Before the nineteenth century, the British had a cruel way of taking control of the colonies they overpowered. As time went on, their methods began to change, they became an even stronger empire. This was the time foreign trade flourished throughout the world and Britain was ready to be on top. Since most of the world as they knew it had already been colonized with other natives, they would have to slowly oversee other communities. To gain control in places like China, India, and Africa, the British would begin trading at the ports they could, slowly bringing education, treaties, and power into each society.
A key factor in British economy was trade, without it the British were not able to acquire many of resources or money to help their society grow. Lugard says, "as long as our policy is one of free trade, we are compelled to seek new markets; for old ones are being closed to us by hostile tariffs, and our great dependencies, which formerly were the consumers of our goods, are now becoming our commercial rivals. " When the British came across a key port or country, they would do everything in their power to get it in their control. China was a key export for the British, but the Chinese did not need anything the British had to offer until opium came around. The Chinese designated specific ports and factories for the British to trade with because the Chinese did not want the two cultures mixing. This was not good enough for them, especially after opium was band in China. To gain control, the British went to war with China; coming out victorious, they opened up China for themselves, made them pay millions of dollars, and took control the tariffs on imports and exports. According the treaty between the two countries, "There shall henceforth be Peace and Friendship between England and China. " This was the British way of taking matters into their own hands and conquering another society, without the consent of the colony.
