THE OPIUM WARS &

FOREIGN ENCROACHMENT
China: 1839-1842 & 1856-1860

WHY WAS BRITAIN SO

INTERESTED IN CHINA?
The British became a nation of tea
drinkers5% of household budget
Northern Chinese merchants began
moving cotton from the interior to the
south (Cantonpresent-day Guangzhou)
At the time, British trade (acquisition of
tea) centred on cotton and other luxury
goods from India.
The Chinese had no need for heavy
woolen fabrics, so Britains trade
suffered.
The only option was Bengali opium...

The cost was significant:

Weakened a large proportion of the
population - some estimations put the
total # of serious addicts at 10%, with
more affected

Outflow of silver
Many more economic problems
As a result, the government debated
whether to legalize and taxmuch like
salt. The hope was to barter Chinese
goods.

In reality, the Chinese were aware of

the many harms of addiction, so Lin Zixu
was sent to Canton to do whatever was
necessary.

LIN ZIXUS MISSION:

Lins fist two proposals put into effect easily:
1.Addicts rounded up, forcibly treated and
taken off the habit;
2.Domestic dealers were harshly treated.

His third proposal...

3.Foreign stores would be confiscated,
foreign merchants would be forced to sign
pledges of good conduct and agree to never
trade in opium again. They would be
punished with the full force of Chinese law
(read: death penalty) if they did so again.

Opinion in England was divided: Morality v

trade & teaching the Chinese a good lesson

What do you think happened?

PRIMARY SOURCE
ACTIVITY
1.Please open the file Lin Zixu Letter to
Queen Victoria, located in:
computer/subject content/SOSE
dept/Year 12 modern/China
2.Read this document, analysing it as a
primary source while you do
3.Answer the questions at the bottom in
your notebooks, come ready to discuss
next lesson.