DBQ CCOT Essay England And China
England and China
Throughout history, when one civilization meets another, one civilization will often subjugate the other. Interestingly enough, this also seems to be the case when two superpowers of their time confront each other, like the Chinese and English in the late 18th century. Although there has been much change in the nature of the relationship between the English and Chinese—between 1792 and 1900—with regards to the exchange of ideas, commercialism and each society’s view on the other, there has also been much continuity the relationship between two superpowers, such as the general contempt for Chinese from British.
The view of England on China and vice versa has changed completely since the first time a British emissary came into contact with China. In the beginning the relationship between the two countries were quite sincere. Lord MacCartney, a British emissary to the Chinese imperial court, commented that China was the “true representation of the highest pitch of human greatness and felicity” (3). Likewise, a British cartoonist depicts Lord MacCartney “kneeling before Chinese court” (2), hinting that the English looked at the Chinese from a positive point of view. Moving forward half a century, the replacement of silver with opium as an export to China despite the fact that the English understand “the harm caused by opium” (4), shows England’s contempt for the Chinese, opposite of what happened previously. In addition, it shows England’s focus on commercialism, as it was easier to produce opium in India than mine silver in general, as was previously done. Soon after the fact that the English had subjugated the Chinese becomes clear.. This can see seen from Lord Palmerston, a British Foreign secretary, and his letter to the Chinese government in 1840. His letter explains how the “Queen desires that Her Subjects who may go into Foreign Countries should obey the Laws of those Countries” (5), but at the same time “cannot permit that Her
Throughout history, when one civilization meets another, one civilization will often subjugate the other. Interestingly enough, this also seems to be the case when two superpowers of their time confront each other, like the Chinese and English in the late 18th century. Although there has been much change in the nature of the relationship between the English and Chinese—between 1792 and 1900—with regards to the exchange of ideas, commercialism and each society’s view on the other, there has also been much continuity the relationship between two superpowers, such as the general contempt for Chinese from British.
The view of England on China and vice versa has changed completely since the first time a British emissary came into contact with China. In the beginning the relationship between the two countries were quite sincere. Lord MacCartney, a British emissary to the Chinese imperial court, commented that China was the “true representation of the highest pitch of human greatness and felicity” (3). Likewise, a British cartoonist depicts Lord MacCartney “kneeling before Chinese court” (2), hinting that the English looked at the Chinese from a positive point of view. Moving forward half a century, the replacement of silver with opium as an export to China despite the fact that the English understand “the harm caused by opium” (4), shows England’s contempt for the Chinese, opposite of what happened previously. In addition, it shows England’s focus on commercialism, as it was easier to produce opium in India than mine silver in general, as was previously done. Soon after the fact that the English had subjugated the Chinese becomes clear.. This can see seen from Lord Palmerston, a British Foreign secretary, and his letter to the Chinese government in 1840. His letter explains how the “Queen desires that Her Subjects who may go into Foreign Countries should obey the Laws of those Countries” (5), but at the same time “cannot permit that Her