 1839.

Chinese Repository. 10th ed. Vol. 8. Canton: n.p., 1840. 497-503. HathiTrust. Web. 16

Aug. 2015.<http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044005277884;view=1up;seq=509>.

Opium Wars Background Guide

Documents

Transcript of Opium Wars Background Guide