British Imperialism in China and Africa

British Imperialism in China and Africa

The treatment of the Chinese by the British, during the take over of their country, was just like that of the Africans. The British took over the land and the government, took advantage of the people and exploited them for their resources. The English accomplished these things differently in each situation, but each time, the results were the same.

One of the most important aspects of imperialism is the take over of government. The English accomplished this in several ways. Some of the “Unfair Treaties” forced the Chinese to allow the English ships into their ports and to allow them to have a major role in the trade market. The English wanted tea, porcelain, and silk from china. The Chinese however didn’t want to gods the English offered in return. The English began trading opium in return for the goods. Although it was illegal, many of the money hungry merchants excepted the opium in return for the things that were valuable to the English. Because of this, the first Anglo-Chinese war erupted. China underestimated the power of England and was defeated. At the end of the war, they were forced to sign the Treaty of Nanjing (1842). The treaty was one of the first treaties known as the “Unfair Treaties.” Under this treaty, china gave up the island of Hong Kong, abolished the licensed monopoly system of trade, granted English nationals exemption from Chinese laws, and agreed to give England whatever trading concessions that were

Africa, a nation of immense natural resources, has been the victim of imperialism for many years. Europeans, declaring themselves "missionaries of God," have worked to pursue manifest destiny and bring God to the "savage" Africans. In order to do the Lord's work, in the 19th century, European countries divided African lands amongst themselves, exploited their then still undeveloped resources, and enslaved the African people, thus furthering their own commercial interests and expanding their kingdoms.
Even after the de-colonization of...

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