A letter written to Queen Victoria by a Chinese official concerning the trade of Opium between Britain and China is the primary document that I have chosen to use. Lin Zexu, the author of the letter, discusses three points about the trade. Firstly, the letter touches upon Britain’s true intentions for the continuous shipment of the illegal cargo. The author begins to discuss the effects of the Opium and accuses Britain to be solely focused on making a profit on China’s destruction. Secondly, the letter compares the benefits of the country’s trade and states that China’s trade offers benefits while Britain’s trade offers damage. Lastly, the letter contains attempts to connect to Britain’s spiritual and empathetic side, as the author begins to
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The drugs took a toll on those addicted as it affected not only the family structure but the empire’s structure as well. The opium would soon begin to disrupt the workforce and undermine the social and moral foundations of the empire. The opium trade, however illegal, caused china a loss in currency as they were required to pay for the illegal opium. China had a bimetallism system which used both silver and copper as equal valued currency. This system served no problem until British merchants and other traders insisted on being paid in silver. As silver was constantly being used to pay for the large amounts of opium, the exchange rate was affected causing an inflationary in currency. Soon the price of goods in copper increased as well as the taxes to be paid in silver. The poverty and hardship that accompanied the rise of the price of goods was blamed on Britain and the continuous opium trade. Britain was aware of the anti-opium laws but refused to recognise them as legally binding for two main reasons. The first was the notion that china’s …show more content…
Before he was appointed to handle the Opium problem, “he was a proponent of the revitalization of traditional Chinese thought and institutions, a movement that became known as the Self-Strengthening Movement.” Lin’s father, although poor, was determined to turn his sons into government officials and Lin proved extremely capable. Lin’s rise to administration was quick and fairly straight forward. He was first selected as an aid to the governor of his native province and then in 1811, passed the highest of examinations and joined the Hanlin Academy where he advised the emperor. In 1820 Lin worked at an administrative post and rose through many offices in the bureaucracy. He then supervised water-control systems in many localities, managed the collection of taxes, and served a term as a local judge. Through his dedication, Lin Zexu became well known as a hard worker who always seemed to accomplish the task at hand. After the passing of his father, Lin returned to work in the highest positions in government where he wrote about the legalization of the opium trade and his success in controlling the spread of the drug in the provinces he formerly governed. The emperor, in response to Lin’s statements, appointed him to Imperial Commissioner granting him many powers. Lin preferred “negotiation and reasoned
The drugs took a toll on those addicted as it affected not only the family structure but the empire’s structure as well. The opium would soon begin to disrupt the workforce and undermine the social and moral foundations of the empire. The opium trade, however illegal, caused china a loss in currency as they were required to pay for the illegal opium. China had a bimetallism system which used both silver and copper as equal valued currency. This system served no problem until British merchants and other traders insisted on being paid in silver. As silver was constantly being used to pay for the large amounts of opium, the exchange rate was affected causing an inflationary in currency. Soon the price of goods in copper increased as well as the taxes to be paid in silver. The poverty and hardship that accompanied the rise of the price of goods was blamed on Britain and the continuous opium trade. Britain was aware of the anti-opium laws but refused to recognise them as legally binding for two main reasons. The first was the notion that china’s …show more content…
Before he was appointed to handle the Opium problem, “he was a proponent of the revitalization of traditional Chinese thought and institutions, a movement that became known as the Self-Strengthening Movement.” Lin’s father, although poor, was determined to turn his sons into government officials and Lin proved extremely capable. Lin’s rise to administration was quick and fairly straight forward. He was first selected as an aid to the governor of his native province and then in 1811, passed the highest of examinations and joined the Hanlin Academy where he advised the emperor. In 1820 Lin worked at an administrative post and rose through many offices in the bureaucracy. He then supervised water-control systems in many localities, managed the collection of taxes, and served a term as a local judge. Through his dedication, Lin Zexu became well known as a hard worker who always seemed to accomplish the task at hand. After the passing of his father, Lin returned to work in the highest positions in government where he wrote about the legalization of the opium trade and his success in controlling the spread of the drug in the provinces he formerly governed. The emperor, in response to Lin’s statements, appointed him to Imperial Commissioner granting him many powers. Lin preferred “negotiation and reasoned