The Opium War and the Opening of China: An Historiographical Note

Opium War - 1839 to 1860

  -Canton System in 1756, which restricted trade to one port and did not allow foreign entrance to China
  -Chinese law prohibited / restricted opium trade
  -British East India Company sold opium to china smugglers to adress trade imbalance 
  -China was a mineral poor country, and silver was the monetary payment for opium, which lead to to a high "silver" drain
  -China seized product from british ships, and british retailiated by hiring mercenaries to battle in China
  -Treaty of Nanking ceased altercations, and gave control of land to Britan i.e. Hong Kong