Qing Dynasty Diplomacy and Politics

British Diplomatic Mission to Qing Court

• 1792: First British diplomatic mission to Qing court led by Lord Macartney, aiming to extend British trade beyond Canton.
• Demands included opening more ports, preferential tariffs, and a permanent ambassador in China.
• The Chinese perceived the visit as a tribute, but Macartney refused to kowtow, leading to a failed mission.

Qing Dynasty Politics

• 1796: Qianlong abdicates to show filial piety to his grandfather Kangxi, but continues to rule during the reign of his son, the Jiaqing emperor.
• 1799: Qianlong dies, and his son has Heshen executed.
• 1796: White Lotus uprising begins in Hubei, spread to other provinces, and was eventually put down in 1804, but not before draining the government's resources.

Foreign Trade and Opium

• Foreigners, mainly British (East India Company) and Americans, traded in Canton, exporting tea and silk and importing silver.
• Opium trade rises, despite being illegal in China, and is smuggled into China in large quantities from India (Calcutta).
• China has two currencies: taels (silver ingots) and cash (copper coins), but silver is drained by the opium trade.
• 1839: Daoguang emperor bans opium, leading to the First Opium War in 1840.

First Opium War and Treaty of Nanjing

• 1842: China surrenders and signs the Treaty of Nanjing, opening more ports to foreign trade, giving Hong Kong to the British, and paying a large silver indemnity.
• Later, China signs similar treaties with France and the US.

Internal Unrest

• Secret societies (Triads) and religious groups emerge, including the Taiping Rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan.
• 1851: Taiping Rebellion begins, conquering Nanjing and leading to ten years of civil war and 20 million deaths.
• Second Opium War (Arrow War) starts in 1856, leading to more treaty ports being opened, destruction, and looting of the Summer Palace in 1860.

British Diplomatic Mission to Qing Court

• 1792: First British diplomatic mission to Qing court led by Lord Macartney, aiming to extend British trade beyond Canton.
• Demands included opening more ports, preferential tariffs, and a permanent ambassador in China.
• The Chinese perceived the visit as a tribute, but Macartney refused to kowtow, leading to a failed mission.

Qing Dynasty Politics

• 1796: Qianlong abdicates to show filial piety to his grandfather Kangxi, but continues to rule during the reign of his son, the Jiaqing emperor.
• 1799: Qianlong dies, and his son has Heshen executed.
• 1796: White Lotus uprising begins in Hubei, spread to other provinces, and was eventually put down in 1804, but not before draining the government's resources.

Foreign Trade and Opium

• Foreigners, mainly British (East India Company) and Americans, traded in Canton, exporting tea and silk and importing silver.
• Opium trade rises, despite being illegal in China, and is smuggled into China in large quantities from India (Calcutta).
• China has two currencies: taels (silver ingots) and cash (copper coins), but silver is drained by the opium trade.
• 1839: Daoguang emperor bans opium, leading to the First Opium War in 1840.

First Opium War and Treaty of Nanjing

• 1842: China surrenders and signs the Treaty of Nanjing, opening more ports to foreign trade, giving Hong Kong to the British, and paying a large silver indemnity.
• Later, China signs similar treaties with France and the US.

Internal Unrest

• Secret societies (Triads) and religious groups emerge, including the Taiping Rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan.
• 1851: Taiping Rebellion begins, conquering Nanjing and leading to ten years of civil war and 20 million deaths.
• Second Opium War (Arrow War) starts in 1856, leading to more treaty ports being opened, destruction, and looting of the Summer Palace in 1860.