HIS385H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Legislative Council Of Hong Kong, Lin Zexu, Convention Of Peking
Document Summary
His 385 sept. 26 class- (week 3) ! Opium supply into china begins to skyrocket as a result. 1800-20s: beic brining about 4500 chests into china per annum! 1820s-30s: beic bringing about 10,000 chests per annum! 1838-39: all british companies bringing in 45,000 chests per annum! Causing opium addictions in china to become widespread. Problematic for a society that prided itself on harmony and stability. They did not look at social problems in a favourable light! Even moral leaders political leaders, scholars, soldiers all are becoming addicted to opium! Also, as more opium comes into china, the more the prices fall. So opium is cheaper and cheaper, and thus more accessible ! Previously, the chinese had been enjoying a favourable balance of trade, as they were receiving and saving lots of silver. Commoners would normally change their copper coins for silver, and then pay their taxes.
