Colonialism Hits China

The most prominent effect of all of these changes was the collapse of the Chinese Dynastic system that had governed China for centuries.  So weakened by the Taiping Rebellion and the Opium wars, the Qing dynasty just collapsed.  Also, the Treaty of Nanking would grant the UK “Favored Nation” status which would grant any privilege given to any other European powers must also be given to the UK.  Also, it would be during this time that the city of Hong Kong would be given to the UK.  Also in a more positive way, the Chinese resistance during the Opium Wars would help pave the way for Chinese independence and it would also help China be able to resist European Domination.  Instead, China would be one of the first places that Soft Imperialism would take hold.  Finally, during this time China would start to industrialize which would set China on a course to become the Manufacturing Giant that it is today.

In conclusion, the events from 1790-1900 truly changed China, 1000’s years of Dynastic Rule had come to an end, China started industrializing, and perhaps most importantly, China started to look outward and not so much inward as it had done for centuries, and that in many ways is the single most important factor that made China the rising Super Power it is becoming today.  Because, sometimes looking at what everyone else did and improving on their mistakes is the best way to succeed and to get ahead in life and in China’s case in building a prosperous nation.