View source for The Opium War, and Opening of China

Opium War - Not a direct war on the drug usage like some think, rather on the un-regulated trade, and un taxed sale of opium


 - China was poor in precious metals, and the opium sellers didnt want chienese currency, therefore china hemorraged silve bulion
   at a very high rate.

 - As opium usage increased the silver supply in china decreased

 - China attempted to stop / control trade, which failed and led to conflicts with foregin nations as china tried to seize actual cargo
 
 - India and Brittan dispatched troops to intervene and china lost Hong Kong in the proccess