Chinese regulations ensured China had favorable balance of trade with other nations Balance of trade: difference between how much a country imports and how much it exports By 1800s, western nations were using their growing power to gain more influence over East Asia
Before 1800s, Chinese rulers placed strict limits on foreign traders European traders restricted to small area in southern China China sold silk, porcelain, tea, in exchange for gold and silver China enjoyed a trade surplus (exporting more than importing) Westerners had trade deficit with China (buying more from Chinese than sold to them) By late 1700s, two things changed China s relationship with the Western world 1. China entered a period of decline 2. IR created need for expanded markets for European goods. Gave West superior military power
Late1700s, British merchants began making huge profits by trading opium grown in India for Chinese tea Many Chinese had become addicted to the drug Silver flowed out of China in payment for the drug Chinese government outlawed opium and executed Chinese drug dealers British refused, insisting on right of free trade 1839: Chinese warships clashed with British merchants, triggering the Opium War British gunboats with latest firepower bombarded Chinese coastal and river ports With outdated weapons and fighting tactics, Chinese were easily defeated
1842 Britain made China accept the Treaty of Nanjing Britain received huge indemnity (payment for losses in the war) Britain gained the island of Hong Kong China had to open 5 ports to foreign trade and grant British citizens in China extraterritoriality (the right to live under their own laws and be treated in their own courts) A series of unequal treaties forced China to make concessions Mid 1800s, China agreed to open more ports to foreign trade and let Christian missionaries pass through
By the 1800s, the Qing dynasty was in decline Irrigation systems and canals poorly maintained, led to massive flooding of the Huang He valley Population explosion created hardship for peasants Extravagant court, tax evasion by the rich, widespread official corruption added to peasants burden
Poverty increased, peasants rebelled Taiping Rebellion 1850-1864 most devastating peasant revolt Leader Hong Xiuquan was village schoolteacher, set himself up as revolutionary prophet Hong endorsed reform, community ownership of property, equality of women and men, called for an end to Qing dynasty Taiping rebels won control over large parts of China. With help of loyal regional governors and generals, the government crushed rebellion Taiping Rebellion almost defeated Qing Dynasty Estimated that it caused deaths of 20-30 million Chinese During rebellion, Europeans kept pressure on China. Russia seized lands in Northern China
Mid 1800s Educated Chinese divided over need to adopt western ways Most scholar officials saw no reason for new industries because China s wealth and taxes came from the land Scholar officials also disapproved ideas of western missionaries, who s emphasis on individual choice challenged Confucian order Saw western technology as dangerous because it threatened Confucian ways that had served China successfully for so long Imperial court was the center of conservative opposition By late 1800s, empress Ci Xi had gained power strong willed ruler, she surrounded herself with wise advisers who were deeply committed to Confucian traditions
Late 1860s reformers launched the self strengthening movement Imported western technology, setting up factories to make modern weapons Developed shipyards, railroads, mining, light industry Chinese translated western works on science, government, and economy The movement made little progress because the government didn t rally behind it
Western powers nearby Japan moved rapidly ahead Japan began to modernize after 1868. Then joined western imperialists in the competition for a global empire 1894 Japanese pressure on China led to the Sino- Japanese war Ended in disaster for China with Japan gaining the island of Taiwan off the coast of China When two powers met at the peace table, there was a telling difference as Japanese officials were dressed in suits and Chinese in traditional robes
Crushing defeat revealed China s weakness Western powers moved quickly to carve out spheres of influence along Chinese coast British took Yangzi River valley French acquired territory near colony of Indochina Germany and Russia gained territory in Northern China
Defeated by Japan,Chinese looked for a scapegoat Reformers blamed conservative officials for not modernizing China Urged conservative leaders to stop looking back at China s past and to modernize as Japan had 1898 young emperor Guang Xu launched the 100 days of reform New laws set out to modernize civil service exams, government, encourage new industry Conservatives soon rallied against the reform effort, emperor was imprisoned and the aging empress Ci Xi reasserted control
As century ended, China was in turmoil Anger grew against Christian missionaries who belittled Chinese thinkers like Confucius Presence of foreign troops another source of discontent Foreigners protected by extraterritoriality ignored Chinese laws and lived in their own communities
Anti-foreign feeling exploded in Boxer Uprising 1899 group of Chinese formed a secret society, the Righteous Harmonious Fists Westerners watching them train in marital arts dubbed them Boxers Goal was to drive out foreign devils who were polluting the land with their un-chinese ways 1900- Boxers attacked foreigners across China Western powers and Japan organized multinational force, crushing the Boxers and rescuing foreigners in Beijing
China had to make concessions to foreigners Defeat forced Chinese conservatives to support westernization China admitted women to schools, stressed science and math in place of Confucian thought China expanded economically, mining, shipping, railroads, banking, and exports grew
Though Boxer Rebellion failed, Chinese nationalism spread Reformers wanted to strengthen China s government Early 1900s, introduced constitutional monarchy, some called it a republic Passionate spokesperson for Chinese republic was Sun Yixian, who organized the Revolutionary Alliance Goal was to rebuild China on three principles of the people 1. Nationalism (freeing China from foreign domination) 2. Democracy (representative government) 3. Livelihood (economic security for all Chinese)