First Opium War (mar 18, 1839 – aug 29, 1842)
Description:
The first opium war was fought between Britain and China. Both opium wars started because of China trying to suppress opium trade (many of the illegal traders were British). When the trade grew dramatically in 1820 widespread addition was causing serious economic and social disruption. In the spring of 1839, the Chinese government confiscated and destroyed around 1,400 tonnes of drugs being held in warehouses by British merchants. The tension between the two countries when a few months later a Chinese villager was killed by drunken British sailors and Britain refused to hand over the culprits. Conflict broke out later in the year when British warships destroyed a Chinese blockade of the pearl rivers estuary in Hong Kong. The British sent ships through the estuary in June 1840 up to Canton where they after several months of negotiations attacked and occupied the city as of May 1841. The two countries fought more but the British who were choosing to go offence were winning and after they captured Nanjing in late august of 1842 the fighting ceased.
On august the 29th the treaty of Nanjing was signed, through this treaty china had to Britain a large indemnity, give up Hong Kong island and increase the number of treaty ports. The increase in trading ports allowed much more trade and soon other western countries were given the same privileges.
Significance-
This enabled Britain and other countries to have more trading ports over in China thus improving their economy, it also meant Britain since they now controlled some portions of what is now China it meant they had more power in general.
Added to timeline:
hass
Date:
