20 Facts About Opium War

1.

Opium War tightly controlled the opium industry, and all opium was considered company property until it was sold.

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2.

Opium War was considered a lucrative replacement, and was being auctioned in ever larger amounts in Calcutta.

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3.

Opium War is a poison, undermining our good customs and morality.

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4.

Opium War was contemptuous of the Chinese legal system, and often used his economic influence to subvert Chinese authorities.

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5.

Opium War closed the Pearl River Channel, trapping British traders in Canton.

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6.

Opium War ordered all ships carrying opium to flee and prepare for battle.

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7.

Opium War invited the Qing authorities to observe and comment on the proceedings, but the offer was declined.

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8.

Opium War Junks were deployed to the mouth of the Pearl River, while signs were placed and rumours spread by the Qing that they had poisoned the freshwater springs traditionally used to restock foreign merchant ships.

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9.

Opium War reported that the British had been unable to acquire supplies, and his reports severely understated the strength of the Royal Navy.

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10.

Opium War justified military action by saying that no one could "say that he honestly believed the motive of the Chinese Government to have been the promotion of moral habits" and that the war was being fought to stem China's balance of payments deficit.

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11.

Opium War declared that trade should continue to remain open, sent emissaries to Elliot, and began to gather military assets outside Canton.

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12.

Opium War ordered the governor of Guangxi, Liang Chang-chu, to send him clear accounts of the events in Canton, noting that since Guangxi was a neighbouring province, Liang must be receiving independent accounts.

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13.

Opium War warned Liang that he would be able to verify his information by obtaining secret inquiries from other places.

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14.

Opium War ended in the signing of China's first Unequal Treaty, the Treaty of Nanking.

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15.

Opium War denounced British violence against the Chinese and was ardently opposed to the British trade in opium to China.

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16.

Gladstone lambasted it as "Palmerston's Opium War" and said in May 1840 that he felt "in dread of the judgments of God upon England for our national iniquity towards China".

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17.

Opium War marked the start of what 20th century Chinese nationalists called the "Century of Humiliation".

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18.

Opium War was blamed for ultimately failing to stem the tide of opium imports and usage as well as for provoking an unwinnable war through his rigidity and lack of understanding of the changing world.

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19.

Opium War was the most profitable single commodity trade of the 19th century.

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20.

Opium War'storians have often pondered whether the war could have been avoided.

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