Throughout Chinese history, many events have lead to radical changes which
have affected China in some way or form. Many of these events have been
internal, involving strife within China. Others have been external, such as the
Opium Wars. The Opium Wars were two conflicts between China and Britain
which arose when one of China's officials, Lin Zexu, had attempted to suppress
the opium trade after British merchants began smuggling opium into China in
order to balance their purchases of tea for export to Britain. China's defeat against
the British during the Opium Wars resulted in economic, social and political
changes which had created a deep impact on China.
The Opium Wars had marked a new stage in China's relation with …show more content…
Opium use continued through the population of china including government
officials and the Chinese working class. Opium served as a cure-all drug for mild
as well as serious ailments and provided stress relief for labourers working 120
hours per week. Unfortunately, suppliers of opium were not medically trained to
handle a high addictive drug like opium. The lack of understanding and misuse of
opium had caused a widespread addiction which dangerously advanced through all
levels of society and lead to accidental deaths. By 1850, there were estimated to be
4 million opium addicts in China and 26,000 suppliers. Yet around this time, there
were enough drug related deaths to present opium as a public health issue. Many
people took opium based drugs instead of prescribed cough syrup when ill. Most of
the middle class use of opium is centred on artists, poets and writers who took
opium recreationally for a feeling of euphoria. Many Chinese novels and poems
were written about opium or the feeling of being under the influence of opium.
Unlike the working class, middle class use of opium was a social convention and
have affected China in some way or form. Many of these events have been
internal, involving strife within China. Others have been external, such as the
Opium Wars. The Opium Wars were two conflicts between China and Britain
which arose when one of China's officials, Lin Zexu, had attempted to suppress
the opium trade after British merchants began smuggling opium into China in
order to balance their purchases of tea for export to Britain. China's defeat against
the British during the Opium Wars resulted in economic, social and political
changes which had created a deep impact on China.
The Opium Wars had marked a new stage in China's relation with …show more content…
Opium use continued through the population of china including government
officials and the Chinese working class. Opium served as a cure-all drug for mild
as well as serious ailments and provided stress relief for labourers working 120
hours per week. Unfortunately, suppliers of opium were not medically trained to
handle a high addictive drug like opium. The lack of understanding and misuse of
opium had caused a widespread addiction which dangerously advanced through all
levels of society and lead to accidental deaths. By 1850, there were estimated to be
4 million opium addicts in China and 26,000 suppliers. Yet around this time, there
were enough drug related deaths to present opium as a public health issue. Many
people took opium based drugs instead of prescribed cough syrup when ill. Most of
the middle class use of opium is centred on artists, poets and writers who took
opium recreationally for a feeling of euphoria. Many Chinese novels and poems
were written about opium or the feeling of being under the influence of opium.
Unlike the working class, middle class use of opium was a social convention and