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Political Changes after Opium War

Introduction

Opium War, called as Anglo Chinese War, divided in to two separate sessions, where the First Opium War started in 1939 to 1942 and the Second Opium War was the end to it from 1856 to 1860, which was the settlement of the dispute between China, under the dynasty of Qing and British Empire. It was the result of the British trying to expand its empire and invade China, for the China was producing the good that were of benefit to British, which was especially the tea. China in turn to their trade, was bartering on t he silver coins, which was expanding the transaction cost of the British. British tried to float the Opium in to the Chinese Market, ban was imposed on the selling of opium by the Chinese, while British smuggled them and sold opium either way, which as the result made workers addicted to it and decreased their productivity (Allingham, 2006).

Discussion

Opium War, viewed as the war for the opium, but it was the war fought for free trade, judicial and diplomatic inequality with China. Chinese government since 18th century has imposed foreign trade restrictions, which was contemptuous and apprehensive for the foreign traders. Canton was the only port which was providing commerce to the traders, where the rights were given exclusively for dealing with the Western traders to groups of merchants licensed, called Co-Hong. On the other hand, British had nothing to offer to China expect silver in exchange to the trade of tea, silk and spices. This was the sheer disadvantage to British, so they started the smuggling of opium to China from India, opium poppy being cultivated in India and was taken over by British. The Canton System led to the increase in the smuggling of ...