Opium War: Was Britain completely in the wrong? Essay

The British were wrong by taking the option of trading opium because by trading opium, they would be jeopardising the well-being of an entire coun gauge. But they only did it because the Chinese were refusing to guile, so therefore it is only partly Britains fault.The Opium War also known as the Anglo-Chinese war began in 1839. It started as a conflict over trading between Britain and mainland China. China was refusing to trade because they didnt need anything. Eventually the British were able to trade opium on the mordant market. China did nearly everything to stop the opium being traded but nothing could stop it. This level offtually caused the war. Was Britain Completely in the wrong? No. Although they were the ones that started the opium trade, China is still partially to blame. The following points will be argued for the fact that both sides contributed and neither were completely wrong The introduction of trading opium by Britain The stupidity of the Chinese stimulating th e British and judging them to be bad at war. And The greedy treaty made by the BritishBut firstly, the refusal for trade and the cruel regulations that China put upon the British traders. There was a demand for Chinese tea, silk and porcelain in the west, though there was practically nothing that the west could offer to trade with China, because of the simple reason that they didnt want anything and were refusing to trade for things they didnt need. The Chinese didnt realise how hard they were making the situation. A British man, Lord William John Nappier was sent to China to try and extend British trading interests.He was told that he could only address himself to the Hong Merchants and that he could only live in Guangzhou during trading season. When he refused to leave, Lu Kun, regulator of Guangzhou prohibited all the buying and selling to the English and then ordered all the withdrawal of all Chinese labour from them. What were the British to do? The regulations were withal har sh and the British couldnt trade no matter whatthey tried. In this situation, The Chinese were obviously in the wrong because they didnt consider the needs of the British and they were to stubborn to trade because they thought they were more superior.Secondly, Britain introduced the opium to China because they ran out of choices. Since China ignored Britains proposal to trade, Britain had to find some other way they could guide the bits and pieces that they required. They started to illegally export opium on the black market, aware of the consequences. The result was a widespread addiction throughout China causing serious social and scotch disruption in China. Britain was most definitely in the wrong with this choice because nothing can make the trading of opium justifiable. The cost is too painful. But it was Chinas fault in the clenched fist place that they didnt want to establish trading with Britain.Thirdly, the stupidity of the Chinese stimulating the British and judging them to be hopeless at fighting caused them the loss of the war. The Chinese were ignorant, and they thought that the British were bad compared to them. Lin Zexu says, Besides guns, the barbarian soldiers do not know how to use fist or swords Therefore, what is called their power can be controlled without difficulty. Unfortunately Lin Zexu was wrong about this. The underestimation of the British made the Chinese disadvantaged because they werent prepared affluent and much unorganised.Their weapons were completely useless against those of the British. Chinese cities were then captured and Chinese citizens soldiers were forced to surrender. Therefore Chinas stupidity and bad organisation skills in this case were to blame for the opium war and their loss. So China was, in this case was in the wrong.The last factor is the greedy treaty made by the British. at once the Chinese had lost the war, they had no choice but to sign a treaty written by the British. Many unreasonable discissions we re made in party favour of the British including many unjust payments. China was completely demoralised and Britain was in the wrong for making them sign such an unfair treaty. They took advantage of China when they shouldnt have.To conclude this argument, neither China nor Britain was completely wrong orright with all their decisions. They both contributed to the war and therefore it was both their fault. Chinas refusal for trade was wrong because they were being selfish and stubborn and they werent considering the welfare of others. Britain was wrong in introducing opium because nothing can justify the trading of opium and it shouldnt have even been an option to trade it. Britain was also in the wrong by creating a treaty in their favour because China was in a weak position.