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