The Opium wars were a terrible time for the Chinese people in their history. Taking place roughly in the years 1839 - 42 and 1856 - 60, China underwent radical changes that left many dead but allowed for modernization and entrance into the international trade market.
Opium was primarily used for medicinal purposes, but later became too addictive and was banned. The use of opium, after the ban, was especially common near the port city of Canton, where foreign merchants smuggled large quantities of the drug into China. After some time went by, with the trade of opium brought to a standstill, three drunken sailors killed a Chinese villager. Lin Zexu, a governor and well-respected man, ordered Captain Charles Elliot to deliver these men to be tried under Chinese rule. Elliot said the sailors could only be tried under British rule and would be dealt with appropriately when they arrived in England. Disapproving of this response Lin Zexu cut off trade with the British, which forced them back toward Hong Kong and then ultimately to wage war. .
The Opium wars were really about Britain's massive economical problems, The British trader's financial interests and Britain wanting exclusive rights in China. Also it was a clash between two civilizations that were of two different eras. The Qing government and Chinese people in general were not aware of any internationally accepted standards and behaviors of trade. Their negligence in the international scene and the total lack of communication with foreign governments led to an inevitable misunderstanding and thus, a conflict with western powers. The effects and influences of the Opium Wars on the Chinese civilizations are still evident even today, in the form of extreme nationalism and the obsession of preserving absolute unity of the country.
The first Opium War occurred in the year 1840. The Qing government was made aware of the dangers of opium smoking among the Chinese people and banned it in 1839 (First Reading).
