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Chinese Opium War Essay

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Chinese Opium War Essay
Today at 2016, China has risen to a level where it became known as such a dominant and highly economic nation that oversees many other countries. As it is presently well known that China is very powerful, the history of this nation had many downfalls almost destructing the major empire. For example, the British opium trade is one very important time period in China’s history the marked the beginning of a dark era. The British Opium Trade was major turning point in China’s history that lasted from 1839 til 1860. Even though 20 years may not seem a long period of time, but the opium trade had long-lasting effects on China’s empire weakening it. If China hadn’t take a stand against the British by terminating the illegal exporting of opium, isolation …show more content…
Soon China started to face plethora of problems, and decided to fight the British. There were only two wars that took place and China didn’t succeed in either of them. The first war is called “The First Opium War” and the second is called the “Arrow War.” China failed epicly in these two wars.(The Chinese Opium Wars,24.)(Opium War, 1)
“The First Opium War shattered that belief. It was such a catastrophic defeat that more than a decade later U.S. Navy commodore Matthew Perry, in Tokyo Bay to open up a similarly inaccessible Japan, not only threatened the Japanese with American military power but also warned them that if they did not negotiate with him, the British would show up and treat the Japanese the same way.” (Kickin the gong,3)

The First Opium War was such a tragic loss and it damaged everyone’s hopes in China. The Chinese forces were no match for the British competent army therefore resulting in such an unfortunate defeat. Other effects of the loss included neighboring countries to attack other Asian countries near China. Since China had such a catastrophic defeat, other countries threatened Asian countries that if they did not negotiate, they will bring the British upon them. Since the British was very powerful at that time, many countries were fearful of

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