History Notes Roads to Modernity 1789-1945 Notes
Notes outlining the multiple peace settlements after WW1 and their weaknesses. Sections detailing aggression of what would later become the axis powers and the responses of other European countries alongside very detailed notes on the policy of appeasement and the events preceding the outbreak of war.
Includes a definition of what 'New Imperialism' is, notes on British imperialism, the social implications of imperialism and detailed historiographical interpretations including major theories s...
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Modernity and the Wider World: East Asia
Lecture:
The Tribute System:
China was surrounded by vassal states all whom paid homage to the Qing dynasty
Europeans were ‘allowed’ in East Asia by the three major powers China, Japan and Korea
The British had trade agreements with China and extensive control over India
Portuguese had Macau
Dutch had a trading port in Japan
However with the Russian empire expanding southwards in search of a port with year-round access to the sea, the British moving up through the South China sea and the USA expanding from the East, the Tribute system failed
The Treaty Port system:
After the first opium war 1839-42 Britain gained control of Hong Kong and negotiated the opening of five treaty ports in which British merchants were permitted to trade with Chinese merchants
American general Perry established the opening of treaty ports in Japan
1860s saw the establishment of treaty ports in Korea
1870s more treaty ports open in China
Spread into rivers and begin to dominate trade
The ports were a result of
‘Unequal treaties’
Often the result of a military defeat; allowed European powers to impose unfair regulations on the East Asian powers
These treaties gave preferential treatment to European merchants
‘Gunboat diplomacy’
Threat of military action and Western military superiority forced the Asian powers to sign unequal treaties
The Challenge of the West – China:
The English East India Company began to produce excess opium in India and imported it illegally to China
The Canton system
A way for China to control trade from the west within its own country
As opium demand increased throughout China, silver flowed out of China and increased the incentive for the British to continue trafficking opium
JK Fairbank
“the most long-continued and systematic international crime of modern times”
Commissioner Lin compounded British opium products
Forceful opposition to opium trade on moral grounds and considered to be the primary catalyst for the First Opium War
Molasses theory
Conflict not based solely on the opium trade, but primarily between the interests of British mercantile expansionism and Chinese containment policies.
Could have been over the compounding of any product: rice, molasses, it just happened to be opium
1839-42 First Opium War:
The industrial revolution underwent by Britain gave them the advantage
There was a massive technology gap between the British and Chinese forces
Steam powered warships were important to the British
Allowed the British to impose ‘unequal treaties’ on China
Unequal treaties (China):
1842, Nanking, UK
5 treaty ports
Hong Kong given to the British
‘Fair tariff’
1843, The Bogue, UK
Extraterritorial rights for the British
British law operated in the British treaty ports
Threat to Chinese sovereignty
1844, Wanghia, USA
1844, Whampoa, FR
All rights conferred to one Western power applied to the others
1856-60 Second Opium War
1858, Treaty of Tientsin, UK
Opened more Chinese treaty ports; permitted foreign legations in the Chines capital; allowed Christian missionary activity, and legalised the import of opium
Japan:
Tokugawa shogunate
Foreign policy
Sakoku ‘seclusion’ policy since 1639
The Dutch were the only European power permitted to trade
Dejima trading post, Nagasaki
Increasing number of foreign vessels in the 19th century
1825 shoot on sight policy
Edict to Repel Foreign Vessels was passed in 1825 to the effect that all foreign vessels should be driven away from Japanese waters in an attempt to preserve the Sakoku policy
1853-54 expeditions
Commodore Perry
Perry is given...
Buy the full version of these notes or essay plans and more in our Roads to Modernity 1789-1945 Notes.
Notes outlining the multiple peace settlements after WW1 and their weaknesses. Sections detailing aggression of what would later become the axis powers and the responses of other European countries alongside very detailed notes on the policy of appeasement and the events preceding the outbreak of war.
Includes a definition of what 'New Imperialism' is, notes on British imperialism, the social implications of imperialism and detailed historiographical interpretations including major theories s...
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