First Opium War
After the Chinese realized that they were trading for drugs only and with millions of people addicted to opium, Lin Zexu, the Emperor's special emissary, was sent to Guangzhou to clean up trade. The port of Guangzhou was closed with several British ships still inside the borders and the Chinese demanded that the British stop importing opium into China. About 11.000 pounds of Opium was confiscated and foreign merchants were arrested. In reaction, in November 1839 the Royal Navy sank a number of Chinese vessels near Guangzhou. British gained complete dominance over the seas. In August 1841 a major offensive was launched against Ningbo and Tianjin and by the end of June British forces occupied and controlled the vast rice-growing lands of southern China.
Chinese soldier's fight with backwards weapons was powerless in comparison to the muskets, rifles and cannons of the British. As a result, China signed first unequal treaty.
Chinese soldier's fight with backwards weapons was powerless in comparison to the muskets, rifles and cannons of the British. As a result, China signed first unequal treaty.