The Opium Wars were two wars that took place between Great Britain and China in the mid-19th century. The first was fought from 1839 to 1842 and the second, known as the Arrow War, was fought from 1856 to 1860. Together these conflicts are referred to as the Opium Wars, as they stemmed from disputes over the British East India Company’s monopoly of opium trade in China.
Throughout the 19th century, China was a closed economy with very little trade. Great Britain had been trading with China since the late 17th century, but their trade was mostly based on silver being sent to buy Chinese tea and silk. In the early 19th century, the British realized that by selling opium to China, it would be much more profitable, and so the British East India Company began conducting a large opium trade with China. This infuriated the Chinese government, who saw opium as a scourge on their society. Chinese exports decreased, and taxes from the trade of other goods was not enough to support the Chinese government financially.
These tensions led to the First Opium War in 1839 when the Chinese seized 20,000 chests of opium from the British. The British responded by sending warships to China, and an undeclared war broke out. It became known as the First Opium War.
The Chinese forces were no match for Britain’s superior navy, and in 1842, China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking. It ceded Hong Kong to Britain; opened five ports to foreign traders; exempted foreigners from Chinese laws; allowed the sale of opium within those five ports; and set tariffs at 5%.
In the ensuing years, the opium problem in China increased and corrupt Chinese officials were not doing enough to stop the drug smuggling. This led to the Second Opium War, or the Arrow War, in 1856. The war lasted until 1860 and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin. The treaty forced China to open 11 new treaty ports, legalize the opium trade, and pay an indemnity to Britain.
The Opium Wars had a devastating effect on China. The conflict left the country weakened and humiliated, and the unequal treaties forced upon them caused further economic hardship. Much of China’s land was lost and the population suffered from famine and poverty. Additionally, in order to pay the indemnities demanded by Britain, China had to increase its taxes, which only led to further economic strain on the people.
Furthermore, the Opium Wars highlighted the unequal power relationship between China and the Western powers. The West’s superior technology and military prowess had enabled it to dominate China, and any attempt at modernization by the Chinese was met with aggression by the West.
The Opium Wars had a lasting impact on both Great Britain and China and their respective relationship with each other. Although Britain benefited economically, the effects of the war on China were severe. China had lost much of its territory, seen its economy crippled, and suffered humiliation at the hands of the Western powers. Furthermore, it highlighted China’s inferior position compared to the West and served as a reminder that the country needed to modernize in order to better compete in the international arena.