Welcome To The Opium WarsWelcome To The Opium Wars

From This…From This…

To This…To This…

The Opium WarsSome Quick FactsThe Opium WarsSome Quick Facts

• 2 wars total• 1st war: 1839 - 1842• 2nd war: 1856 - 1860• Both wars primarily between China

and England• Some involvement by France,

America and other countries as well

• 2 wars total• 1st war: 1839 - 1842• 2nd war: 1856 - 1860• Both wars primarily between China

and England• Some involvement by France,

America and other countries as well

The Short Story:The Short Story:

England wanted tea, China wanted silver. England said, “We would rather keep our silver, so we’ll send you an addictive drug to pay for the tea,” China said “No way,” they fought about it and England won - twice!

The End

England wanted tea, China wanted silver. England said, “We would rather keep our silver, so we’ll send you an addictive drug to pay for the tea,” China said “No way,” they fought about it and England won - twice!

The End

“Do not be deceived, God is

not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Galatians 6:7-8

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Galatians 6:7-8

China - 1800’sChina - 1800’s•Very primitive•Ruled by the Emperor and his throngs of advisors, mandarins, etc. •Fairly closed to the outside world•Trade with the West prohibited except in Canton

•Very primitive•Ruled by the Emperor and his throngs of advisors, mandarins, etc. •Fairly closed to the outside world•Trade with the West prohibited except in Canton

England - 1800’sEngland - 1800’s

•Compared to China, much more advanced•Industry was blooming, and many new products were being exported.•Even as today, England enjoyed her tea, which was imported from China.

•Compared to China, much more advanced•Industry was blooming, and many new products were being exported.•Even as today, England enjoyed her tea, which was imported from China.

Silver: therein lies the

problem

Silver: therein lies the

problemEngland continued to enjoy

vast quantities of tea, meaning that equally vast

quantities of silver were being sent to China.

China was pleased with this accumulation of wealth -

England was not.

England continued to enjoy vast quantities of tea,

meaning that equally vast quantities of silver were being

sent to China.

China was pleased with this accumulation of wealth -

England was not.

“The Chinese have the best food in the world,

rice, the best drink, tea, the best clothing,

cotton, silk and furs. They do not need to buy

a penny’s worth elsewhere.”

~ an Englishman living in China

“The Chinese have the best food in the world,

rice, the best drink, tea, the best clothing,

cotton, silk and furs. They do not need to buy

a penny’s worth elsewhere.”

~ an Englishman living in China

The British East India Company

The British East India Company

Why Smugglers?Why Smugglers?

• Opium was used in early China as a form of medicine, but not by inhalation (smoking)

• Non-medicinal Opium was illegal in China, as per an imperial edict from 1729 and 1799

• The abuse of opium by smoking was not widespread until the late 1700’s

• Opium was used in early China as a form of medicine, but not by inhalation (smoking)

• Non-medicinal Opium was illegal in China, as per an imperial edict from 1729 and 1799

• The abuse of opium by smoking was not widespread until the late 1700’s

Opium DensOpium Dens

Lin Zexu (Tse-hsu)Lin Zexu (Tse-hsu)

• Appointed Imperial Commissioner toGuangdong in 1838

• Highly moral man• Firmly against opium• Serious about stamping

out the opium problem

• Appointed Imperial Commissioner toGuangdong in 1838

• Highly moral man• Firmly against opium• Serious about stamping

out the opium problem

“There is a class of evil foreigner

that makes opium and brings it for sale, tempting fools to destroy themselves merely in order to reap profit…now the vice has spread far and wide…the poison penetrated deeper…We have decided to inflict very severe penalties on opium dealers and smokers…This poisonous article is manufactured in places subject to your rule. It is not of course either made or sold at your bidding…I am told that in your own country opium smoking is forbidden under severe penalties…”

“There is a class of evil foreigner that makes opium and brings it for sale, tempting fools to destroy themselves merely in order to reap profit…now the vice has spread far and wide…the poison penetrated deeper…We have decided to inflict very severe penalties on opium dealers and smokers…This poisonous article is manufactured in places subject to your rule. It is not of course either made or sold at your bidding…I am told that in your own country opium smoking is forbidden under severe penalties…”

“What is here forbidden to consume…must be forbidden to manufacture…When that is done, not only will the Chinese be rid of this evil but your people too will be safe.”

“What is here forbidden to consume…must be forbidden to manufacture…When that is done, not only will the Chinese be rid of this evil but your people too will be safe.”

The destroying of the confiscated opium by

Commissioner Lin

The destroying of the confiscated opium by

Commissioner Lin

First Shots of WarFirst Shots of War• Hong Kong taken as base camp• Sept. 4, 1839, British fire at Chinese

while attempting to get water from Kowloon

• Chinese junks were no match for English merchant ships (they carried guns)

• Lin underestimated the strength of the British navy

• Hong Kong taken as base camp• Sept. 4, 1839, British fire at Chinese

while attempting to get water from Kowloon

• Chinese junks were no match for English merchant ships (they carried guns)

• Lin underestimated the strength of the British navy

Chinese Junks ….

…British Frigate

Chinese Junks ….

