The Trouble with China

Learning Objective: To outline the course of late 18th and 19th Century Chinese history to 1860 and identify some broad themes for the start of the IB Higher Level course proper

McCartney “ The Empire of China is an old, crazy, first-rate Man of War, which a fortunate succession of and vigilant officers have contrived to keep afloat for these hundred and fifty years past, and to overawe their neighbours merely by her bulk and appearance. But whenever an insufficient man happens to have the command on deck, adieu to the discipline and safety of the ship. She may, perhaps, not sink outright; she may drift some time as a wreck, and will then be dashed to pieces on the shore; but she can never be rebuilt on the old bottom.

“The breaking-up of the power of China (no very improbable event) would occasion a complete

subversion of the commerce, not only of Asia, but a very sensible change in the other quarters of the

world. The industry and the ingenuity of the Chinese would be checked and enfeebled, but they would not

be annihilated. Her ports would no longer be barricaded; they would

be attempted by all the adventures of all trading nations, who would search every channel, creek, and cranny of China for a market, and for some time be

the cause of much rivalry and disorder. Nevertheless, as Great Britain, from the weight of

her riches and the genius and spirits of her people, is become the first political, marine, and commercial Power on

the globe, it is reasonable to think that she would prove the

greatest gainer by such a revolution as I have alluded to, and rise superior over every competitor.”

The Thirteen Factories c1805

Results• Crushing victory

for the British forces

• Beginning of the end for the Qing?

• Unequal Treaties

• Trouble ahead

The Taiping Rebellion (or don’t take exams too seriously!)

• Missionary Influence• Hong Xiuquan and the civil

service exams• Younger brother of Jesus?• 20-30 million deaths• Same time as American civil

war• Fall of Nanjing in 1864

Plenary: Key Incidents and themes

• Problems in governing China: Geography and communications

• Leadership and failure to engage the West: McCartney’s mission

• Western aggression: the Opium Wars

• Internal problems: The Taiping rebellions and others

TOK Link/Learner Profile

How do historians choose to select their areas of study? Why is it that the American civil war has generated so much more research than the much larger Taiping revolt? Does this suggest any potential weaknesses in historical study?