The Qing Dynasty 1644-1911 Part II

Key Terms
First Opium War / Second Opium War / Taiping Rebellion / Sino-Japanese War / Boxer
Rebellion
Part III: The 1800s
I. Growing Foreign Presence
a. The English: England, like many other countries, had a thirst for Chinese tea. The
Chinese, however, did not care for foreign goods. This created a trade imbalance.
b. The English decide to even the trade imbalance by illegally selling opium for silver.
c. Other nations try to follow suit and begin to flood China with Opium

II. The First Opium War

a. Great Britain / Ireland vs. the Qing Dynasty
i. By 1838 the British were illegally selling 1400 tons of opium a year in China.
ii. Opium devastates Chinese coastal society.
b. War
i. Following the seizure of a ship in 1839 the British go to war with China.
ii. The war is primarily naval and revolves around Britain wanting to open trade in
China.
iii. British forces are able to close river ways and lay siege to Nanking forcing
iv. Treaty of Nanking
I. Ends the First Opium War
II. Ends the Canton System
III. Unfair Treaty
IV. Opens China to British trade. Followed by other treaties with European countries.
V. Gives Hong Kong to the British
III. The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)
a. The Heavenly Kingdom Movement / God Worshipping Society
i. Led by Hong Xiuquan
I. Influenced by biblical pamphlets and an illness that gave him visions.
II. Believed he was Jesuss younger brother who had been sent by God to rid China
of the Qing who were corrupt. He had a friend who was a former firewood

salesman who said he was the voice of God. Also had a Baptist missionary
teacher.
ii. Cultural Characteristics
I. Strict separation of the sexes.
II. Wanted to replace traditional Chinese religions completely with Christianity.
III. Against foot-binding.

b. The Rebellion
i. Fierce fighting by religious zealots.
ii. Between 20 30 million dead.
I. Most from famine or disease.
II. Some battles had over 100K deaths.

c. Aftermath
i. Taiping remnants splinter off into bandit organizations.
ii. Inspires other religious rebellions.
IV. The Second Opium War

a. Started over British desire of opening more ports for trade.

b. U.S. and France join the war effort.

c. Treaty of Tiensten
i. Great Britain, France, Russian, and US had embassy rights in Peking (Beijing)
ii. 11 More Chinese ports for trade.
iii. Foreign vessels (including warships) could freely navigate the Yangtze River.
iv. Foreigners could travel freely in China.
v. Religious liberty for all Christians.
vi. China pays Britain and France reparations.
d. Officially creates an open door to China for the West.
V. The First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
a. Basis for war is the independence of Korea.
i. China had controlled Korea as an independent satellite state for centuries.
ii. It was strategically important for both Japan and China.
I. The Dagger Pointed at the Heart of Japan

b. Exposes Chinas Weaknesses

i. Japan had modernized its army and navy under the Meiji Restoration.
ii. China lagged behind.
c. Treaty of Shimonoseki
i. Korea made independent and put under Japanese control.
ii. Land concessions made on mainland China.
iii. Taiwan given to Japan
VI. Beginning of Qing Collapse / The Boxer Rebellion
a. A Power Defeated
i. The loss in the Sino-Japanese war spurred calls for reforms.
I. Hundred-Days Reforms
a. Modernize China economically, militarily, and educationally.
b. Opposed by conservatives like the Empress Dowager who seizes control of
China.
b. The Boxer Rebellion
i. Nationalism and anti-foreign sentiments sweep through China.
ii. Empress Dowager backs the Boxers who attack foreign interests in China at first.
iii. Boxers go to war with the Eight-Nation Alliance
I. England, US, Russia, Italy, India, Australia, Germany, and Japan

iv. Boxers begin to lose support of the Chinese Imperial Court that increasingly wants a
diplomatic solution.
v. Eventually Boxers are defeated by the Eight-Nation Alliance.
c. China enters the 20th century on very shaky ground!