The Opium Wars
Aarushi Srivastava, Emma Loose, & Coral Stone
Senior Division
Group Exhibit
Exhibit Word Count: 480
Process Paper Word Count: 439
We chose the Opium Wars because of our interest in the effects of drug use on society.
We were especially intrigued to research more about the Opium Wars because of how commonly
drugs are used in the US and the current opioid epidemic that we are having. We were also
interested in the political causes of war, as there are so many wars going on in the world right
now. For instance, the Israel-Hamas war stems from territorial disputes, similar to the Opium
Wars. This historical event highlights the clash between imperial powers' economic interests and
their moral responsibility to respect the sovereignty and rights of others. By studying this, we
aimed to examine how violating those rights can lead to conflict and shape global history,
providing valuable insights into the ongoing consequences of drug use and the responsibilities of
powerful nations in protecting human rights.
We conducted our research by analyzing primary and secondary sources to understand
the Opium Wars better. Through documents such as letters, treaties, and images, we could see
what the Opium Wars were like from a first-person point of view. We then used excerpts from
books and articles to give us a broader overview of the topic. This gave us multifaceted
information about the factors leading up to the war and the following events.
We organized our project into three sections: before, during, and after the war. In the first
section, we explored the causes and motivations of both sides, emphasizing Britain’s desire for
greater trading rights. The second section highlights how and why the war started, detailing the
treaties signed throughout the conflict. Finally, in the last section, we examined the effects of the
war, highlighting the long-lasting impact of opium and the treaties that were finalized at the end.
Our historical argument is that in the 1800s, the Opium Wars impacted China’s rights and
responsibilities by weakening sovereignty, forcing foreign trade control, and causing social and
economic hardships for the citizens.
The Opium Wars are significant in world history because they demonstrate what happens
when imperialism conflicts with the rights of nations to protect their sovereignty and well-being.
Britain forced China to accept the opium trade, prioritizing profit over China's public health and
social stability. This violation of China's rights led to the imposition of unequal treaties,
weakening its sovereignty. The wars emphasize powerful nations' responsibility to respect others'
rights rather than exploiting them for economic gain. They also set a precedent for international
relations, showing how imperialism can impact global power dynamics. The Opium Wars remain
a powerful reminder of nations' ethical responsibilities to uphold justice, human rights, and
mutual respect.
Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Hong Kong and the Opium Wars - Source 3a.” The National Archives, August 25, 2022.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/hong-kong-and-the-opium-wars
/hong-kong-and-the-opium-wars-source-3a/.
We used this source to learn about the effects of opium on Chinese society during the
Opium Wars, especially how officials like Heu Naetse urged the Emperor to act. It helped
us understand the damage caused by opium and the government's responsibility to protect
the people.
“Hong Kong and the Opium Wars - Source 3b.” The National Archives, August 25, 2022.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/hong-kong-and-the-opium-wars
/hong-kong-and-the-opium-wars-source-3b/.
We used this source to help us research the Opium Wars by providing insight into the
Chinese government's response to British actions, particularly their attempts to sell opium
illegally. The manuscript, written by Chinese naval commander Chen Huagcheng,
highlights the hostility and frustration felt by China towards Britain. This source was
valuable in understanding the Chinese perspective on the tensions leading up to the
conflict.
Calisphere. “The Attack on the Barrier Forts near Canton, China, by the American Squadron,
Commodore James Armstrong, Nov 21st 1856,” November 21, 1858.
https://calisphere.org/item/ea6279c691be41464e4cd6474fbb2147/.
This image adds an additional Western perspective to the Opium Wars by offering a
visual representation of the conflict. It is filled with detailed depictions of military
technology, which provided us with deeper insight into the weapons and strategies used
during the war. This perspective enriched our understanding of the technological
differences between the Chinese and British forces, highlighting one of the key factors in
the outcome of the conflict.
1890, Duncan. Effects of Smoking Opium. n.d.
https://cdn.britannica.com/23/199823-131-346B9183/Chinese-Opium-den.jpg.
This image is used to represent the effects of smoking opium on the Chinese population
by visually depicting the negative impact it had on individuals and society. It illustrates
the widespread addiction and its devastating consequences, which were a significant
factor in the tensions leading to the Opium Wars. The image helps to deepen our
understanding of the social and cultural effects of the opium trade on China during this
period.
Secondary Sources
Stanhope, Sherwill Walter. A Busy Drying Room in the Opium Factory at Patna, India.
Lithograph after W. S. Sherwill, c. 1850. 1851.
https://wellcomecollection.org/works/xz7s9dx6/items.
The image illustrates the scale of the opium trade, showing a room full of opium
products. It also highlights the involvement of European merchants, who used Indian
labor to sell opium to China. This visual helps us understand the international dynamics
behind the Opium Wars.
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and Jack Hayes. “The Opium Wars in China.” Asia Pacific
Foundation of Canada, November 16, 2017.
https://asiapacificcurriculum.ca/learning-module/opium-wars-china.
This source provides a detailed description of the Opium Wars, focusing on its causes,
key events, and lasting effects. It highlights how British greed contributed to the war and
China’s century of humiliation. By including both British and Chinese perspectives, the
source offers a fuller picture of the conflict.
