i. The British merchants used to sell the Opium got from India into China.
ii. The Chinese government was not in support of this business.
iii. But, the European traders continued to smuggle Opium into China.
iv. The Chinese people used to buy opium in exchange of silver, causing a stream of silver export to England.
v. This led to the First Opium War between England and China in the year 1839.
vi. China was defeated and the Manchu empire was compelled to sign the ‘Nanking Treaty’ in 1842.
vii. As per the treaty, England was given the control of four ports along with Canton port. England also won the Hong Kong island.
viii. Taking advantage of these developments, in the following ten years America, France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal and Russia sought commercial concessions from China.