…British Frigate

British Action 1839-1842

British Action 1839-1842

• Blockaded Pearl River• British troops and ships arrive at Canton• Canton attacked• Bogue Forts captured• Ningbo (Ningpo)

defeated• Shanghai occupied

• Blockaded Pearl River• British troops and ships arrive at Canton• Canton attacked• Bogue Forts captured• Ningbo (Ningpo)

defeated• Shanghai occupied

1st Unequal Treaty(Treaty of Nanking)1st Unequal Treaty(Treaty of Nanking)

Several Benefits for England:• Extraterritoriality• No more tribute in order to trade• “Most favored nation” clause• Five ports opened to trade(Canton, Shanghai, Foochow, Ningpo, & Amoy)• No trade restrictions• 6 million pieces of silver to be paid for

opium destroyed by Lin (along with more silver)

Several Benefits for England:• Extraterritoriality• No more tribute in order to trade• “Most favored nation” clause• Five ports opened to trade(Canton, Shanghai, Foochow, Ningpo, & Amoy)• No trade restrictions• 6 million pieces of silver to be paid for

opium destroyed by Lin (along with more silver)

Chinese Benefits of the Nanking Treaty:

Chinese Benefits of the Nanking Treaty:

1. England stopped attacking China2. England started bringing in more

opium to addict the people of China

3. China sold much tea to England

(Maybe - #2 wasn’t such a benefit…)

1. England stopped attacking China2. England started bringing in more

opium to addict the people of China

3. China sold much tea to England

(Maybe - #2 wasn’t such a benefit…)

Second Opium War1856 - 1860

Second Opium War1856 - 1860

• Tensions were increasing (1842-1856)• Britain renegotiated the Treaty of Nanking• Legalization of opium trade• Regulation of Coolie trade• No internal transit duties (taxes)• Residence of British ambassador in Peking

• Britain’s demands were rejected by China

• Tensions were increasing (1842-1856)• Britain renegotiated the Treaty of Nanking• Legalization of opium trade• Regulation of Coolie trade• No internal transit duties (taxes)• Residence of British ambassador in Peking

• Britain’s demands were rejected by China

Coolies Coolies

• Not technically slaves• Often kidnapped or tricked into contracts • Not always paid fairly for labor (if at all)• Transported from India and China primarily• Sent to Peru, Africa, Cuba and the U.S.• Coolies helped to build the

Transcontinental Railroad, yet were discouraged from living in California after its completion

• Not technically slaves• Often kidnapped or tricked into contracts • Not always paid fairly for labor (if at all)• Transported from India and China primarily• Sent to Peru, Africa, Cuba and the U.S.• Coolies helped to build the

Transcontinental Railroad, yet were discouraged from living in California after its completion

October 8, 1856October 8, 1856• Ching officials boarded The Arrow, a

Chinese lorcha registered in Hong Kong• The Arrow’s captain was British, crew

was Chinese• 12 crew members arrested on charges

of piracy• Allegedly, the British flag was torn down• Result: Britain had a fit!

• Ching officials boarded The Arrow, a Chinese lorcha registered in Hong Kong

• The Arrow’s captain was British, crew was Chinese

• 12 crew members arrested on charges of piracy

• Allegedly, the British flag was torn down• Result: Britain had a fit!

Meanwhile, In Parliament…Meanwhile, In Parliament…

• Lord Palmerston - Prime Minister• William Gladstone• Lord Claredon• Richard Cobden

• Lord Palmerston - Prime Minister• William Gladstone• Lord Claredon• Richard Cobden

War! (again)

1857-1860

War! (again)

1857-1860• Much more violent than 1st opium war• Most battles had major Chinese losses• Canton Forts bombarded & Canton taken• Comm. Yeh captured• British forces made their way towards

Peking, defeating forts and towns as they went (never reaching Peking)

• Much more violent than 1st opium war• Most battles had major Chinese losses• Canton Forts bombarded & Canton taken• Comm. Yeh captured• British forces made their way towards

Peking, defeating forts and towns as they went (never reaching Peking)

Treaty of Tientsin(Created)

Treaty of Tientsin(Created)

• 10 more ports opened to trade• Foreign embassies allowed in Peking• Ships allowed freely on Yangtze

River• Foreigners allowed to travel inland• 4 million pieces of silver to be paid

to Britain

• 10 more ports opened to trade• Foreign embassies allowed in Peking• Ships allowed freely on Yangtze

River• Foreigners allowed to travel inland• 4 million pieces of silver to be paid

to Britain

One last hostilityOne last hostility

Looting & Burning of the Summer Palaces

Looting & Burning of the Summer Palaces

Treaty of Tientsin Ratified

Treaty of Tientsin RatifiedPrince Gong ratified on October 18, 1860

• China's recognition of the Treaty of Tientsin• Legalization of the opium trade • Freedom of religion established in China • British ships were allowed to bring Coolies to

the Americas • Indemnity to Britain and France increasing to

8 million pieces of silver each

Prince Gong ratified on October 18, 1860• China's recognition of the Treaty of Tientsin• Legalization of the opium trade • Freedom of religion established in China • British ships were allowed to bring Coolies to

the Americas • Indemnity to Britain and France increasing to

8 million pieces of silver each

Death totals for both wars

Death totals for both wars

• Britain, U.S., France - over 2,800 KIA or WIA

• China - 47,790 KIA or WIA

• Britain, U.S., France - over 2,800 KIA or WIA

• China - 47,790 KIA or WIA

Importance for us today

Importance for us today

• Coolies brought opiates to Chinatowns

• Opiates spread rapidly• Morphine• Heroin• Codine

• Coolies brought opiates to Chinatowns

• Opiates spread rapidly• Morphine• Heroin• Codine