1、1St. Bonaventure College & High SchoolAsian History (China)Topic Five: The Opium War - An Analytical Approach（鴉片戰爭 - 分析牲探討）Basic Reading: Immanuel Hsu, Ch. 8, p. 220-231Suggested Readings: Li, The Political History of China, p. 43-46 Chang, Commissioner Lin and the Opium War, A Preview Tan Chung, Ch
2、ina and the Brave New World, Ch. 1 Fairbank, Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast Greenberg, British Trade and the Opening of China, p. 104-112(The last two books tell you the economic nature of the war, the first the historical background, the second the role of Commissioner Lin and the last the
3、three theories about the nature of the war.)Major Points to cover:Most of us know the basic knowledge about the war - its causes, course and results. But do we carefully think about its nature? Why is it known as the First Anglo-Chinese War in some historical books but the Opium War in others? Does
4、the different use of terminology to the same historical event have something worth discussing? It has become an academic controversy on the nature of the war: What were the main factors of the war? Was the war inevitable? How did the contemporary governments conceive the war? Why were their concepti
5、ons at variance with each other?A. M. Greenberg claimed that the war was just a collision caused by an aggressive greedy occidental imperialist power on a self-contained old-fashioned oriental power struggling to protect itself. “The men directing British policy at the time were not of more than ave
6、rage cynicism. They were helped in overcoming moral scruple by an appreciation of the size of the material interest. “(p. 104)1. What were the “material interest” accrued from the opium trade with China?a) Direct ways: an important source of regular income to the British Indian Empire a resource for
7、 the homeward investment to Britain. met the “annual drain” made up for the economic loss due to “company trade” an essential and permanent element in the Indian fiscal system22b) Indirect ways: an increase of Indian consumption of the British manufactures a source of reliable income through the ope
8、ration of exchange and remittance of teaAccording to the above explanation, the opium trade was very “essential” to the British government and people. How far do you agree with the view that the First Anglo-Chinese War was chiefly attributed to the driving force of expanding British imperialism of t
9、he early 19th century?B. To others the war was differently interpreted. It was a “crusade” on the part of the Chinese to stop an influx of the drug into their country, simply because of its harmful effects on their society, economy and people.1. What were the harmful effects on Chinas people and soc
10、iety?a) Corruptionb) Increasing number of smokersc) Demoralization of army and soldiersd) Distortion of economic activities2. What were the adverse effects on Chinas economy?a) A stagnation in the demand for native commoditiesb) Silver Drain and its effects on Chinas bi-metallic currency system3. Ho
11、w did the Chinese government act in reply to the opium trade?At the very start, the attitude of the Qing court wavered between tolerance and repression. Concern over the opium trade was not unnoticed. But no serious actions against it had been taken. The urgency was finally felt in the 1820s when th
12、e harmful effects of the trade were apparent. There was an important court debate summoned in 1836. While Hsu Nai-chis（許乃濟） faction demanded legalization of the trade, the other group led by Huang Chueh-tzu（黃爵滋） requested complete suppression of it. The courts decision was in favour of the latter. W
13、hat followed was the decision to send Lin Tse-hsu（林則徐） to Canton to launch the anti-opium campaign. War happened then.a) The above summary briefly tells us the historical background of the war. Why did the Qing governments not take actions when the opium trade began? What were the evidence which sho
14、wed the urgency of the trade in the 1820s? Read articles about the Court Debate and find out the justifications put forward by either party. Which standpoint do you prefer to? Explain your choice.b) The First Anglo-Chinese War broke out shortly after the arrival of Lin Tse-hsu. How far do you agree
15、that he should be held responsible for the outbreak of the war?3Cultural War Theory Development of the Theory_ Content of the Theory_ Strengths of the Theory_ Weaknesses of Other Theories_4Trade War Theory Development of the Theory_ Content of the Theory_ Strengths of the Theory_ Weaknesses of Other
16、 Theories_5Opium War Theory Development of the Theory_ Content of the Theory_ Strengths of the Theory_ Weaknesses of Other Theories_6 Year Proportion of Opium Export on Indian Revenue18001826-271850sless than 3%more than 5%12% (a sum close to 4,000,000)2The increased opium production of 1825-35 enhanced the value of the land fourfold, enriched the zamindars, maintained thousands of people employed in collecting and preparing the drug, and benefited the commerce and shipping of Calcutta（加爾各答）.
