THE EXPLOITATIVE IMPACTS OF BRITISH COLONIZATION
AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE MODERN WORLD
Zachary Nguyen, Nolan Stefan, Isaiah Moore
NOTES —
Document 1:
H: 1. Causation:
The painting reflects the growing European demand for Chinese art as souvenirs, which
influenced local artists to adapt their techniques and styles to meet this market.
2. Chronology:
This piece is situated in the 1830s-1870s, a period marked by increased interaction
between Western countries and China, especially during the Opium Wars and later trade
agreements.
3. Prior Knowledge:
Understanding the broader context of the Treaty of Nanking (1842) and the establishment
of trade routes can enhance comprehension of the motivations behind this art production.
A: The artworks were created for European buyers, which likely influenced the themes and
styles to cater to Western tastes, impacting their authenticity and representation of
Chinese culture.
P: The purpose was to capitalize on the European market's interest in Chinese art, aiming
to produce appealing works that would sell well as souvenirs, thereby supporting local
artisans economically.
P: 1. Author's Identity:
Guan Lianchang, as a Chinese artist, represents a blend of cultural influences, which may
affect how the art is perceived in both Chinese and Western contexts.
2. Influences on the Author:
The influence of Western artistic styles and market demands likely shaped the techniques
and subjects chosen by the artists, blending traditional Chinese elements with Western
aesthetics.
Y: 1. Document's Impact:
The production of such artworks contributed to the perception of Chinese art in the West,
influencing trends in collecting and appreciation of Eastern art forms.
2. Continuity or Change:
This document illustrates a shift in artistic practices in China as artists began to adapt their
work for foreign markets, reflecting a broader trend of cultural exchange and adaptation.
3. Limitations:
While it offers a view of the art trade, the painting may not fully represent traditional
Chinese artistic values and could reflect a commercialized version of culture tailored for
foreign audiences.
Document 2:
H: 1. Causation:
This image shows how important opium production was for the British economy during
their rule in India. The trade connected local businesses to international markets,
especially with China.
2. Chronology:
The lithograph dates to the mid-1800s, a time when the British were heavily involved in the
opium trade, especially after the Opium Wars, which changed trade agreements in favor of
Britain.
3. Prior Knowledge:
Knowing about how the opium trade affected India's economy and caused problems in
China can help understand the reasons behind such operations.
A: The lithograph was likely meant for British viewers, showing them the importance and
operation of the opium industry to support colonial views.
P: The lithograph may have been created to inform or promote the opium trade,
highlighting its role in the economy while trying to justify its practices to a Western
audience.
P: 1. Author's Identity:
W. S. Sherwill, the artist, shows the British viewpoint on the opium trade, which could
affect how he portrayed the factory's work and the workers involved.
2. Influences on the Author:
The environment of colonialism and the desire for profit likely influenced Sherwill's
depiction, focusing on the efficiency of the factory rather than the human costs.
Y: 1. Document's Impact:
This lithograph might have shaped how people in Britain viewed the opium industry,
making it seem acceptable as a business activity.
2. Continuity or Change:
The image shows a continuation of colonial exploitation and changing trade practices
during British rule, as opium was a key product for profit.
3. Limitations:
The lithograph might not show the full effects of opium production on local communities or
the addiction problems in China, focusing mainly on how the factory operated.
Document 3
H: The primary source could have been a chart, article, or a spectator/participator in the
opium war. They were most likely on the side of England, but they could’ve been a survivor
of it on the Chinese side.
A: This document was made for people seeking knowledge about the results of the war
P: It was produced at this time so that the time periods and amounts of chests could be
confirmed and to make sure the war and results were completed by the publish date
P: The author was influence by the time and amount of opium was smuggled into China
Y: It proves that as time went on, it got even worse
Document 4
H: Both identify the fact that China had banned opium from the country, but England was
smuggling it in to get an advantage in the war.
A: This a document was made for the reader/audience. This might affect the reliability or
accuracy of the source, because it is made to appeal to the audience, which mans some
things might be left out or tweaked a little to make it more intriguing. The point of view is
also first person, which means the statements in this article are only the facts and/or
opinions that the writer knows.
P: This was written to make known the fact that there is an easier way to solve problems
other than war. Also, this war was specifically brutal and unnecessarily gruesome and
unfair. The reason for this is because of the smuggling of opium. This gave the Chinese a
disadvantage.
