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This article delves into the intricate developments leading to the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the Opium Wars in China. It highlights the socio-economic tensions under Tsar Nicholas II, the impacts of the Russo-Japanese War, and the evolving discontent among the working class and peasants in Russia. Additionally, it analyzes the opium trade and its consequences in China, culminating in the unequal treaties imposed by Britain. The intertwining of these significant historical events provides context to the struggles faced by both nations during this turbulent era.
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Societies at Crossraods Russian Revolution - Russia Opium Wars -China
Russian Revolution (1905)….Only the first • Pre-Revolutionary Russia • Only true autocracy left in Europe • No type of representative political institutions • Nicholas II became Tsar in 1884 • Believed he was the absolute ruler anointed by God • Revolution broke out in 1905 --Russo-Japanese War (1904)
Causes of The 1905 Revolution 1. Early 20c: Russian Social Hierarchy
4. Extensive Foreign Investments & Influence Building the Trans-Siberian RR[Economic benefits only in a few regions.]
5. Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905] The “Yellow Peril”
Unrest Among the Peasants & Urban Working Poor Bloody SundayJanuary 22, 1905 The Czar’s Winter Palace in St. Petersburg
Revolution of 1905 • What led to the Revolution??? How • The creation of a discontented working class • Vast majority of workers concentrated in St. Petersburg and Moscow • Help from the countryside: poor peasants • No individual land ownership • Russia industrialized on the backs of the peasants • Tremendous historic land hunger among peasants • Real winners of the 1905 Revolution: Middle Class --Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets) --Duma
Why did the Russian Revolution of 1905 fail????? Military Political Social
Opium Trade • Opium manufactured in China since 15th century for medical purposes • Opium then mixed with tobacco so it could be smoked • Dutch were first to begin trade of opium • English soon followed • Chinese government banned smoking and trade of opium in 1729 due to health and social issues
English East India Company • Held monopoly on production and export of opium in India • Peasant cultivators often coerced and paid in advance for cultivation of poppies • Sold in Calcutta for a profit of 400%
East India Company • Buy tea on credit in Canton • Sell opium at auctions in Calcutta, India • Then it was smuggled into China through India and Bengal • 1797 began direct trade of opium into China • Chinese government had hard time controlling trade in South
Napier Affair • Lord Napier tried to circumvent the Canton Trade laws to reinstitute East India’s monopoly • Governor of Macao closed trade with Britain September 2, 1834 • British resumed trade under old restrictions
First Opium War 1834 - 1843 • 1838 Chinese instituted death penalty for native traffickers of opium • March 1839 – new commissioner to control opium trade – Lin Zexu • Lin imposed embargo on Britain unless they permanently ended the trade trade
First Opium War • March 27, 1839 – British Superintendent of Trade – Charles Elliot demanded all British subjects turn over opium to him • Opium amounting to a year’s worth of trade was given to Commissioner Lin • Trade resumed with Britain and no drugs were smuggled
First Opium War • Lin demanded British merchants to sign a bond promising not to deal opium under penalty of death • Lin disposed of the opium – dissolving it in the ocean • Did not realize the impact of this action!
First Opium War • British merchants and government regarded this as destruction of private property • Responded by sending warships, soldiers, and the British India Army into China June 1840 • Had superior military force – attacked coastal cities, defeated Qing forces easily
End of the War • British took Canton and sailed up the Yangtze River • Took Tax Barges, cut revenue of imperial court of Beijing • 1842 Qing sued for peace • Ended with Treaty of Nanjing
Treaty of Nanjing • Referred to as the Unequal Treaties – accepted 1843 • China • Ceded Hong Kong to the British • Opened ports to British – Canton, Amoy, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai
Treaty of Nanjing • Great Britain received • 21 million ounces of silver • Fixed tariffs • Extraterritoriality for British citizens on Chinese soil • Most favored nation status • Allowed missionaries into interior of China • Allowed British merchants sphere of influence in and around British ports
Treaty of Nanjing • Unresolved Issues • Status of opium trade with China • Equivalent American treaty forbade opium trade with China • However, both Americans and British were subject only to the legal trade of their consuls
Second Opium War 1856 - 1860 • Also known as Arrow War • Followed incident when Chinese bordered British registered, Chinese owned ship – the Arrow • Crew was accused of piracy and smuggling • Were arrested
Second Opium War • British claimed ship was flying British flag and was protected under the Treaty of Nanjing • War delayed by Taiping Rebellion and Indian Mutiny • British attacked Guangzhou one year later • Aided by allies of United States, Russia, and France
Second Opium War • Treaty of Tientsin was created in July 1858 – was not ratified by China until 2 years later • Hostilities broke out in 1859 when China refused the establishment of British Embassy in Beijing • Fighting erupted in Hong Kong and Beijing • British burned the Summer and Old Summer Palace and looted the city
