China and Japan Imperialism

Confucius

A scholar and teacher from China who lived in the 5th century B.C. Taught that moral integrity, social harmony, and respect for authority were essential for a stable society, and that family was the most important part of society.

Qing Dynasty

The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912, known for its expansion and multiculturalism but also for its decline due to internal strife and external pressures.

Canton

A major port city in China that played a crucial role in trade and commerce during the Qing Dynasty, especially with Western nations.

Trade Deficit

A situation where a country's imports exceed its exports, leading to a negative balance of trade, often creating economic pressure.

Opium/Opium War

A war that was sparked by the British smuggling of opium into China, where millions of Chinese were addicted to the drug. After the Qing emperor wrote a letter to Queen Victoria about the opium problems, she never read the letter, and Britain refused to stop trading opium. The result of this conflict was the battles between China and Britain, mostly on the water, which led to China's humiliating defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, marking the beginning of the "Century of Humiliation" for China.

Unequal Treaty

A treaty that imposes harsh conditions on one party, often signed under duress or threat, exemplified by the treaties imposed on China during the 19th century following its defeats in wars.

Treaty of Nanking (1842)

Unequal treaty between China and GB after Opium War, which gave Hong Kong to Britain, and forced China to open 5 ports along with giving the British extraterritorial rights.

Extraterritorial Rights

Legal privileges granted to foreign nationals, allowing them to be tried in their home country's courts rather than local courts. This concept was a significant aspect of the unequal treaties imposed on China.

Most Favorite Nation Clause

A provision in treaties that guarantees a country will receive the same trade advantages that are offered to any other nation. This clause was often included in the unequal treaties to benefit Western powers in their relations with China. This was given to GB.

Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864)

Caused by increasing population and hunger in China under Qing Dynasty. Led by Hong Xiuquan, who believed he was the brother of Jesus and recruited followers from Guangdong to join him in his “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”. The Taiping army took large areas in China, and after Hong captured the city of Nanjing and left it in the hands of the people he trusted, an estimated count of 20 million people died.

Spheres of Influence

Regions in which foreign powers have exclusive rights to trade and investment, often established in China during the 19th century. These areas limited China's sovereignty and facilitated Western exploitation of resources. Established primarily by Western powers and Japan during imperial expansion.

Self Strengthing Movement

A program that aimed to update China’s education system, diplomatic service, and military. Also set up factories to manufacture steam-powered gunboats, rifles, and ammunition. A half-hearted effort.

Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895)

A peace treaty that was created after the Sino-Japanese War, which gave Taiwan to Japan and gave Japan political influence over Korea. War was caused because of influence over Korea.

Boxer Rebellion (1900)

A rebellion by Chinese societies with an upsure in Chinese nationalism. Boxers resented the special privileges granted to foreigners, and they resented Chinese Christians, who adopted a foreign faith. Started in Beijing in spring of 1900, and fell because the Dowager Empress could not outly support the Boxers, so a multinational force defeated the Boxers.

Open Door Policy

Policy proposed by U.S. that would allow spheres of influence for U.S. in China. U.S. did not want territory in China, but they did want to increase their trade in China.

Lin Zexu

A Chinese scholar and official known for his role in the opium trade dispute, leading to the First Opium War. He advocated for the prohibition of opium in China and took strong measures against its trade. Responsible for solving the problem.

Hong Xiuqan/Taiping Rebels

Hong believed he was the brother of Jesus and led the Taiping Rebellion to help him assemble his “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”

Dowager Empress Cixi

The person in command at the Qing imperial palace, held the reins of power in China from 1862 to 1908.

Puyi

The new emperor of China who ascended to the throne as a child in 1908 and ruled until his abdication in 1912, marking the end of the Qing dynasty.

Tokugawa Shogun

The ruling family in Japan during the Edo period, known for its strict social order and isolationist foreign policies.

Feudal System in Japan

The governmental system that was in place under the Tokugawa Shogun, where the Emperor and Shogun were at the top, followed by the daimyo, samurai, and peasants.

Daiymo

Wealthy landowners under the feudal system, who commanded the loyalty of samurai and played a significant role in local governance in Japan.

Samurai

The warriors of Japan during the feudal system who served the daimyo and upheld strict codes of honor and discipline

Treaty of Kanagawa (1854)

The terms of the U.S. invasion of Japan by Commodore Perry. The terms were that Japan had to open two ports at which U.S. ships could take on supplies. By 1860, Japan, like China, had granted foreigners permission to trade at several treaty points. It also granted extraterritorial rights to foreign nations. Signed by the Japanese and U.S.

Meiji Era

The rule under Emperor Mutshuhito, after the Tokugawa Shogun stepped down in 1867, and Mutshuhito took control after that. His reign lasted 45 years, and Meiji means “enlightened rule”

Annexation

The formal incorporation of one territory into another, often involving the takeover of land by a more powerful country. In the context of Japan, it refers to the incorporation of Korea in 1910.

Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)

War between China and Japan over political influence in Korea, as Korea was originally a tribute state under China. Japan won because they were more modern and industrialized, and they sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) that takes away all political influence over Korea away from China and gives it to Japan. With this, Japan also gets Taiwan as their first colony

Battle of Tsushima (1905)

A naval battle during the Russo-Japanese War, where the second Russian battle fleet from the Baltic sea sailed into Tsushima, where they were destroyed by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Russia had to go around all of Africa and South Asia because the British controlled the Suez Canal.

Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Conflict between Russia and Japan, because they both wanted spheres of influence over Korea and Manchuria. Began after Japan launched a surprise attack on Port Arthur, and Japan wins after beating Russia on land (Battle of Mudken) and the sea (Battle of Tsushima). Solved by Teddy Roosevelt after he hosted the Treaty of Portsmouth in New Hampshire.

Treaty of Portsmouth

Treaty that stopped the Russo-Japanese War, hosted in U.S. by then president Theodore Roosevelt, as he was worried about Japan getting too powerful as an imperial power. Hosted in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the treaty acknowledged Japan's interests in Korea and gave them control over Port Arthur and the South Manchuria Railway, while also requiring Russia to recognize Japan's gains.

Commodore Perry

American naval commander who sailed to Edo Harbor (Tokyo) and demanded that Japan open its borders and trade with the U.S. His arrival in 1853 marked the end of Japan's isolationist policy, leading to the Treaty of Kanagawa that opened up Japanese ports to American trade. He told the Japanese that if they did not comply, the U.S. would invade, and he gave them a couple of months to think about it before coming back to Japan and negotiating the Treaty of Kanagawa.

Emperor Mutsuhito

The leader of Japan’s government who took control after the Tokugawa Shogun stepped down in 1867, and ruled the Meiji Era. During this era, he did many actions to modernize Japan, including sending diplomats to the West to learn about Western culture, using Germany’s government and constitution, adopting the U.S. system of universal public education, and requiring all Japanese children to go to school. Also imitated European powers when building military.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th Pres. of U.S. who hosted the Treaty of Portsmouth between Japan and Russia after the Russo-Japanese War, didn’t want Japan to become a huge power, later won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in the treaty.

Why was China not interested in trading with the West (specifically Britain)?

China was rich and self-sufficient and very traditional, so they believed that they had nothing to gain from trade with the West, so they closed their borders and believed that they were much higher above all of the surrounding countries. So, they believed that they didn’t need to trade with GB at all, and they were very traditional and didn’t care for wars of conquest.

Why did the Opium War happen? What was the result of the Opium War?

The Opium War occurred due to Britain's trade of opium in China, which led to widespread addiction and social issues. The result was the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded Hong Kong to Britain and opened several ports to British trade.