The Opium Wars (jan 1, 1839 – jan 1, 1860)

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The Opium Wars were fought between the Qing Dynasty and Western powers. There were two wars, the first from 1839 to 1842 and the second war from 1856 to 1860. The first Opium War was fought between Britain and China. "The first Opium War was the result of China’s attempt to suppress the illegal opium trade, which had led to widespread addiction in China and was causing serious social and economic disruption there. British traders were the primary source of the drug in China" (Britanica,2020). Great Britain won the First Opium War and continued the Opium trade. The second was known as the Anglo-French War or the Arrow War in China. This second Opium War was fought by Britain and France against China, it began with small skirmishes between British and Chinese troops relating to trading and ships. Soon the French jumped in on the British side using the murder of a French missionary in the interior of China in early 1856 as an excuse to join. Again, this war was in result of conflict referring to the exportation of opium in China. China lost again, which "helped weaken and ultimately topple the dynasty in favor of republican China in the early 20th century."

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