Colonialism Hits China

From 1790 – 1900 those in power in both Britain and China would guide and shape a nation and their decisions would determine the fate of a nation. And, for better or for worse shape a national identity and bring an end to the ancient system of dynastic rule. To truly understand China’s unique history, it is important to first examine how china was run and set up before the many changes that occurred when the British arrived during the late 18th century.  Then it is very important to examine some of the changes that occurred under British rule such as the tai-ping rebellion, and the Opium Wars.  And then you must look at the far reaching effects that all of these changes had on Chinese society, because after these changes China would never be the same.

Before any of the far reaching changes that the British brought with them were implemented, China was primarily an agrarian society and the common social ideals were very inward looking with a general distaste to anything foreign.  China was ruled by the old and declining Qing Dynasty that had ruled from 1611 and was only the last in the dynastic cycle stretching back thousands of years.  China during this time had little industry due to the fact that the industrial revolution had not yet reached China.  Also, China’s inward looking ideas would make it very reluctant to accept any foreign ideas, and it was also during this time that the Jesuit Missionaries were allowed into China and that would help the spread of this utopian idea of China in Europe.  Although many of the missions in China failed, most notably was the failure of the McCarthy mission, but it was during this time that many people in Europe started adopting Chinese customs and ideas especially those that pertained to how a ruler should rule his people and it was during this time that many people started to think that the Chinese ideas were the best ways to live.  This is how China was before the British arrived in the late 18th Century, now it is time to take a look at the changes that the British brought to China when they arrived.

From 1790-1900, numerous changes and far reaching changes would occur in China, chiefly among those was the British taking over rule from the Chinese and their making China a British Colony especially with Favored Nation Status.  It was also during that this time that the Qing government would begin its final decline and that would only be accelerated by the British arrival.  The weakness of the government was especially highlighted with when lead by Hong Xiuquan the Taiping rebellion broke out.  The imperial government lacked the power to put down the rebellion and it was forced to use foreign troops to finally put down the rebellion.  Another agent of change was the Opium Wars which were caused by British bringing Opium to China and the Opium Wars would completely devastate China.  Also the British takeover would in general cause large amounts of civil and social unrest which would contribute to the large amount of changes that took place during this time.  As these changes took effect in China, the effects were very far reaching and now we move on to the effects of these changes.