Using complete sentences, explain the main cause of the Anglo-Chinese Wars. What four changes resulted from the treaty after the war?
The main cause of the Anglo-Chinese Wars was a clash of interests between Britain and China over trade, sovereignty, and territorial control. The British wanted to expand their trade with China, particularly in opium, which was illegal in China but highly profitable for the British. The Chinese resisted the British demands and took strong measures to stop the opium trade, leading to armed conflicts between the two nations.
The treaty that ended the war resulted in four major changes. First, China had to open up more treaty ports for British trade, which gave the British greater access to the Chinese market. Second, Hong Kong was ceded to Britain, which became an important center of British commercial and strategic interests in East Asia. Third, China had to pay a large indemnity to Britain as compensation for the war. Fourth, China had to sign a series of "unequal treaties" with other Western powers, which further weakened Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The main cause of the Anglo-Chinese Wars was the clash between British economic interests and Chinese efforts to restrict foreign trade and control their own affairs. The British wanted to expand their trade with China and gain access to lucrative markets, while the Chinese authorities wanted to maintain their control over their economic and political system.
Four changes resulted from the treaty after the war:
1. The Treaty of Nanjing, signed in 1842 after the first Opium War, opened up five Chinese ports (including Shanghai and Canton) to foreign trade. This allowed the British and other foreign powers to have direct access to these markets and establish commercial operations.
2. The treaty also forced China to pay a large indemnity to the British, which further weakened China's economy and forced them to make concessions to foreign powers.
3. The British were granted extraterritorial rights, meaning that British citizens in China were subject to British laws and not Chinese jurisdiction. This gave the British significant legal and political advantages in dealing with Chinese authorities.
4. The treaty also ceded Hong Kong Island to the British, establishing it as a British colony. This gave the British a strategic port and a base for further expansion in the region, while diminishing Chinese sovereignty.
Overall, these changes resulted in significant economic, political, and territorial concessions for China, while granting the British and other foreign powers increased influence and control over Chinese affairs.