What problem did Britain have when trying to trade with China?
Opium and tea The problem was that the Chinese would not buy British products in return. They would only sell their goods in exchange for silver, and as a result large amounts of silver were leaving Britain.
What goods did European merchants trade to China?
The Europeans of course were not shipping the silver to China as an act of donation or charity. They were getting goods in return, such as silk, porcelain, and later especially tea.
What was the main reason for the conflict between China and Britain?
The Opium Wars arose from China’s attempts to suppress the opium trade. Foreign traders (primarily British) had been illegally exporting opium mainly from India to China since the 18th century, but that trade grew dramatically from about 1820.
When did the British leave China?
July 1, 1997
Handover. On July 1, 1997, the lease ended and the government of Great Britain transferred control of British Hong Kong and the surrounding territories to the People’s Republic of China.
Why was it difficult for the new European?
This was because the urban trade groups and guilds were very powerful. They prevented coming of new people into trade. Also the rulers gave some trade groups monopoly rights to trade in specific products. Thus it was difficult for merchants to set up business in towns so they turned to villages.
Which is an example of the negative effects of European imperialism?
The major negative effect from Imperialism was a huge step back in humanity. The rise of imperialism caused a higher need for labor. The desperate desire for land, capital, and labor caused the Europeans to turn to slavery. Europeans began enslaving Africans in a cruel manner.
How did the British government deal with the opium trade?
The opium trade was a dirty secret from which the British government tried to distance itself. Lord Palmerston, the foreign secretary, had given Elliot clear instructions that any British people who got into trouble for violating China’s laws (meaning opium dealers) should suffer the consequences and would receive no support from home.
Why did China stop selling opium?
China’s emperor had long opposed opium on moral grounds, but the final straw in his decision to suppress it was that the trade appeared to be draining China of its silver supply. As Chinese silver flowed into the coffers of foreign drug dealers, the metal became more scarce in China and thus more expensive.
What was the Opium War and why was it important?
Between 1839 and 1842, British forces fought a war in China that benefitted drug smugglers. Their subsequent victory in the conflict opened up the lucrative Chinese trade to British merchants. The roots of the Opium War (or First China War) lay in a trade dispute between the British and the Chinese Qing Dynasty.
How did the Opium War affect the Qing dynasty?
The ease with which the British had defeated the Chinese armies seriously affected the Qing dynasty’s prestige. This contributed to the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64). For the victors, the Opium War paved the way for the opening up of the Chinese market. In 1879, the British fought a war against the Zulu kingdom.