Foreign imperialism impacted the Qing Dynasty significantly politically, economically, and socially, and also played a large role in the fall of the Qing Dynasty. The aftermath of the Opium Wars against Britain (and France) were arguably what forced China’s doors open to western influence, allowing foreign ideas to spread within China.
From a political standpoint, the first and second Opium Wars dramatically altered the international relations between Qing China and the European powers. The end of the Opium Wars saw the Treaty of Nanjing and Tianjin signed, forcing the traditionally isolationist and inward Qing China to allow European powers in. China was demanded to surrender Hong Kong, open a total of fifteen treaty ports and allow foreigners to travel freely in the interior of China. With the sudden introduction of international trade, Western culture began to bleed into China with the introduction of products like bread, coffee or matches, as well as ideas with books published on the foreign political ideas, social structures and economies.
…show more content…
With the newly established foreign trade, tea and silk were in great demand with exports increasing over 500%. Farmers saw how much the tea and silk industry was flourishing and switched from agriculture, leading to the appreciation of the price of food. In contrast, China’s import of western machine-made fabrics rose from 730 thousand pounds before the Opium Wars, to an incredible 2.3 million pounds by 1864, putting the traditional and pricier hand-made textile industry out of business. Many workers from other industries such as boatmen had also lost their jobs. With the widespread of poverty from the soaring food prices and falling employment, the Chinese economy took a great hit from foreign
As a result of European dominance over China after the Opium War, many Chinese immigrated to the United States for a better life. Upon arriving, the Chinese worked in mining and constructing railroads, they faced discrimination from workers in the American economy, and the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to limit the future of Chinese immigration into the United States. Due to all these obstacles that they encountered, the immigration to the United States for a better life did not go as planned for the Chinese. When the Chinese first came to the United States, they had to scramble to find a way to earn a living wage. However, an extensive majority of the immigrants had very little education and work experience.
Struggling to maintain social order and strength, the Qing Dynasty placed restrictions on opium trade; however, this backfired, provoking retaliation from British traders and leading to a war that would create the Unequal Treaties. The detrimental socio economic effects opium had on China were beginning to surface during the late 1830’s, causing an influx of smokers and a decline in bullion. Although China’s economy suffered, this was the most viable foreign trade option for the British. There was low demand for the cotton the British offered to China, but the increased profits from opium would do more than compensate. Thus, British merchants took various measures to circumvent China’s policies to stop the illicit trade and managed to find
China was providing luxury exports like silk, and demanding silver in exchange. Wealth poured into the Chinese economy. The Chinese emperors were captivated by Europeans’ technology and scientific developments that they even advanced ideas about firearms. There was a presence of Jesuits,
The North’s demand for manufactured goods played a huge role in the increased production because people from the North were very rich and could purchase these products. Furthermore, as stated by the Economic Growth of the United States, the demand for cotton from foreign countries, like Britain increased by 11.8% because of all the cotton exports that America made. Also, the demand for cotton increased due to one of the first successful industries called the textile industry, which produced clothing from raw
China was divided up into spheres of influences for different countries, meaning they controlled exclusive trading rights in that area but weren't in control of the government. The Chinese revolted against the British in the first opium war when they tried to stop the British from exporting opium, however the British swiftly defeated the rebellion and forced the Chinese to sign the Treaty of Nanking opening five ports for the British to export opium, later China was forced to open up eleven more ports to the British. With many european countries controlling basically all of China a group called the Boxers, a nickname given to the Society of the Harmonious Fist, their goal was drive out the foreigners. They were secretly funded by the Chinese government and started a rebellion which came to be known as the Boxer rebellion. They launched a series of attacks against foreigners and the imperialistic powers sent a force of 25,000 troops to crush the boxers and china remained a sphere of influence and the countries kept making
The Chinese had already known about the existence of opium, but did not start smoking it until the habit of snaking tobacco in the Americas spread to China creating addictions that fueled the opium trade and infiltrated imperial troops (www.britannica.com). The current Chinese ruler at the time did try to restrained and limit the trade of the drug, but since the balance of trade for Europe, especially England, had shifted dramatically in their favor (since they became a great fan of silk, porcelain, and tea from China) they were not about to lose their valuable opium trade business (www.britannica.com ). England could not help, but engage in two opium wars with China (the former coming out as victor in both wars), the first led to a pause in prohibiting the drug and the second extinguished the idea of possibly banning it altogether because of that it took many years to pass before India and China came to an agreement to try to stop the sell of opium and even more for people's addictions to disappear (www.britannica.com ). Unfortunately, for China this caused a decline in the economy since the balance shifted from China exporting more than importing to the other way around, it also affected many of the Chinese inhabitants since many of them grew addicted to opium and like any other drug, it took its toll on the person and China's population. Europe, on the other
To start with, there was an abundant measure of provisions like coal, iron, and crude materials, for example, fleece and cotton. Second, as populace expanded, there was higher interest for supply, and urban areas developed. Furthermore, banks were growing and boosted people to take dangerous investment chances. Technological changes, transportation improvement, and communication advancement also occurred, helping the start of the Industrial Revolution. Improved methods of transportation also influenced global trade, spreading the use of new
Imperialism affected imperialised peoples in both positive and negative ways. One positive way it affected a population was it increased a people 's ability to prosper. It did this through bringing medicine and education. Imperialists also set up infrastructure and governments. These nations also opened the imperialised countries up to trade.
