First Opium War (8 gen 1839 anni – 3 gen 1842 anni)

Descrizione:

Foreign traders (mainly British) were illegally exporting opium, mostly from India to China, since the 1700s = widespread addiction in China = caused serious social and economic disruption there → March 1839: the Chinese government confiscated and destroyed more than 1,400 tons of opium that were warehoused at Canton (Guangzhou) by British merchants.
1841: British captured Nanjing & Canton
August 29: Treaty of Nanjing was signed - China was required to pay Britain a large indemnity, cede Hong Kong Island to the British, and increase the number of treaty ports where the British could trade.