The Destruction of China by British Ambition
             The events of the Opium War, which occurred between China and Britain during the late 18th and 19th century, placed China in a position which easily allowed the exploitation of the country's national finances, resources, and culture. The usage of opium, as well as the ongoing battle which occurred as a direct result of British action, was the cause of death for thousands of Chinese. The many conflicts and extensive exploitation of China by Britain regarding the opium trade was the beginning of a horrific period for China. A period which would come to be know as the "Century of Shame." This paper will show how the actions of the British during the years of the Opium War nearly caused the complete destruction of China and its culture through and in depth look at the Chinese economic and political situation, as well as the Treaty of Nanjing.
             Opium, which was widely in use by the general populace of China and the rest of world at this point in history, was favoured by physicians as both a painkiller and a relaxant. Doctors of the era preferred the use of opium to that of morphine due to the apparent lack of side effects. Initially, recreational use of opium was relegated to only upper class society. The emperor of China outlawed recreational usage of opium during the 17th Century, however, the British began to import opium to China in the 1770's. The opium, which was imported by Britain from India, supposedly came from the East India trading Company, which was actually run by the Brits. In order to smuggle the opium in to China, Britain employed the usage of heavily armed row boats which could be quickly maneuvered by the crew of roughly 60 to 70 men. In response to protest from China regarding the opium smuggling, Britain would simply deny any knowledge of the narcotic.
             The Canton System ruled the economic trade policies of the time in China. British merchants des...