The Decline of the Qing Dynasty and European Influences

Qing Dynasty Overview

• By the 19th century, China was under Qing (Manchu) rule.
• The Qing dynasty was characterized by a rich culture and advancements in art, science, and technology.
• Despite internal challenges, the Qing maintained a rigid social hierarchy and bureaucratic structure based on Confucian ideals.
• Economy was self-sufficient with a focus on agriculture, traditional crafts, and controlled exports in tea, silk, and porcelain.

International Relations and Challenges

• China saw itself as culturally superior and self-reliant but was not insular, extending influence across Central Asia, Coastal Asia, and Russia.
• Governance struggles included corruption, inefficiency, social unrest due to population growth, food supply issues, and tax problems.
• Reluctance to modernize and underestimate Western technology left China vulnerable to European powers.

Opium Trade and Wars

• Opium trade escalated in the 18th century, leading to widespread addiction across social classes.
• Qing banned opium importation in 1800 and criminalized its use in 1813.
• British traders continued smuggling opium, prompting conflict.
• The First Opium War (1839-1842) led to the Treaty of Nanking, ceding Hong Kong to Britain and opening more ports to British traders.
• Second Opium War (1856-1860) ended with the Convention of Peking, further eroding Chinese sovereignty.

Internal Rebellions

• The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) led by Hong Xiuquan aimed to reform society, resulting in 20-30 million deaths.
• The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) targeted foreign nationals and Christians, leading to foreign intervention by an Eight-Nation Alliance.
• The Boxer Protocol in 1901 imposed heavy penalties on China and marked a significant decline in Qing power.

Decline and Fall of the Qing Dynasty

• Foreign interventions and internal setbacks weakened the Qing.
• The loss in the Sino-French War and First Sino-Japanese War further diminished Qing control.
• The Boxer Rebellion accelerated foreign encroachment and led to the Boxer Protocol’s harsh terms.
• Efforts to modernize were too late; the 1911 Wuchang Uprising led to the Xinhai Revolution and the end of imperial rule.
• In 1912, the last emperor Puyi abdicated, establishing the Republic of China and ending over 2,000 years of imperial rule.