Unfortunately, this thinking prevented the Chinese from learning from western technology and science. As a result the West was able to easily defeat the Qing in key battles such as the Opium War in 1839 to 1841. In contrast to the Ottomans, the Qing was unable to compromise with the West and Europe forced its way into China. However, both societies were influenced by Western methods, despite attempts to restore traditional ideology and campaigns by both Chinese
In 1839, the Chinese government tried to ban opium from a port city called Canton. Columbia University 's article, China and the West, says that, “the Chinese are defeated by superior British arms and which results in the imposition of the first of many “Unequal Treaties.” These treaties open other cities, “Treaty Ports” — first along the coast and then throughout China — to trade, foreign legal jurisdiction on Chinese territory in these ports, foreign control
The United States had for years been improving and growing rapidly. Away from the other world powers in Europe, they were able to avoid their conflicts for a long time, but that changed. America got involved in World War One and it affected some of their advancements. U.S imperialism was able to thrive in WWI, with America using the power to expand their empire. American progressivism however, fell between the cracks and disappeared for a long while during and after the war.
How This Relates to Imperialism Britain and France had already forced China to open up the trade and create new ports so they could import opium into China. The effect that Britain and France 's imperialism was that Great Britain 's success in the opium wars might foreclose or further limit Americans access in the China market, this urged the federal government to take action in the early 1840s. Congress responded by appropriating funds for a major diplomatic mission, and President John Tyler ordered that a small naval squadron to emphasize U.S. strength. the Chinese government was willing to sign a treaty with the United States, which included a most-favored-nation provision. The Treaty of Wanghia, signed in 1844, gave Americans the same rights of access and trade that China had already granted to England and France.
Although China did not become industrialized, pushing the limits of the old biological regime with old technology and their growing population size forced China to become a very labour-intensive agricultural giant in order to support themselves. Overall, although the world had left behind an old and insufficient biological regime, the Industrial Revolution brought with it its own challenges for mankind. Things like cotton, tea, silver, opium, iron, and steam were all items that dominated the Industrial Era. Tea and opium were mass produced by the Chinese, and England stripped silver from the New World to pay for these goods.
The process of globalization, and its impact on economic growth have become the defining influence on the development of modern China. China 's integration into the global economic system has been a multifaceted and complex process, and one that China appears exceptionally eager to embrace. Encompassing domestic policy shifts, engagement with both global and regional institutions, as well as bilateral agreements with various countries, globalization has been an impressively orchestrated process initiated by the very top of the CCP. While advocates of globalization tout the growth of China as proof of its merits, analyzing the actual effects on the ground reveals a much more nuanced reality. Globalization has undoubtedly brought China more wealth and power, but it has also generated a host of other effects, both positive and negative.
Since 1500, countries have pursued a policy of expansion known as imperialism for a variety of reasons. Those reasons lead to both negative and positive effects. The effects can be viewed from different perspectives. One country that was a major in Imperialism was Great Britain.