THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY RAN A 3-COUNTRY TRADE SYSTEM
BETWEEN BRITAIN, INDIA, AND CHINA.
TO CONTROL WESTERN TRADE WITHIN CHINA, THE
QING DYNASTY CONDUCTED ALL TRADE AT THE SOUTHERN PORT OF CANTON.
DURING THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY, BRITAIN WAS LOSING MONEY.
BRITISH CONSUMERS HAD DEVELOPED A STRONG LIKING FOR CHINESE TEA,
PORCELAIN AND SILK. WHILE CHINESE CONSUMERS HAD NO INTEREST IN BRITISH GOODS,
WHICH THREW THE BALANCE OF TRADE INTO CHINA's FLAVOUR.
IN THE LATE 1700S, BRITAIN TRIED TO ALTER THIS BALANCE BY REPLACING
COTTON WITH INDIAN GROWN OPIUM.
THE BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY INVESTED HEAVILY INTO THE GROWING AND
PROCESSING OF OPIUM IN THE EASTERN INDIAN PROVINCE OF BENGAL.
DURING LATE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY, BRITAIN AND CHINA HELD CLOSE ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
HOVER OVER YELLOW MARKERS FOR INFORMATION
WHAT IS OPIUM?
IT'S DRIED LATEX FROM THE SEED
CAPSULES OF THE OPIUM POPPY 'PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM'.
IN ANCIENT CHINA, OPIUM WAS USED FOR MEDICINAL AND RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES. WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS INCLUDE: CHILLS, NAUSEA, CRAMPS, DEATH.
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THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT OPIUM WAS BECOMING A SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM.
IN 1800, THE PRODUCTION AND IMPORTATION OF OPIUM WAS BANNED IN CHINA.
IN 1813, THE SMOKING OF OPIUM WAS OUTLAWED AND A PUNISHMENT OF BEATING OFFENDERS 100 TIMES WAS IMPOSED.
IN RESPONSE, THE BRTISH EAST INDIA COMPANY HIRED PRIVATE BRITISH AND AMERICAN TRADERS
TO TRANSPORT THE DRUG TO CHINA SO CHINESE SMUGGLERS COULD CONTINUE BUYING AND DISTRIBUTING
OPIUM WIHTHIN CHINA USING A NETWORK OF CHINESE MIDDLEMEN.
BY 1830, THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 100 CHINESE SMUGGLER BOATS WORKING IN THE OPIUM TRADE.
BY 1836, THE CHINESE GOVERNEMNT BEGAN CLOSING OPIUM DENS AND EXECUTING CHINESE DEALERS.