Qing Dynasty Research Paper

In early Chinese history, China was the biggest power of the East. Other countries were considered as lessers, and gave China gifts in order to keep good relations. Despite China's efforts to be isolated and self sufficient, less than a quarter million Manchus invaded China and overthrew the chinese government in 1618. When the Ming were overthrown by the invasion, the Manchu people started the Qing dynasty. The people were very sceptical about accepting their rule but the Qing based their rule closely off of the Ming and soon people accepted the new dynasty. This dynasty was successful 268 years but fell due to loss of power and rebellions. While the Qing contributed to the fall of China’s last dynasty the West bears the most responsibility
Empress Dowagers was the royal concubine to emperor Xianfeng whose son became the emperor after his death in 1861. She used her son for power, and when he died, her nephew. While she had power she used the country's navy fund to build herself a stone party boat. This was her first mistake, which was being overly confident in her forces while weakening them and the trust of the Chinese people. She also used her power to kill or exile any people who plotted against her or had a different opinion than her. This was not wise on her part because these people were more often than not, government officials and scholars, which are necessary for a functioning dynasty. The final factor for the fall of the Qing dynasty was the absence of power in an extremely economically depressed time period. In 1908 the empress was very sick. Before she died she went through with a plan to poison the emperor with arsenic. That year they both died leaving the Puyi, a teenage boy, to become the next emperor. Unfortunately not many years later he was assassinated leaving no power figure. The result of this was catastrophic, government officials and other groups made territories throughout the county leaving China ununified and in chaos. This was officially the end of the Qing dynasty in
British merchants would smuggle opium across the border and give free samples to innocent people eventually getting 10% of China’s population addicted. Opium was especially sought after during this time because homelessness was up and when you are on opium you aren’t hungry making people more comfortable. Opium affected every part of China, from the addicts, their families, co-workers, and parents depending on their children to take care of them. Eventually government officials that got addicted and would help smugglers bring opium into the country so they could get their fix. This was a huge setback in chinese culture and had an even bigger impact since the west was evolving so quickly.
When the Chinese government asked the British to stop bringing opium into the country they wouldn't comply. This led to the Opium War which the chinese lost. The consequences of this loss were put into action through a treaty called The Treaty of Nanking. This forced the Chinese government to make open borders, free trade, and extraterritorial rights for the British. This brought an end to China’s exclusivity in trade and rights. Also since the trade boomed throughout China and opium was being sold this led to a trade imbalance that did not favor China and greatly hurt then in the long