The war over Opium is over. After three years of fighting the war over the pain reliever is over. The Chinese signed there first unequal treaty, The Treaty of Nanking. The British suffering 69 casualties while china had over 18,000. The story is even more intriguing than the decision to go into this war.
The Chinese had been trading tea to great Britain for a while, with nothing in return but silver. The British have tried continuously to trade low value products to the emperor, with no success. Finally the British had come to us with a trade worthy of what we trade out.Opium a medicine used to suppress pain ,was just the thing for us. But after the decline of people's health in society because of the opium, they tried to stop the trade.
While trying to break off the trade a U.S navy ship was attacked, ransacked and the crew members were killed. The British and the Americans jumped to conclusions and believed it was the Chinese. This started immediate controversy. The British struck back by vandalizing a temple and killing the man inside. This enraged the Chinese.
In an interview with the Emperor he stated " It is disgraceful to murder an innocent man. We shut the trade down, Yes! That is not an excuse to kill". In a return statement from Queen Elizabeth she said " I am shocked at these events. I am truly sorry but, when you shut down the only trade we give you it is hard to see what else my men could have done?"
Have we seen the last of the British or will Revenge still lurk in their hearts? Only time will tell.
OK, a couple of things. News articles have NO opinion. You can use your question about the lives lost in your editorial, however. You need to polish for mechanics, and try to expand on the details about the end of the war. You have plenty of background info.
ReplyDelete