Causes+and+Results+of+the+Second+Opium+War

The Second Opium War


 * Causes **

Originally, the Chinese had been very reluctant to go along with the demands of the treaties of 1842-1844. The end of the First Opium War resolved very little for the Chinese, if anything. Illegal opium trade only continued to grow, and with the Chinese proven inferior in warfare, there was little that the government could do about it. On top of that, many of the British colonies, such as Hong Kong, Penang, and Singapore, that now existed in China as a result of the First Opium War, allowed opium smugglers to gain British passports easily. These Anglo-Chinese people were able to reap the benefits of both Chinese and British life---blending in with the population and benefiting from extraterritoriality. Because of foreign connections, Chinese officials were not eager to arrest them or place consequences on them. On top of all this, the implementations of the Treaty of Nanking from the First Opium War had not gone smoothly with the Chinese, and the British were even more earnest in their endeavor to expand trade. Generally, the tension between the two countries had never really been resolved and was again continuing to build. Then, in October 1856, the Lorcha Arrow, a Chinese owned but British-registered ship, became a direct cause of the Second Opium War. When Canton authorities arrested members of its crew based on smuggling charges, taking down its British flag, the British reacted by demanding that the ship's crew were returned safely along with an apology for breaking the code of extraterritoriality in China. Refusing an apology, violence broke out, and the Second Opium War had begun.

**Effects**

The Second Opium War was also won by Great Britain, changing every aspect of China's policies and ideals. The defeat of the Chinese unraveled China's isolationism, opening the country to free trade with Western countries. Great Britain's goal was to open up Triangular trade among China, Britain, and India and to find security for free trade. Even throughout the great changes that occurred in China during this time, a great amount of nationalism remained. Many were still resistant to the idea of the British changing their common way of life. This continued the tension between the Chinese and British. During this time period, treaty systems decided what was allowed within the borders of China, and these policies often included strong extraterritoriality. By 1858, even opium trade had been legalized. The Opium Wars had permanently changed everything about the foreign policies of China and their interaction with Western nations.

The brutality of the Second Opium War mirrored the First, and also led to British victory that completely changed Chinese society.

Source: http://www.history.cultural-china.com/en/34History6533.html