P: The influence of the author can be many things including witnessing the results of
opium, researching what happened to the Chinese during the war, or seeing the results it
had on people in war in that time period.
Y: This document represents change over time, because the way the author is in disgust of
the vile actions being committed during the war, it shows that back then people thought it
was okay, but now that the results of opium have been witnessed, the use and sabotage of
it has been looked down upon.
Document 5
H – set during the Opium Wars of the mid-19th century; focuses on British technological
achievements; highlights China’s socio-economic challenges including population growth
and government neglect
A – intended to educate
P – to inform about British technological advantages in the Opium Wars and to illustrate
China’s internal difficulties during this period
P – a historical analysis perspective; emphasizes British innovation and military power
while acknowledging China’s challenges
Y – highlights interplay between foreign military power and domestic issues in China;
signifies how technology facilitated exploitation; its limitations are potential lack of
Chinese perspective
Document 6
H – set in a time of socioeconomic hardship, during the late Qing dynasty or early
Republican period; reflect the impact of opium addiction on families and the struggles of
women in a patriarchal society; provides insight into the daily lives and challenges
A – intended for readers interested in personal narratives, women’s history, and social
issues in China; aims to evoke empathy of women’s struggles in this period
P – to share a personal account of hardship and the effects of opium addiction on family
life; to highlight the challenges faced by women, particularly in the context of societal
expectations and personal sacrifice
P – 1st POV of a Chinese working woman, providing an intimate and personal view of her
experience; reflects the emotional weight of her struggles and the societal pressures she
faces as a woman
Y – significance lies in the personal narrative that illustrates the broader social issues of
poverty, addiction, and gender roles; highlights the desperation and resilience of women in
difficult circumstance; limitations may include a lack of broader sociopolitical context or
perspectives from other characters involved in her story
Document 7
H – written in 1839 during a period increasing opium addiction in China and growing China-
Britain tensions; reflects the sociopolitical landscape leading up to the Opium Wars, where
opium trade was a significant issue; highlights the Chinese government’s response to
foreign exploitation and the social problems caused by opium
A – addressed to Queen Victoria of Britain, representing the British monarchy and
government; aimed at both the British leadership and the general public to raise awareness
of the harmful effects of opium on Chinese society
P – to request an end to the opium trade and to express the negative impact of opium on
Chinese society; to appeal to Queen Victoria’s sense of morality and justice, highlighting
the hypocrisy of Britain prohibiting opium domestically while exporting it to China
P – presented from the perspective of a high-ranking official, Lin Zexu, emphasizing the
severity of the opium crisis from a Chinese viewpoint; the tone is direct and frank,
contrasting with typical Chinese diplomatic formalities
Y – significant lies in its candid condemnation of the opium trade and its appeal to moral
reasoning to protect Chinese society from further harm; raises questions about
colonialism, exploitation, and the ethical responsibilities of nations in trade practices;
limited by lack of acknowledgement of the complexities of international trade and the
differing perspectives of British merchants and officials
* Incorporate a complex understanding of the historical development
* Provide context for the topic of the prompt
* Create a simple outline of body paragraphs, each with:
+ Documents as evidence
+ Additional historical example
+ Explanation of sourcing for three documents
DBQ PLAN:
INTRO:
Thesis — China was greatly economically exploited because of heavy taxes, inflation,
corruption, and the English taking advantage of the citizens’ opium addictions, leading to
the expansion of British influence globally.
BODY 1 — Exploitation of Opium Addiction
Documents Used: Doc 2, Doc 6, Doc 3
Additional Historical Example: However, the large-scale addiction to opium raised
concerns, as it negatively affected the economy since Chinese used silver to pay for the
opium, creating an imbalanced China-Britain trade relation. China produced high-demand
goods, especially tea, but British merchants had to use silver to pay since the Chinese
weren’t interested in the offered British products.
Explanation of Sourcing for Documents: 2 (shows the large amounts of opium made
through slavery and its impact on China), 6 (shows daily civilian life of people affected by
opium addictions, particularly women) 3 (the large amount of opium certainly goes to show
how many people were impacted by opium addictions, plus the fact that 12 million people
were recorded to suffer from addiction)
BODY 2 — Taxes and Inflation
Documents Used: Social Impact of China, External Source No. 1, Doc 7
Additional Historical Example: The East India Company and British merchants sold Indian
opium to China for goods to reduce the amount of silver leaving Britain, causing the price of
silver to go up, leading to higher tax payments in China.
