An Essay on the Multiple Causes of the First Opium War in China

This essay explores the multifaceted causes of the First Opium War (1839-1842) between the Qing dynasty of China and Britain. The essay identifies the immediate cause as the seizure of opium stocks in Canton, driven by China's ban on opium and Britain's insistence on free trade. It delves into the underlying economic imbalances, highlighting China's demand for British goods leading to a silver drain, and Britain's subsequent use of opium from Bengal to counter this. The essay discusses the rejection of opium legalization by the Daoguang Emperor, the appointment of Lin Zexu to stop the opium trade, and the eventual outbreak of war. It also considers the British economic motives for controlling the Chinese market through illegal means, the impact of opium addiction on Chinese society, and the resulting corruption and financial losses. The essay concludes that the war was largely driven by economic factors, as reflected in the unequal treaty that followed, solidifying Britain's trade dominance over China.

HISTORY ESSAY

1
Cause of First Opium War
The ‘First opium war’ also named as the ‘Anglo-Chinese War’ was fought among the
Qing dynasty of China and Britain through series of military engagements. It was fought
between the years 1839 to 18421. Different causes were underlined which led to this war. The
immediate cause to this issue was the fact that Chinese official seized opium stock at Canton
to restrict opium trade as opium was banned in the country and threatened to give death
penalty to people who is held in such type of allegations. The British government on the other
hand insisted on the free trade principles and equality among nations as well as they started
backing the demands of the merchants2. With the help of advanced technology and high
quality ships, British government was able to win this war and hence they forced a treaty
which allowed territory to the powers of west and they could start trade within China. In this
essay various causes for first opium war has been described.
Underlining the exact cause of this war is not so simple. The behind story of the
conflict was in writing from the years. This can be understood by the fact that in 18th Century
Chinese luxury goods demand increased especially silk, tea and porcelain. This was causing
imbalance between the trade that was done between China and British3. This was draining
silvers from the Britain to China. This was not liked by the big powers like Britain who
wanted to have control over the trade in Asian region. The East India Company took the laws
made by the Chinese ruler to be against their monopoly. In order to counter this monopoly
British government forced the people of Bengal (Indian state) to grow opium4. They used this
as a strategy where they started smuggling low cost opium into Chinese market. Due to this
Chinese officials started becoming worried because they found that numbers of people that
started becoming addict increased.
1 Kitson, "The Last War Of The Romantics: De Quincey, Macaulay, The First Chinese Opium War."
2 Cleary, "Thefirst Opium War (1838-1842)."
3 Chandler, "Opium War Or An Excuse For War."
4 "Imperial Britain, Drug Pusher: The Opium Wars In China."

2
Another cause that acted as a catalyst to the situation like war was the fact that
Daoguang’s emperor rejected the proposal to tax opium and legalise it in the year 1839. He
also ordered to appoint the Viceroy named Lin Zexu to go to Canton to completely stop the
Opium trade. Letter which was written to the Queen Victoria urging stopping opium trade on
moral grounds was never delivered to her. Lin offered the foreign company to exchange tea
with opium they had but they refused5. Due to this Lin started using force against the foreign
ship and told them to surrender opium. In order to counter this Royal navy was sent and
hence the war started.
There is also a possibility that British used Opium to gain control of the market in
China. They knew that need to have some or the other ways through which they can control
trade between the new nations. However they knew that they did not have such things that
could improve their trade balance6. Due to this British Government used illegal means to
penetrate in the Chinese market. Chinese King and officials found that it was against their
own culture. It was due to this, Chinese officials become very much strict about what was
happening in the nation. The officials stated that in the beginning stage smoking of opium
was done only by families that are wealthy but later-on since it was available at the lower
prices hence people in the social strata such as government officials to Buddhist monks and
nurse also started taking smoke. This was affecting the local culture of the society. This also
increased the corruption in the society and since the opium was illegal in the country hence
many people had to give extra money for purchasing it7. This resulted in the making more
financial loses to the nation and it weakened the control of the kingdom in the nation.
However on the greater context it can be said that the major cause of first opium war was
economic situation that was created for both Britain and China. This was also reflected back
in the treaty which was signed after the war where Britain becomes unequal trade partners of
China.
5 CAQUET, "NOTIONS OF ADDICTION IN THE TIME OF THE FIRST OPIUM WAR."
6 Hao, "Prelude To The Opium War? British Reactions To The ‘Napier Fizzle’ And Attitudes Towards
China In The Mid Eighteen-Thirties."
7 Battles Of The First Opium War.

3
Bibliography
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https://www.thoughtco.com/the-first-and-second-opium-wars-195276.
Battles Of The First Opium War. [Place of publication not identified]: General Books, 2010.
CAQUET, P. E. "NOTIONS OF ADDICTION IN THE TIME OF THE FIRST OPIUM
WAR". The Historical Journal 58, no. 4 (2015): 1009-1029.
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Chandler, DiMarkco Stephen. "Opium War Or An Excuse For War". SSRN Electronic
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