Opium+War

The Opium War occured in 1939 between the Chinese and the British. The British had begun trading and becoming more of an influence in China. The main trade item sent to the Chinese soon became opium grown in India. The Chinese were soon hooked on opium. Nearly one percent of ther population was addicted. The Chinses were also losing huge amounts of silver because of all of the opium being bought. The Chinese governement asked the British to stop, which they didn't. The emperor sent Lin Zexu to take care of the British. Lin blocked their ports, seized their warehouses, and destroyed the opium found. The British were not happy, and the two nations went to war. The Chinese junks were no match for the British navy, and the British foot soldiers prevailed on land. The effect of the British win was that Europe was able to drive further into Chinses affairs. Europeans got more trading areas, some of which were extraterritoriality. This meant that these areas were ruled under that European nation's laws, not Chinese laws. China was opening up, even if they didn't want to. http://mvmsreader.pbwiki.com/f/opium%20war.jpg Created by Charlie Baker 2/12/09 Edited by: Stephen Puckette 2/12/09 Edited by Stacy Fairey 2.12.09 Edited by Frances Grimball 2/15/09