Find the answers to the questions below based on the reading "The Opium Wars".

1. Which 2 countries fought in the Opium Wars?

2. What was the main reason for the conflict between these 2 countries?

3. Look at the chart: Why do you think the war began in 1839?

4. What problems did Opium cause for the people of China?

"The Opium Wars"

In the mid 19th Century, China and the European countries were not on good terms at all. At the root of all this conflict was economics. Due to the lack of interest in European goods, all of the European countries, specifically Britain were running a trade deficit with China. In order to reverse this trend, the British started exporting opium from India and into China. This had the desired effect as soon China began to run a trade deficit with the British. In order to stem the outflow of silver from China, Chinese officials began aggressively enforcing its laws against opium use and distribution. The actions of Chinese authorities against this lucrative trade infuriated British politicians despite the fact opium was illegal in Britain as well. This conflict resulted in two wars (1839-1842, 1856-1860) between the British and Chinese and would result in much hardship for the Chinese people in subsequent events. The Opium Wars would end up having lasting effects on China that are evident even in the present day.

The purchases made by British and American firms in Canton were multiplying. Both countries paid for everything with silver instead of the barter system because China had little it wanted from the West. This system was getting costly for the US and Great Britain. As a direct result the smuggling of opium (which was relatively cheap to produce) began. Opium was forbidden in China except for medicinal use. Even though Canton was the only port legally open smuggling of opium occurred all along the southern coast of China, the figures were as follows:

Chests of Opium Brought Into China
	Year

The first group to take opium were young men from rich families. Although it soon spread to urban workers and even low ranking officials and from there opium worked it's way up the ranks. As a result business slowed down and the standard of living fell which resulted in a collapse of public services. What the Western countries wanted had finally happened China was in utter disarray. The sale of Chinese goods to westerners no longer balanced Chinese purchases. The tension that resulted in the first Opium War. The war lasted from 1839 to 1842. This war (and the second Opium War) were fought to determine the relations between China and the West, and as a result China was forced to reevaluate her position as the center of the world.

The above information (excluding the chart) used with permission from http://kizuna.INS.CWRU.Edu/asia110/projects/Tang3/tang3.html

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