2.  China had become an
increasingly important member
of the global community
 Western economic pressure
forced China to open to foreign
trade and influence
 Out of pride in their culture, the
Chinese looked down on all
foreigners

3.  In 1793, the emperor allows a British
ambassador into China
 The emperor is shown the West’s
most advanced technology: clocks,
globes, musical instruments, and
even a hot-air balloon
 He is unimpressed, they were not
interested in the “strange objects” of
the West

4.  China was able to reject these items
because they were self sufficient
 The basis of this was their agriculture
 China had numerous resources:
 Tin, copper, silver, and iron
 China also had numerous other exotic
goods: silk & fine porcelain

5.  European merchants were desperate to find
something the Chinese would trade for
 Eventually the found one… OPIUM
 Opium is a habit forming narcotic made from the
poppy plant
 The Chinese had been using it as a pain killer for
years
 Europe was now peddling it for non-medical use

7.  It took a few decades to
catch on, but by 1835 as
many as 12 million
Chinese people were
addicted to the drug
 The growing supply of
Opium caused great
problems for China
 Pleas went unanswered
and the British refused to
stop the Opium trade
 The result would be a
clash between the British
and the Chinese – the
Opium War

8.  The battles took place mostly at
sea
 China’s outdated ships were no
match for the British steam-
powered gun boats
 As a result China suffers a
humiliating defeat and is forced to
sign the treaty of Nanjing
 British will get Hong Kong and
British citizens would not be
subject to Chinese law

10.  By 1898, China had been humiliated by
its loss of power
 People began to demand a
modernization of China
 China’s emperor, Guangxu sought to
see Chin reorder its educational system,
the economy, modernize the military,
and streamline the government
 This was a lot of change for a country
who did not like change

11.  Guangzu was placed under arrest, his policies
reversed and he lost control of the government to
Empress Dowager
 People continued to be frustrated at their situation
and finally it erupted in violence
 Poor peasants and workers resented the special
privileges of the foreigners

12.  Those not happy with situation
formed a secret organization
called the Society of the
Righteous and Harmonious
Fists
 However, the soon became
known as the Boxers
 They would lead the way to rid
the country of Empress
Dowager and foreign privilege
this would be known as the
Boxer Rebellion

13.  “Death to the Foreign Devils” became the battle
cry
 Boxers placed the European section of Beijing
under siege
 The Boxers would eventually fail, being
overwhelmed by a multi-national army
 But despite their failure the Chinese realized they:
 needed to resist foreign invasion
 Increase government listening to their needs

14.  Cause: British Bring Opium to China
 Effect: Many Chinese Become Addicted
 Overall Outcome: Opium War

15.  Cause: Foreign Influence
comes to China
 Effect: Sphere of Influence in
China
 Overall Outcome: British,
French, German, Japan and
Russia all control trade in
China

16.  Cause: United States declares Open
Door Policy
 Effect: China is now safe from
colonization
 Overall Outcome: China is still
dominated by foreign powers 

17.  Cause: Workers and poor launch Boxer Rebellion
 Effect: Increase of Nationalism
 Overall Outcome: Reforms will need to be
executed