12.5 china and the new imperialism
TEKS 8C: Imperialism in China
Objectives
Calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas.
Describe the trade rights Westerners sought in China.
Explain the internal problems that Chinese reformers tried to solve.
Understand how the Qing dynasty fell.
Key Terms and Concepts
Balance of Trade
Balance of Trade: The difference between a country's imports and exports.
Trade Surplus: When exports exceed imports.
Trade Deficit: When imports exceed exports.
Major Conflicts and Events
Opium War (1839): Conflict initiated when China outlawed opium, leading to clashes with British merchants. Resulted in a decisive British victory.
Indemnity: Payment made for war losses.
Extraterritoriality: Legal immunity that allows foreigners to be governed by their own nation’s laws.
Important Historical Events
The Opium Trade and War
By the 1800s, European nations had been manipulating trade in their favor, disrupting China's favorable trade balance.
The introduction of opium created a significant drain on the Chinese economy, resulting in widespread addiction and a loss of silver.
The Opium War (1839) resulted in British military dominance when China attempted to curtail opium sales.
Qing Dynasty Challenges
Following the Opium War, treaties like the Treaty of Nanjing forced China to cede territory and grant rights that further diminished its sovereignty.
Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864): This massive peasant uprising against the Qing dynasty resulted in the deaths of millions and highlighted the dynasty's failure to address internal strife.
Movements for Reform
Late Qing Reforms
In the late 1800s, Empress Ci Xi resisted reforms while reformers tried to modernize China through initiatives like the self-strengthening movement.
In contrast, Japan embraced Western technology and modernization, contributing to its rise as a power in East Asia.
Imperialism and Spheres of Influence
By the late 19th century, the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1894) revealed China's vulnerabilities, leading to partitioning by Western powers into spheres of influence, which weakened Chinese sovereignty further.
Open Door Policy
To ensure American trading rights in China, the U.S. proposed the Open Door Policy in 1899, promoting equal trading rights among all nations.
Boxer Uprising
The Boxer Uprising (1900) demonstrated growing anti-foreign sentiment as the Righteous Harmonious Fists sought to expel foreign influence, leading to further foreign intervention.
Nationalism and Call for Change
Post-uprising, increasing demand for reform in education, economy, and governance emerged as intellectuals sought to instill nationalism.
Sun Yixian became pivotal in advocating for a new republic guided by the "Three Principles of the People":
Nationalism: Aimed at freeing China from foreign control.
Democracy: Establishing a representative government.
Livelihood: Ensuring economic security for the populace.
End of the Qing Dynasty
A resurgence of nationalistic thought ultimately culminated in the 1911 revolution, leading to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and establishment of a republic under Sun Yixian.