Explanation of Sourcing for Documents: the social impact of china (shows the multiple
reasons behind the deteriorating economy at the time, namely, the Opium Wars), ES #1
(Shows how taxes increased because of silver prices increasing), Doc 7 (Ling claims the
British robbed them of enormous wealth [which they did]
BODY 3 — How Economic Exploitation Played a Role in Imperialism
Documents Used: Doc 1, Doc 4
Additional Historical Example: China destroys the opium shipments and loses a war since
they “destroyed Britain’s property,” leading them to pay 21 million dollars and must fit
several other conditions
Explanation of Sourcing for Documents: Doc 1 (Chinese artists mimicking the art styles of
the British, clearly demonstrating increasing Western influence), Doc 4 (British-distributed
opium created an unstable economy in China, leading to Britain’s eventual colonization
over a wavering nation),
DBQ FINAL DRAFT
China was economically exploited. They were colonized and drained of money and
resources by the British. They endured heavy taxes and inflation under the rule of the
British and the corruption of the Chinese. Moreover, the British took advantage of the
citizens’ opium addictions, leading them to overspend on opium. This then led to the
expansion of British influence globally, accelerating Westernization in an unprecedented
manner.
China was economically exploited through the impacts of opium addiction. At that
point in time, India was being colonized by the British, leaving the British to implement
anything and conduct however they wanted. Furthermore, the British had nigh-complete
authority over India and used Indian slaves to harvest opium. In Document 2, the stacking
room of an opium factory found in Patna India is visible and shows the vast amount of
opium generated by these slaves. Another example from Document 2, an image shows
Chinese people becoming addicted to opium. China’s general addiction to the drug made it
so that merchants were willing to accept opium as currency, instead of silver. Even worse,
Britain’s control over India enabled them to manufacture opium in large quantities and sell
them to China, where civilians would get high off opium and become addicted, as shown in
the image from Document 2. The fact that the drug was being used as currency, instead of
silver, made it necessary for the government to raise taxes, leading to public unrest, while
the British were able to buy many luxuries by using opium as payment. If opium were not
used as a weapon against the Chinese population, the Chinese economy would be much
better than it was at the time.
As a result of the Opium War, China was exploited because of heavy taxes and
inflation. Because of the strong addiction of opium, demand for it was high. So, when
supply and demand came into play in this situation, the prices for opium were raised. Since
the addicts would pay any price for their next dose, making it extremely easy for England to
buy all the luxury goods they wanted, as money was always coming in. Since a lot of the
soldiers in the military were addicted to opium and could not function enough to fight, the
government had to raise taxes to create a better military. After the fact, over 1,150,000
kilograms (20,000 chests) of opium were publicly destroyed to prevent another situation or
pandemic similar again.
The economic exploitation of China then led to a rise of British influence over the
globe. British influence over China was already strong to begin with: Chinese artists in the
mid 1800s often mimicked the styles of Western artists, as depicted in the Studio of Guan
Lianchang. This further shows how interaction between the two empires impacted Chinese
culture. Not only that, but the introduction of opium severely unbalanced Chinese
economy, as people spent copious amounts of money on opium while society was on the
verge of collapse after the Taiping Rebellion. In fact, British historian and professor, Thomas
Arnold, describes the Opium Wars as “wicked” and a “natural sin of the greatest possible
magnitude,” showing the seriousness of China’s situation at the time, not only
economically, but in all aspects. The opium addictions of the Chinese allowed the British to
colonize them swiftly and efficiently and, furthermore, after their loss of the first Opium
War, the Chinese had to pay 21 million silver dollars and tolerate the opium trade, along
with other terms detrimental to China as a whole. The Opium Wars and the opium trade in
China caused Britain’s political power to increase and intensify Westernization.
China was economically exploited because of taxes and the English taking
advantage of the citizens’ opium addictions in the late seventeenth to mid eighteenth
centuries. This led to the expansion of British influence globally. With the end of the Taiping
rebellion, there was increased Western influence present in China, leading to a shift in
power dynamics, with Britain as the spearhead. The legacy of these wars led to going
tensions between China and western nations and set a precedent for future conflicts, such
as the upcoming World Wars.
