Imperialism: China and the WestWeb-Quest

By 1800, China was a prosperous country with a highly developed agricultural system. China was not industrialized, but workers in small workshops were able to produce most of the goods the Chinese needed. Because China was practically self-sufficient, its emperors had little interest in trading with Europeans. For decades, Europeans could do business only at the port of Canton. Despite pleas from Britain and other nations, China refused to open other ports to foreigners. The Chinese regarded European goods as inferior to their own and bought few goods from the European merchants at Canton. 

European merchants were determined to find a product the Chinese would buy in large quantities. Eventually, the British East India Company discovered such a product - opium. Opium is a habit forming narcotic made from the poppy plant. The Chinese government tried to stop the opium trade by appealing to British royalty. When those pleas went unanswered, the quarrel over opium grew into a war. The Opium War and the peace that followed led to increased trading rights for Europeans in China.

This Web-Quest will lead you though the major events and policies that effected life in China during the 1800s. 

PART 1 – RESEARCH - You will be responsible for:1. Researching and providing background information on your event FACT SHEET

o You must provide information concerning the specific perspectives of both Europeans /Americans (arguing for extended trading rights in China) and Chinese (expulsion of foreign merchants from China).

2. Provide at least 2 graphic representations that help better understand your event, along with a statement outlining its connection.

3. Presenting your findings and ideas to your distinguished colleagues who represent the four other events that this Web-Quest concerns.

*You may use any presentation application you feel works well for this project.

1. Opium Wara. Letter to Queen Victoria b. First Opium War c. The Opium Wars d. Be careful what you wish for

2. Taiping Rebellion

a. The Taiping Rebellion b. Emergence of Modern China c. Rebellion and Revolution d. What was the Taiping Rebellion?

3. Open Door Policya. First Open Door note on China b. Open Door Policy c. Secretary of State John Hay and the Open Door in China

4. Boxer Rebelliona. " Fei Ch'i-hao's: The Boxer Rebellion, 1900"  b. Boxer Rebellion c. Boxer Rebellion – Facts and Summary d. 1900 – Boxer Rebellion

5. Treaty of Nanjing a. The Treaty of Nanking 1842 b. Treaty of Nanjing c. First of the Unequal Treaties (be sure to go to p. 2)

PART 2 – POSITION PAPER – supported by SPECIFIC evidence

A.Did foreign nations have the right to threaten the independence of a weakened China to expand their power?

B.Discuss China’s reaction to imperialism. How would you characterize this reaction? Did China do that right thing? If so, explain why. If not, explain why not and how they could have improved their situation.