Dartnell, Lewis. “Out of Our Minds: Opium’s Part in Imperial History.” The Guardian, May 23,
2023.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/23/out-of-our-minds-opium-imperial-hist
ory-opium-wars-china-britain.
This article helps us by providing a broader context of opium’s history, not just limited to
the Opium Wars. Its recent publication offers updated insights and new information that
enrich our understanding of the long-term impact of opium on China and beyond.
Additionally, it helps us better grasp the significance of the Opium Wars within the larger
history of the opium trade.
Derks, Hans. “OPIUM PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION IN CHINA.” History of the
Opium Problem. Brill, 2012.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctv4cbhdf.37.
This chapter helped us understand how opium affected Chinese society and the economy,
focusing on addiction and its consequences. We used it to see the Chinese perspective,
showing how addiction contributed to the tensions leading to the Opium Wars. It gave us
a better understanding of the broader effects of opium on China.
Headland, Isaac Taylor . “Court Life in China the Capital Its Officials and People.” Internet
History Sourcebooks Project. Accessed November 7, 2024.
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/eastasia/headland-courtlife.asp.
This source contributed to our project by providing a sympathetic view of the Chinese
people and highlighting the political and moral consequences of the Opium Wars. It
deepened our understanding of how the war affected China, both in terms of its
governance and its society. This perspective helped us explore the lasting impacts of the
Opium Wars on the Chinese population.
Helle, Horst J. “The Opium Wars.” China: Promise or Threat? Brill, 2017.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctt1w8h29s.7.
This chapter helped our project by showing how the West and China saw each other
during the Opium Wars. It focused on the cultural impacts, helping us understand how the
war affected Chinese identity. Although it didn’t cover political, social, or economic
effects, it gave us valuable insight into the cultural consequences for the Chinese people.
The National Archives. “Hong Kong and the Opium Wars.” The National Archives, August 25,
2022.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/hong-kong-and-the-opium-wars
/.
This article from The National Archives examines the role of Hong Kong in the Opium
Wars, highlighting its strategic importance and how it became a British colony after the
conflict. It is a valuable source for our project because it connects the Opium Wars to the
establishment of British control over Hong Kong, a key outcome of the Treaty of
Nanking. The article helped us understand the consequences of the wars, particularly how
they shaped British colonial interests in the region and influenced China’s interactions
with foreign powers.
Melancon, Glenn. Opium and Honour: The British Cabinet’s Decision to Wage War on China,
1839-1840. Vol. 21.3. 1999. Reprint, International History Review, 1999.
Glenn Melancon’s article examines the British Cabinet’s decision to wage war on China
in 1839-1840 over the opium trade, focusing on political debates about honor, trade, and
imperial power. This source is valuable for our project as it sheds light on the strategic
motivations behind Britain’s involvement in the Opium Wars. We used it to explore the
internal British political factors that led to the conflict.
Office of the Historian. “Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations.” Accessed
November 5, 2024.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/china-2.
This article from the Office of the Historian provides a detailed overview of U.S.
diplomatic relations with China during the 19th century, including the aftermath of the
Opium Wars. It is a valuable source for our project because it explains the role of the
United States in shaping China’s foreign relations during this period, particularly in the
context of trade and the opening of Chinese ports. The article helped us understand how
the U.S. responded to the Opium Wars and the Treaty of Tientsin, offering insight into the
broader impact of the conflicts on the U.S.-China relations.
Office of the Historian. “The Opening to China Part I: The First Opium War, the United States,
and the Treaty of Wangxia, 1839–1844.” Accessed November 7, 2024.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/china-1.
This article from the Office of the Historian provides an in-depth look at the First Opium
War, focusing on the role of the United States and the resulting Treaty of Wangxia. It is a
valuable source for our project because it highlights the U.S. involvement in China’s opening to
Western trade and its strategic interests during the Opium War. The article helped us understand
the U.S. position in the conflict and the early stages of the U.S.-China relations, particularly how
the Treaty of Wangxia shaped future diplomatic and trade relations.
Office of the Historian. “The Opening to China Part II: The Second Opium War, the United
States, and the Treaty of Tianjin, 1857–1859.” Accessed November 7, 2024.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/china-2.
This article from the Office of the Historian provides a detailed account of the Second
Opium War, focusing on the U.S. role and the subsequent Treaty of Tianjin. It is a
valuable source for our project because it explores how the United States continued to
influence China’s foreign relations during this period, especially in the context of trade
and diplomatic rights. The article helped us understand how the outcomes of the Second
Opium War, including the Treaty of Tianjin, shaped the U.S.-China relations and
expanded American influence in Asia.
Title: Hankow, China, ca. 1905-1911 Date: 1905/1914 Collection: International Mission
Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960 Owning Institution: University of Southern California
Digital Library Source: Calisphere Date of access: November 8 2024 03:32
https://calisphere.org/item/211efbc1641e4a5cc9485d5e79ddc1b9/. n.d.
This historical photograph of Hankow, China, taken between 1905 and 1911, offers visual
insight into the city during the late Qing Dynasty, a period marked by political instability
and foreign influence, including the Opium Wars. The source is valuable for our project
because it provides a first-hand look at Chinese society during a time when Western
imperialism, especially British colonial influence, was integrated into the region. The
photograph helped us visualize daily life in a major port city like Hankow,
contextualizing the long-term effects of the Opium Wars on Chinese cities and their
relationship with foreign powers.
