Treaty of Nanjing 1842
Internal Factors Erode Dynasty
• Sets stage for further Chinese resentment of
foreigners
• Corruption in government
• Peasant Unrest – want reforms
• By 1900 450mil. Chinese - Huge population boom
(100mil in 100yrs) causes severe food shortage
• Persistent demand for trade by foreign nations
creates the constant presence of foreign ships,
guns, & ideas
• Continued opium addiction
The Tai Ping Rebellion 1850-1864
Hong Xiuquan Appeal
• Seeking social reforms, the Chinese rebel
against the Qing Dynasty
• Lead by Hong Xiuquan (Yung chuan) - a
Christian convert believing himself to be
the brother of Jesus Christ and commanded
by God to destroy the Qing
Civil War
• Proclaims new dynasty: Heavenly Kingdom of
Great Peace: Tai Ping Tianquo
• 1853 – Rebels seize Nanjing (2nd largest city)
• Massacre 25,000 men, women, & children
• 1864 – Europeans come to rescue: recapture
Nanjing and destroy rebel forces
• 20 million die from this civil war over 14
years.
• Give land to peasants
• Equity to Women
• Share farms, money,
& food
• Outlaw alcohol,
tobacco
• Outlaw binding of feet
Treaty of Tianjin 1858
• China legalizes Opium trade and opens new
ports to foreign trade
• Gives up Kowloon Peninsula to Great
Britain
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Self-strengthening
Spheres of Influence
• Qing supports new policy of adopting
Western technology
• Government tries to modernize military and
build up industry – railroads, weapons
factories, and shipyards built
• Chinese value system (Confucian) remained
unchanged
• As ports open up to foreigners, Europeans
establish areas of exclusive trading rights.
• Warlords negotiate with foreign powers in
return for cash, railroad building and mining
privileges
War With Japan 1894
• China goes to war with Japan over control
of Korea
• Japan defeats China
• Japan demands and receives the island of
Taiwan (Formosa)
Taiwan
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