11.2/15.5 Terms

Isolationism

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs of other countries, avoiding political or economic alliances.

Outpost

A distant military station or a remote settlement established to extend control or influence.

Canton

The only trading port where Europeans were allowed to trade in China. Foreigners could trade under the supervision of imperial officials and only during the designated trading season.

Manchus

People originally from Manchuria, a region north of China, who conquered the Ming dynasty and ruled China as the Qing dynasty from the mid-1600s to the early 1900s.

Lord Macartney

A member of the British Parliament, chief secretary for Ireland, and governor of several British colonies. He was sent on an unsuccessful mission to persuade Emperor Qianlong of China to allow British traders into northern port cities.

Tribute

Payment that conquered peoples may be forced to pay their conquerors as a sign of submission or respect.

Kowtow

A deep sign of respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low that your head touches the ground, often performed in the presence of a superior or ruler.

Chinese Tribute System

A system in which foreign rulers and the Chinese Emperor exchanged gifts of great value, which could lead to the foreigner's country being granted trading privileges in China.

Imperialism

The domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region, often through military force or economic control.

Westernization

The adoption of western ideas, technology, and culture by a non-Western society.

Balance of Trade

The difference between how much a country imports and how much it exports, often used to measure economic strength and competitiveness.

Trade Surplus

A situation in which a country exports more goods and services than it imports, resulting in a positive balance of trade.

Trade Deficit

A situation in which a country imports more goods and services than it exports, resulting in a negative balance of trade.

Opium

A highly addictive drug that was grown in India and traded by the British for Chinese tea, leading to widespread addiction and social problems in China.

Opium War

A war between Great Britain and China fought over restrictions on foreign trade and the British desire to continue the opium trade.

Treaty of Nanjing

An unequal treaty imposed by Britain on China, which forced China to give up rights to Western powers and opened several ports to foreign trade.

Indemnity

A payment for losses or damages, often demanded by the victor in a war or conflict.

Extraterritoriality

The right of foreigners to be protected by the laws of their own nation while residing or traveling in another country.

Most Favored Nation Clause

A clause in the Treaty of Nanjing that granted Britain the same trading rights as any other nation if China granted those rights to another nation.

Taiping Rebellion

A massive peasant revolt in China led by Hong Xiuquan, who sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a utopian society based on his interpretation of Christianity.

Hong Xiuquan

A village leader who led the Taiping Rebellion and aimed to topple the Qing dynasty, establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Self-Strengthening Movement

A movement in China during the late 19th century that aimed to adopt Western ideas and technology to strengthen the country, but faced limited support from the government and made only modest progress.

Spheres of Influence

Areas in China where foreign powers had exclusive trading rights and significant influence over the region's economic and political affairs.

Open Door Policy

An American approach to China around 1900, advocating for open trade relations between China and other nations, and opposing the division of China into exclusive spheres of influence.

Boxer Uprising

An anti-foreign movement in China from 1898 to 1900, led by a secret society known as the Boxers, who sought to expel foreign influences and restore Chinese power.

Nationalism

The ideology and desire for a nation to be free from foreign domination, promoting the interests and culture of one's own nation.

Sun Yixian

He was the son of poor farmers in a small village. He left a career in medicine to revolt against the Qing government and later became the provisional president of the newly established Republic of China.

Three Principles of the People

Principles organized by Sun Yixian to rebuild China after the Boxer Uprising. The principles included nationalism, democracy, and livelihood, aiming to create a modern and prosperous China.