The Treaty of Nanjing and the Opium War
In 1842, China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanjing after its defeat by the British in the First Opium War. This war erupted when the Chinese government decided to ban the smuggling and trade of opium. The initial impasse arose when Western demand for luxury Chinese goods created a trade imbalance between China and Britain, and silver...
August 13, 2024