“Opium was transformed into an international commodity, just like tea and cotton”

Opium Trade and Conflict

Background

“a godsend and a demon” Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks used

opium for medicinal purposes – painkiller 1500’s transition to recreational use in

India and Persia (hookah, pipe) Dutch, Portuguese first to trade opium to

China

Canton (Guangzhou) Trade

TRIANGULAR TRADE

MANUFACTURED GOODS

OPIUM

SILVER

Canton (Guanghou) TradeIn China, part of the Tribute System

- foreigners were restricted to one port

- Hongs, or merchants, set all prices

- 90% of Chinese in port cities addicted (men, ages 16-40)

In India, British extend their empire

- 1mi. farmers on ½ mi. acres in India owned by Britain

- industrial production in “factories”

- help pay for administering the British colony in India

In Britain, East India Co. had a monopoly on all trade in Asia

- favorable balance of trade for Britain

- industrial raw materials, silver add to Britain’s wealth

CANTON

Chinese Reactions

1729 prohibit cultivation 1799 banned importation (leads to

smuggling trade, price increases 6X)

1800 banned smoking, death to cultivators and importers

1839 Lin seized opium, burned British opium (“financial disaster”)

Treaties of Nanjing/Wanghea

Unequal Treaties

Hong Kong ceded to British

5 treaty ports opened to foreigners

“most favored nation” status to foreigners

Extraterritoriality (Western law used)

No Chinese trade monopolies (free trade)

China to pay Britain costs of war

Diplomatic equality (parity)

Chinese Response

3 R’s

Rebellion – Taiping, Boxer

Reform – self-strengthening movement, 100 Days of Reform

Retrenchment – Empress Zuxi, Marble Boat

Foreign Response

1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War

1904-1905 Russo - Japanese War

Spheres of Influence