The Decline of the Qing Dynasty

1. The Decline of the Qing Dynasty

2. The Qing Dynasty By early 1900, the Qing Dynasty had grown weak from corruption, famine, and peasant unrest. European merchants were restricted to a small trading outlet at Canton….The British don’t like this arrangement.

3. The British had an unfavorable trade balance with China. This changed when the British began importing opium (grown in India) to China. This highly addictive drug was ruining Chinese society, so the Chinese banned the importation of opium.

4. The British continued importing opium, causing the Chinese to set up a blockade and force traders to surrender their chests of opium. The British responded with violence…… Leading to the Opium War

5. The Opium War 1839-1842 The Chinese were no match for the British. British warships destroyed Chinese coastal forts and ships easily. When a British fleet sailed almost unopposed to Nanjing, the Qing dynasty made peace. Why did the British defeat the Chinese so easily?

6. The Treaty of Nanjing • The First “Unfair” Treaty • Open 5 coastal ports for British • Pay for the costs of the war • British get the island of Hong Kong • Opium never mentioned

7. Hong Xiuquan • Led a peasant revolt called the Tai Ping Rebellion. • European forces helped the Qing Dynasty because civil war is bad for business. • Rebellion ended in 1864. As many as 20 million people died in this 14 year struggle. Viewed himself as a younger brother of Jesus Christ

8. Spheres of Influence in China, 1900

9. In 1899, U.S. Sec. of State John Hay proposed an “Open Door Policy” in China. All nations would have equal access to Chinese markets

10. The Boxer Rebellion Rebellion led by a secret organization called the Society of Harmonious Fists. Boxers were upset about foreign takeover of Chinese lands. Boxer bands killed foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians. Allied army of British, French, German, Russian, American, and Japanese troops restored order in 1900. Chinese government had to pay for damages.