CHIN 50 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: First Opium War, Hong Xiuquan, Most Favoured Nation
Document Summary
British opium in india, and they shipped it to china. Silver was flowing out of china instead of in. Opium den in guangzhou, coast of china, private smuggling networks. Court debate, sent to guangzhou to figure it out. Tried to stop foreign traders from giving opium. 21,000 opium chest delivered to this guy to be destroyed. Letter to queen victoria for great britain to stop giving it to china. Britain turned to military action to preserve trade. 1840 britain sent a massive force to china after they formally declared war. Blockaded guangzhou, and moved north and attacked mingeo. First treaty signed in guangzhou in 1841, gave hong kong to britain, required china to pay for damages, agreed for equality in diplomatic relations, and reopened guangzhou. Increased price of damages paid from china to britain, cohong, opened 5 treaty ports, tariffs fixed at 5%, extra territoriality.
