In the early 19th century, the Qing was shaken by rapid population growth, corrupt officials, and peasant rebellions, while trade tensions with rapidly growing Britain were increasing.
Internal Contradictions of the Qing
- Rapid population growth in the 18th–19th centuries (from 300 million to over 400 million) → land shortages and peasant hardship
- Official corruption (such as Heshen) and worsening finances
- White Lotus Rebellion (1796–1805): frequent peasant rebellions
Trade Tensions with Britain
In the latter half of the 18th century, Britain, after the Industrial Revolution, demanded expanded trade with the Qing.
・The Qing restricted trade to one port, Guangzhou, and had the “Cohong” manage trade
・The British envoy Macartney (1793) requested a commercial treaty, but the Qianlong Emperor refused
・To eliminate its trade deficit with the Qing, Britain smuggled Indian opium into China → drug addiction rapidly increased in China and silver flowed out
→ Lin Zexu confiscated and destroyed the opium in 1839 → Britain retaliated with war (the Opium War)
In the latter half of the 18th century, Britain, after the Industrial Revolution, demanded expanded trade with the Qing.
・The Qing restricted trade to one port, Guangzhou, and had the “Cohong” manage trade
・The British envoy Macartney (1793) requested a commercial treaty, but the Qianlong Emperor refused
・To eliminate its trade deficit with the Qing, Britain smuggled Indian opium into China → drug addiction rapidly increased in China and silver flowed out
→ Lin Zexu confiscated and destroyed the opium in 1839 → Britain retaliated with war (the Opium War)
Key Points
- Decline of the Qing: population growth, corruption, and peasant rebellions
- British opium smuggling → became a social problem in China
- Lin Zexu’s destruction of opium (1839) → led to the Opium War (from 1840)
Practice Questions
- What product did Britain smuggle from India into China?
- What was the name of the monopoly merchants’ organization established by the Qing to control trade with Britain?
- Give the name of the Qing official who confiscated and destroyed opium in 1839.
Answers
- Opium (阿片)
- The Cohong (公行)
- Lin Zexu