The Qing Dynasty was at its height in

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§ The Qing Dynasty was at its height in 1800 - From 1800 to

§ The Qing Dynasty was at its height in 1800 - From 1800 to the early 1900 s the dynasty quickly falls § The larges contributing factor to decline was external pressure from the West § The dynasty also suffered from - corruption - peasant unrest - incompetence § Rapid population growth also played a part - Shortage in food supply - 400 million people died of starvation by 1900

§ During the 1800 s China wanted to limit contact with outsiders - restricted

§ During the 1800 s China wanted to limit contact with outsiders - restricted European merchants to a small trading outlet in Canton § Great Britain opposed this arrangement - During this time they are experiencing a trade deficit with China - Great Britain Imported: tea, silk, and porcelain from China - They exported: Indian cotton - Great Britain paid China in silver for the difference - Britain tries to negotiate to improve the imbalance but they failed - Britain turns to trading Opium with China

§ The opium was grown in northern India and shipped directly to the Chinese

§ The opium was grown in northern India and shipped directly to the Chinese markets § Demand for opium in South China spiked - this growing demand leads to China now paying Britain - also leads to addiction § The Chinese try to appeal to Britain on moral grounds to stop selling opium because of the drugs effect on their people § Britain refuses

§ China decides to blockade the foreign area, Guangzhou to force traders to surrender

§ China decides to blockade the foreign area, Guangzhou to force traders to surrender their opium - Britain responds with force - This was the start of the Opium War (1839 - 1842) § The Chinese were no match for the British - British ships destroy Chinese coastal and river forts - The Qing Dynasty makes peace when the British travel up the Chang Jiang river to Nanjing

§ In 1842 China signs the Treaty of Nanjing § Under this treaty -

§ In 1842 China signs the Treaty of Nanjing § Under this treaty - China was required to open 5 coastal ports - China was forced to limit taxes on imported British goods - China had to pay for the cost of the war - China had to give the British ownership of the island of Hong Kong § The Europeans who lived in the 5 new ports were not subject to Chinese rule. - They were subject to their own laws, this is called extraterritoriality. § This war was the beginning of Western influence in China - China dealt with this problem by pitting foreign countries against one another - The privileges they grated to the British, they also granted to other Western nations

§ Government failure to deal with internal economic problems led to the Tai Ping

§ Government failure to deal with internal economic problems led to the Tai Ping Rebellion in 1850 § The leader of this rebellion was Hong Xiuquan - He was a Christian convert - Believed he was Jesus’ brother - Also believed God gave him the mission of destroying the Qing Dynasty § He captures Yongan and proclaims a new dynasty called Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace § March 1853 rebels seized Nanjing - massacred 25, 000 men, women, and children

§ Europeans aid the Qing Dynasty when they realized how destructive the rebels were

§ Europeans aid the Qing Dynasty when they realized how destructive the rebels were § The rebellion slowly falls apart over the next 10 years § In 1864 Chinese forces recapture Nanjing and destroyed the remaining rebel forces § The rebellion resulted in 20 million deaths, and is considered one of the most devastating civil wars in history

§ By the late 1870 s the Qing Dynasty was in decline § The

§ By the late 1870 s the Qing Dynasty was in decline § The government depended upon regional warlords to help fight the Tai Ping Rebellion, because they could not restore order themselves § The warlords financed their armies for the rebellion by taxing local people - After the rebellion was over the warlords kept their armies § This was one reason the dynasty was in a weakened state § The Qing court agrees to listen to appeals of reform - Officials called for a new policy called self- strengthening - This policy stated that China should adopt Western technology while keeping its Confucian values and institutions.

§ In the last quarter of the 1800 s China tried to - modernize

§ In the last quarter of the 1800 s China tried to - modernize military forces - build up industry § They built railroads, weapons, factories, and shipyards § They were able to do all this without changing the Chinese value system

§ The changes did not help the Qing stay in power § European advancements

§ The changes did not help the Qing stay in power § European advancements into China continued during the last two decades of the nineteenth century § Internal conditions also continued to worsen

§ Russia takes advantage of China’s weakened state - They force China to give

§ Russia takes advantage of China’s weakened state - They force China to give up territories north of the Amur River in Siberia. § Russia and Britain struggled over Tibet - This kept both powers from seizing the territory outright - This allowed Tibet to become free from Chinese influence § European states also create spheres of influence in China § These spheres of influence were areas in which foreign powers have been granted exclusive rights and privileges, such as trading rights and mining privileges

