We Are History The Opium War
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Mar 29, 2020 Dive into the first 'war on drugs' as Victorian Britain faces Imperial China. Explore the tangled web of trade that led to opium's rise and China's desperate attempts to ban it. Learn about the passionate crackdown led by Lin Zexu and the diplomatic tensions that ignited conflict. Discover how advanced British naval power reshaped the battle and the political justifications behind the war. Reflect on how this historical clash continues to influence narratives of national humiliation in China and British historical perspectives.
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Canton's Tight Trade Controls
- Foreign merchants could only trade through the Canton/Kohong system, which made China highly protectionist and controlled contact with outsiders.
- Kohong merchants bore legal responsibility for foreigners' conduct and cargo while trading in Canton.
Bans Failed Against Lucrative Supply
- China repeatedly tried to ban opium, adopting harsh penalties including death for smokers who didn't quit.
- Despite bans, supply from British-run Indian plantations and private traders kept addiction and trade growing.
Macartney Mission's Protocol Clash
- Viscount George Macartney's embassy tried to open more ports but clashed over protocol, including kowtowing to imperial images.
- The mission failed partly due to cultural misunderstandings and British heavy-handedness.
