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Period: to
British Opium Monopoly
1780-1800 The British East India Company has a near monopoly on the opium trade in India and China due to its political influence -
First Morphine
Friedrich Sertuerner isolates morphine from opium-- -
Commercial manufacture or Morphine
Commercial manufacture of morphine is begun by the German chemical company E. Merck & Company. -
Start of the first Opium War
1839 The Imperial Commissioner of China ordered all foreign traders to give up their opium. In response, the British sent warships. This marked the beginning of the First Opium War. -
Period: to
First Opium War
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End of the first Opium War
The Chinese lose the First Opium War -
The British win the First Opium War
When they win, the british gain, in addition to other things, Hong Kong. -
Invention of the Syringe
The hypodermic syringe is invented by Dr. Alexander Wood. The syring made recreational use of morphine far easier. -
Britain begins importing opium into Burma.
Britain begins importing opium into Burma. -
the "Arrow Incident"
Chinese officials boarded the Hong Kong (then British) registered ship Arrow and removed 12 Chinese crewmen. -
Response to the "Arrow Incident"
In response to the Arrow Incident, British diplomats in Canton demanded the release of the prisoners and sought redress. The Chinese refused, stating that Arrow was involved in smuggling and piracy -
the French joined the alliance
The French, angered by the recent execution of missionary August Chapdelaine by the Chinese, joined -
Aid from America and Russia
The Americans and Russians sent envoys to help the British. -
Second Opium war begins
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Europe and America form an Alliance
The British contacted France, Russia, and the United States about forming an alliance. -
British take Canton
The British joined with the French under Marshall Gros and then attackethe forts on the Pearl River south of Canton -
The British take Taku Forts ad Capture Ye Mingchen
The same British-French force that took Canton soon takes the Taku Forts, and captures Canton's Governor, Ye Mingchen -
British advance and secure Tainjin
Governor Xianfeng was unable to resist the advancing British and French. Seeking peace, the Chinese negotiated the Treaties of Tianjin. -
The Treaty of Tainjin
As part of the treaties, the British, French, Americans, and Russians were permitted to install legations in Beijing, ten additional ports would be opened to foreign trade, foreigners would be permitted to travel through the interior, and reparations would be paid to Britain and France -
Renege on Treaty of Tainjin
China reneged on the treaty and recaptured the Taku Forts -
Britain fails to recapture Take Forts
a small British forced failed to recapture the Taku Forts, and is forced to withdraw -
Retaking Taku Forts
After regrouping and acquiring aid from the French, a force of 17,700 men recaptured the Taku Forts, securing a position in inland china -
French-British forces advance to Beijing
Forced entered the Beijing suburbs and faced a chinese force of 30 000 men. They defeated the army and negotiated peace with Prince Gong after looting the palaces. -
End of the Second Opium War
Singing of the Treaty of Peking marks teh end of the second Opium War