Imperialism In China Essay

The most significant cause of European imperialism in China during the 18th and 19th century was the desire for natural resources and goods in China, such as silk, spices, and tea, which were so highly sought by European powers that it indirectly led to the Opium Wars, which impacted China for years to come. There was a great request for Chinese silk and porcelain, but Britain did not have adequate silver to exchange with the Qing Empire (Ebrey, Buddey 32-33). Henceforth, a system of bargaining centered around opium was made to resolve this issue of trade, but disagreements among the Qing and British over the drug eventually heightened into the notorious Opium Wars (Lin Zexu 50). This is historically significant because this detrimentally affected …show more content…
In the early 1900s, the Qing Dynasty began to crumble as a result of many rebellions and revolts. More significantly, the Europeans had weakened the Chinese economy by instigating the Opium wars, which when added to the internal rebellions and revolts led to famine, weakening all of China and cutting its population (Ebrey, Patricia Buddy 34). 1890 thru 1900, was a period of embarrassment for China, yet insurgents, like Sun Yat Sen were compelled to end the debasing treatment that China was forced to experience. Sun Yat Sen was a vital figure to the Chinese society around the turn of the eighteenth century. As a patriot and political pioneer, he helped China ascend out of foreign control, and declare independence as a Republic that embraced western routes in industry, farming and commerce. Unless China did this, Sun was persuaded that it was destined to stay in reverse by western principles. He was the first president of the Republic of China and was able to strengthen the gaps that existed to due to corruption and the weak central government (Facinghistory.org). Unfortunately, once he died, China fell back into bickering regions led by different military