Opium Wars (1 янв 1838 г. – 1 янв 1857 г.)

Описание:

The two Opium Wars occurred in China between 1838 and 1858. Britain wanted to be able to pay China for its trade goods using opium, rather the gold and silver that China would accept, because it could be cheaply obtained in its India colony. China refused to accept the drug as payment, however, so Britain went to war with China in order to force them to accept opium as payment for its natural resources in the First and Second Opium Wars. China lost both Opium Wars and opium addiction, which had been rare before the wars, soared. As well as showing the dark side of imperialism and how far a country would go to make a profit, the Opium Wars lead to the Boxer Rebellion, another attempt rid China of foreign powers that was ultimately unsuccessful. The Opium Wars are an expression of Britain’s imperialism and industrialization. In the search for new sources of resources and trade markets, Britain exerted its influence on China. In an attempt to maximize their profits, Britain insisted that China accept their cheaply acquired opium in place of precious metals like gold and silver.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons)