The Opium War
Causes: Chinese point of view
British imported opium from India causing
the Chinese to become addicted
 As demand increased, silver was drained
from Chinese economy
 In spite of Chinese law making opium
trade illegal, British continued the trade

Causes: British point of view
Resented being treated as inferiors
 Chinese put high tariff on British goods
and refused to import British textiles
 British could only trade at Guangzhou
(Canton)
 Harsh Chinese laws applied to British
citizens
 Chinese officials burned British opium

Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking)
Called “First Unequal Treaty”
 Britain gained:

◦
◦
◦
◦
Payment for opium
Control of Hong Kong
Opened 5 ports to trade
Extraterritoriality [British law for British
citizens in China]