History
The Second Opium War Explained
A concise overview of the Second Opium War (1856-1860), a conflict that further opened China to foreign trade and intensified imperial influence.
What is it?
The Second Opium War (1856-1860), also known as the Arrow War, was a conflict between the Qing dynasty of China and an alliance of the British and French Empires. Britain sought to expand its trading rights, including legalizing the opium trade, and used the seizure of a British-flagged ship, the Arrow, as a pretext for war. France joined the conflict, citing the execution of a French missionary.
Hostilities saw Anglo-French forces capture key cities like Canton and Tianjin. After China resisted ratifying the initial Treaties of Tianjin, the forces advanced on Beijing in 1860, looting and burning the emperor's Summer Palaces. The war concluded with the Convention of Peking, which forced China to accept the earlier treaties, cede the Kowloon Peninsula to Britain, open more ports to foreign trade, and pay substantial indemnities.
Why is it trending?
The Second Opium War remains a significant topic in discussions of modern international relations and Chinese history. It is a key part of what is known in China as the "century of humiliation," a period of intervention and subjugation by Western powers and Japan. This historical narrative shapes contemporary Chinese nationalism and its perspective on sovereignty and foreign policy. The "unequal treaties" signed after the war are often cited as historical precedents in debates about global power dynamics, trade imbalances, and international law.
How does it affect people?
The war had devastating long-term effects on China. The forced legalization of opium led to widespread addiction, causing severe social and public health crises. The conflict further weakened the Qing dynasty's authority, contributing to its eventual collapse in 1912 and paving the way for decades of political instability. The territorial concessions, such as the expansion of British Hong Kong, had geopolitical consequences that lasted until the late 20th century. For the Chinese people, the war deepened anti-Western sentiment and fueled a nascent nationalist movement focused on restoring national sovereignty and dignity.