Bill Giesler
March 1, 28, 2010
The Opium Wars
Grade: 9th Grade – Global Studies
Time: 1 period
Objectives:
 Students will be able to describe the causes of the Opium Wars.
 Students will be able to describe the primary elements of Imperialism
Materials:

Opium Wars Activity Handouts

Admit Pass

3-2-1 Handout
Anticipatory Activity:

Students will complete an Admit Pass providing their interpretation of what the term
Imperialism means.
Overview of Lesson:

As students begin the modern period of China, today’s first activity (Admit Pass) will help the
students activate prior knowledge regarding the role of Imperialism. The next activity, Debating
the Opium Wars will help the students develop their social skills, cognitive skills, and further
their comprehension regarding the role and implications of Imperialism. The final activity, 3-2-1
will serve as the students assessment regarding the lesson and their comprehension of
Imperialism.
Procedure:

Teacher will divide class into 4 groups; 1,2,3,4

Teacher will review/discuss with students (class-wide) their impressions from the anticipatory
activity

Teacher will handout Opium Wars activity to each student

Teacher will provide concise directions regarding lesson

Students will work within their groups answering questions and positing possible solutions

Students will debate their solutions: Group 1 vs. Group 2; Group 3 vs. Group 4

Teacher will distribute 3-2-1 to the students
Closure Activity:
 3-2-1 Activity
Student Assessment:
Read: Students will complete 3-2-1 activity sheet
Group 1
Here’s The Scenario
Who are you and what is going on:
You are merchants from Great Britain (England). For the last one hundred years, your
country (Great Britain) has had a very good trading relationship with China and both
countries have benefited from trade. Trading has been very lucrative (you have made a
lot of money) and you have returned to Great Britain with silk, spices, porcelain, and rice
for all of the people in your country to enjoy. In exchange for the goods (silk, spices,
porcelain, and rice), you have traded only one item with the Chinese – Silver. You are
allowed to trade only at one specific city in China, thus, preventing the opportunity to
trade with other parts of China.
To help organize your debate you will need to answer the following questions:
What country are you from?
What is your occupation (your job)?
What are the goods you bring back from
China?
What do you have to give China in exchange
for those goods?
How many cities in China are you allowed to
trade with?
Your task:
You need convince the emperor of China that the restrictions (China’s rules) are unfair
to you (Great Britain) because you can only trade in one city and you must pay for
everything with silver because China believes that you do not have anything they want.
Answer the following questions for your debate
How can you peacefully convince
the emperor that it is in the best
interest of China to allow you to
trade other types of goods instead
of only silver?
What other types of products do
you have that China may want or
need?
Hint! Your country is a world
leader in the building of ships and
furniture, and you receive a lot of
cotton from the United States.
How will you convince the
emperor that it is unfair that you
can only trade in one city?
Group 2
Here’s The Scenario
Who are you and what is going on:
You are important government officials from Great Britain (England). For the last one
hundred years, your country (Great Britain) has had a very good trading relationship with
China and both countries have benefited from trade. Until recently, China would only
accept silver from you for the products you purchase from them. According to the
Chinese, you do not have anything they want or need. However, recently, you have
begun to trade opium (a drug similar to marijuana and cocaine) and the Chinese people
cannot get enough of it. The Emperor is very upset about what opium is doing to his
people and that his country is losing all their silver to pay for the opium and has asked
you to stop. Of course, you won’t stop because you are making so much money.
Recently the Emperor has attacked your ships and burned your opium to help convince
you to stop.
To help organize your debate you will need to answer the following questions:
What country are you from?
What is your occupation (your job)?
What are the goods you trade with China?
What does China give you in return for your
products?
Why does the Emperor want you to stop
trading opium?
Why don’t you want to stop trading opium?
Your task:
Your ships are under attack, the Chinese have killed many of your fellow citizens, and
the Chinese are destroying the opium you have brought to China in order to trade for
their silver. You need to figure out a way to respond to the Emperor and his actions
against your ships, people, and cargo ( the opium). Remember! You have a skilled Navy
and solders. China has limited experience in modern warfare. They don’t have modern
weapons and lack training.
Answer the following questions for your debate
How will you deal with the
Emperor? Will you be respectful
or forceful?
What will you do if the Chinese
still refuse to let you trade your
opium and continue to destroy
your product?
Do you have the right to use your
military expertise to force China to
do what you want?
Group 3
Here’s The Scenario
Who are you and what is going on:
You are the Emperor of China and for many years, you have enjoyed a friendly
relationship with Great Britain. Great Britain has been trading their silver for your
products such as spices, rice, porcelain, and silk. You believe that you country is
superior to Great Britain and therefore, do not believe you need or want any of their
products such as cotton, furniture, gold, or ships. You have strict trading rules. Because
you want to maintain control, Great Britain is only allowed to trade in one city and must
pay for everything with silver.
To help organize your debate you will need to answer the following questions:
What country are you from?
What is your job (who are you)?
What are the goods you receive from Great
Britain?
Why don’t you trade for other goods from
Great Britain?
Why do you allow Great Britain to trade in
one city only?
Your task:
You need maintain control of trade with Great Britain. You need to make sure that your
people only exchange their goods for silver. You need to make sure that Great Britain
only trades in the one city you have selected. You need to make sure Great Britain
understands where you stand – that you are superior and that you don’t need them but
they need you.
Answer the following questions for your debate
How will you maintain authority
over your people that they don’t
trade goods – only silver?
How will you make sure that Great
Britain only trades in one city?
How will you convey (to tell) your
message to the officials of Great
Britain that its your way or the
highway. Remember – you still
want their silver.
Group 4
Here’s The Scenario
Who are you and what is going on:
You are the Emperor of China and you are responsible for your people and controlling
the actions of other countries that trade with China. Recently, Great Britain has ignored
your orders that they may only trade their silver for your products such as silk, rice,
spices, and porcelain. Great Britain has realized that the people of your nation love your
opium (a drug similar to marijuana and cocaine) and they can’t get enough it. Your
citizens, because of their addiction for opium, have ignored your order of not buying
anything from Great Britain. Thus, a great deal of your silver is now in the pockets of
Great Britain instead of the other way-around.
To help organize your debate you will need to answer the following questions:
What country are you from?
Who are you (what is your job)?
What are the goods you trade with Great
Britain?
What is Great Britain suppose to trade with
you?
What is Great Britain now trading with the
people of China? What are your people giving
back to Great Britain in exchange for their
products?
How do you feel about Great Britain and the
citizens of your country?
Your task:
You need to figure out a way to control your citizens and Great Britain and the flow of
opium into your country and the flow of silver out of the country.
Answer the following questions for your debate
How will you deal with the
citizens of China who are ignoring
your laws and are trading their
silver for opium?
How will you deal with Great
Britain? What will you do with
Great Britain ships that are
carrying the opium?
What will you do with the opium
coming into your country? Will
you allow Great Britain to
continue to sell it your citizens;
knowing that your citizens are
becoming drug addicts and
spending all the country’s money?
What is the likely outcome if
Great Britain continues to ignore
your wishes?
Name: _________________________
Period: _______
Date: _______________
Exit Pass
Thinking about your prior knowledge regarding imperialism. Please describe in one complete sentence hwat
imperialism means.
Name: _________________
Period: _____
3-2-1 Activity
List three things you learned from this
project



List two things you still don’t quite
understand about imperialism.


Please describe, in three complete sentences
how this activity relates to imperialism
Date: _____________