§ These spheres of influence were mainly caused by the Chinese war lords §

§ These spheres of influence were mainly caused by the Chinese war lords § After the Tai Ping Rebellion warlords negotiated directly with foreign nations § In exchange for money they granted exclusive trading rights, railroad building, and mining privileges § Countries with spheres of influence included - Germany - Britain - France - Russia - Japan

§ In 1894 China enters a war with Japan over Japanese inroads into Korea

§ In 1894 China enters a war with Japan over Japanese inroads into Korea - China had control over Korea for a long time § Japan defeated China, and demanded the territories of - Taiwan - the Liaodong Peninsula § Europe forces Japan to give the peninsula back to China due to fear of Japan’s growing power § In 1897 other countries began to pressure China for territories § During this year Chinese rioters killed two German missionaries - Germany uses this incident to demand territories in the Shandong Peninsula - China agrees, and other nations began to make claims on Chinese territories

§ In June of 1898 emperor Guang Xu launched a reform program due to

§ In June of 1898 emperor Guang Xu launched a reform program due to changes in Japan § The next few weeks become known as the One Hundred Days of Reform § During these one hundred days the emperor called for - political, administrative, and education reforms § His goal was to: - modernize government by following Western models - adopt a new education system that replaced the civil service examinations - adopt Western style schools, banks, and a free press - train the military to use modern weapons and Western fighting techniques

§ Many officials opposed Guang Xu’s reforms § They saw no advantage in copying

§ Many officials opposed Guang Xu’s reforms § They saw no advantage in copying Western ideals § These officials believed traditional Chinese rules needed reform instead of being rejected for Western changes § Empress Dowager Ci Xi, the emperors aunt, what a great force at court and opposed her nephews reforms § She eventually imprisoned her nephew § Supporter of the reform were also imprisoned, exiled or prosecuted § The reforms were quickly shut down - There was some sympathy for the reforms, but the majority of Chinese society rejected them

§ During this time of foreign pressure on China the US and Britain feared

§ During this time of foreign pressure on China the US and Britain feared that other nations would overrun the country if the Chinese government collapsed § They started to develop policies to avoid such actions

§ In 1899, U. S. Secretary of state John Hay wrote a note to

§ In 1899, U. S. Secretary of state John Hay wrote a note to Britain, Russia, Germany, France, Italy , and Japan - This note was a proposal to ensure equal access to the Chinese market for all nations and preserved the unity of the Chinese empire. § None of the powers expressed opposition § Hay declared all major nations with interests in China had to agree that the country should have an Open Door Policy § This policy stated all powers with spheres of influence in China would respect equal trading opportunities with China and not set tariffs giving an unfair advantage to the citizens of their own country.

§ This policy reflected the interests of some U. S. trading companies - They

§ This policy reflected the interests of some U. S. trading companies - They wanted to operate in open markets and disliked the existing division of China into separate spheres of influence § The policy, however; did not end the spheres of influence § It did reduce hysteria over the access to the China market. § Lessened fears in Britain, France, Germany, and Russia - other powers couldn’t take advantage of China’s weakness and dominate the market

§ The Boxer Rebellion came about due to a secret society called the Society

§ The Boxer Rebellion came about due to a secret society called the Society of Harmonious Fists § They were given the name boxers due to their practice of shadowboxing - a system of exercise where you box with an imaginary opponent - They believed this practice protected them from bullets § The society expressed anger about the economic distress and foreign takeover of China’s lands. § It became their goal to push foreigners out of China - Their personal slogan was “destroy the foreigner”

§ The Boxers especially hated Christian missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity § They

§ The Boxers especially hated Christian missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity § They believed these people threatened Chinese tradition and religion the most § In 1900 the Boxers went through the countryside and slaughtered foreign missionaries, Chinese Christians, foreign business people, and German envoys. § Responses to the killings - Response happened immediately and quickly - An army made up of 20, 000 British, French, German, Russian, American, and Japanese troops attacked Beijing in August. - This army put down the rebellion and restored order - As a result they demanded more concessions from the Chinese government - China was forced to pay a heavy indemnity, or payment for damages, to the powers - This makes the Qing Dynasty even weaker