Reasons for the Downfall of the Manchu Government in 1911 Essay

The Manchu government’s refusal to open up China to trade with the western powers led to armed invasions by the foreign powers. China did not want any goods from the west as China considered itself as self-sufficient. China regarded trade as a favour China granted to the less fortunate nations. However Britain was very much interested in purchasing Chinese silks, porcelain goods and Chinese tea. Therefore, Britain found a new commodity and this was the sale of opium to China. The illegal trade of opium developed very quickly. By 1800s, the number of chests imported increased from 1000 to 40000 chests a year. By the 1830s, there were about 1 million opium addicts in China. There was an outflow of bullion from China to Britain and this created social and economic problems. The Chinese government tried to stop the illegal trade of opium which ended in two wars. The first opium war (1839 – 1842) and the second opium war (1856 – 1860). These wars and the Sino-Jap war (1844-1895) led to humiliating defeats for China. China was forced to sign unequal treaties which demanded the opening and ...