2. China Before the Age of Imperialism
China was self-sufficient in the 1700s and 1800s.
What does self-sufficient mean?
They didn’t want to trade with other countries. What
is the term for a country that does not want to trade?
3. But those sneaky British….
The British don’t give up so
easily. So they went to plan
“B.”
The British began selling
opium to the Chinese.
Opium is a highly addictive
drug.
The Chinese government
tried to keep it out of China.
Think about how our
government tries to keep
drugs out of America. Does
it work?
4. Escalation!
The Chinese wanted to
stop the opium, so they
killed the British in
China to keep the opium
out.
But the British didn’t
appreciate this and
declared war.
The Opium War was a
big loss for China and
allowed the British (and
other imperials) in.
5. And yet, at the same time!
China was already having problems.
The Taiping Rebellion was an attempt to create a
China without poverty.
As Western (imperial) countries continued entering
to trade, China began to change.
All of this pushed the Chinese Emperor to attempt
reforms (think Meiji Restoration) which failed.
6. The Reaction to the Open Door Policy!
The imperial countries
were forcing the Chinese to
accept trade.
Eventually, America forced
China to follow the “Open
Door Policy.” What was
that?
Some Chinese formed a
group called the “Righteous
and Harmonious Fists” (we
call them the Boxers) which
tried to force Westerners
from China by using
martial arts!
7. The Boxer Rebellion
The Boxers attacked
Europeans, Americans,
and Japanese who had
moved to China.
They killed missionaries,
businessmen, and others.
They were finally
defeated by eight
countries that fought
against them.
8. The Results of the Rebellion
China was forced to pay
the countries that were
attacked.
Imperial countries were
allowed to keep their
spheres of influence
But nationalism began to
grow in China!
