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Transcript of The Qing Dynasty 1644 – 1911 Established by the Manchus (People from Manchuria) Expanded China to...
Imperialism in China
The Qing Dynasty1644 – 1911Established by the Manchus (People from
Manchuria)Expanded China to its greatest physical sizePresided over increasing trade with Europeans,
but the gov’t tried to strictly limit and control that trade
By the 1800s, the Qing government began to weaken due mainly to economic problems
Qing China at its height
The Opium War (1839 – 1842)In order to improve their trade balance with China, the
British began to sell opium in ChinaThe Chinese government outlawed the sale and
consumption of opium—due to the drug’s economic and social effects
When the British refused to halt the sale, the Chinese blockaded the trade port of Guangzhou
The British used the blockade as justification for attacking China; beginning the Opium War
With superior military technology, the British easily crushed the Chinese
The Treaty of NanjingEnded the Opium WarNo mention of opium in the treatyTerms of the Treaty:1) China opened an additional 5 coastal ports to
European trade2) Britain was given possession of Hong Kong
(until 1999)3) Europeans in the “treaty ports” were granted
extraterritoriality
The Tai Ping Rebellion1850 – 1864Caused by peasants’ anger at worsening
economic conditionsCalled for:
An end to the monarchyRedistribution of land to peasantsEquality for women
1853—The rebels seized the city of Nanjing and held it for the next 11 years
The Qing government eventually asked for Europeans’ aid in putting down the rebellion
Results of the Tai Ping rebellion1) Economic and Social Devastation
20 million people killed2) Increased foreign (European) influence over
the Chinese government1858—China agrees to legalize opium and
surrenders some territory to Great Britain3) Increased calls for reform within China
The government worked to modernize the country’s military, infrastructure, and industries
But it was too little, too late
Imperialism in China
European “Spheres of Influence”As the power of the Qing government
waned in the late 1800s, European nations began to make deals with local warlords:
Europeans paid the warlords in cash or weapons;
In exchange for exclusive rights to conduct trade, build railroads, mine for ores, etc.
These exclusive trade zones became known as Spheres of Influence;
In effect, European nations exercised complete control over these areas
The Sino-Japanese WarDate: 1894Cause: Increasing Japanese influence
and military encroachments in Korea (controlled by China for several centuries)
Japan easily defeats ChinaResults:
1) Japan takes the island of Taiwan from China
2) Japanese influence in Korea continues
3) Deep embarrassment for the Chinese
The Open Door Policy1898—After the Spanish-American War, the United States
enters the imperialist race in Asia and the Pacific1899—Concerned that the Europeans’ “spheres of influence”
will impede American access to China, Secretary of State John Hay issues the “Open Door Policy:”Essentially, the policy was that China should have an “open
door” to any nation that wanted to conduct trade in its territory
Hay informed the European powers—but not the Chinese government—about the policy
The Open Door Policy did not end the spheres of influence system;
But it did ease restrictions on trade, and allowed American companies access to Chinese markets
The Boxer Rebellion (Date: 1900)“Boxers:” Members of the secret Society of the
Harmonious FistsCause of the Rebellion:
The Boxers were disgusted by the weakness of the Qing government, and growing foreign influence over the country
They were particularly angered by Christian missionaries
Over several months, bands of Boxers roamed the Chinese countryside, slaughtering foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians
In Beijing, the Boxers killed a German diplomat and took control of large parts of the city
The Qing government proved powerless to stop the rebellion; in August an allied army of 20,000 troops from Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, and the U.S. attacked Beijing and put down the rebellion
Result: China has to pay damages to the Western allies; the power of the Qing Dynasty reaches an all-time low
Images from the Boxer Rebellion