Opium Wars

The Opium Wars (1800-1839)  Britain frustrated by trade deficit o British importing tea; but Chinese won’t import any product  Opium trade o By 1800, smuggling 4,000 chests of opium a year into China; breaking the law o Growing the opium in India; bringing it through port at Singapore o Enormous profits being made o Rose to 30,000 by 1830s o Addiction to spreading to all ranks  Qing government decides to enforce the ban more strictly o Qing official sent to negotiate with British; stalemate…  Opium War (1839-1842) o Bannermen = traditional footsoldiers of the Qing (Manchu)  Using muskets from 1700s, matchlocks, ignited by hand  Most still fighting with swords, knives, spears, clubs o Superior naval technology of British  Qing had no imperial navy