Some Important Events of the War between China and England in 1840/41

By the year 1840 the British Government decided to wage war against China. As a result, the parliament of Britain passed a resolution in its favour. Palmerston also sought the military help from India to achieve victory over China.

Two major battles were fought in this context. The first war was fought in 1840 in which the British army laid siege to Canton and achieved a victory against the Chinese.

Britain had already established herself as a sea power; hence the Chinese were forced to bow down before her invincible power.

Afterwards, the British army settled at the mouth of the Yangtse River and attacked the Chinese army, which was defeated. China dismissed her commissioner Lin after this campaign so that proper atmosphere could be created for a pact.

Chi Stan, an officer of Manchu dynasty was appointed by the British traders for parleys. He started talks for a peaceful pact with Illiot. As a result of his efforts the British fleet and the army went back to South and a basic pact was signed in 1841, according to which

1. Hong Kong was handed over to Britain on a permanent basis.

2. China promised to pay 60 million dollars as reparations against the loss of opium trade.

3. The principle of political equality was accepted.

4. It was promised that soon Canton would be opened up for British trade.

Although the pact was signed with the consent of both the nations, it proved ephemeral as it was not accepted by either of the two.

The government of China considered that Chi Stan had yielded too much to the British whereas the British government regarded that Illiot failed to wrest enough facilities from the Chinese.

Hence governments of both the countries called back the representatives, i.e., Chi Stan and Illiot. It again led to the gathering of war clouds. The British government appointed Sir Henry Pottinger. He at once resorted to military action and the British fleet advanced towards north without any obstacle.

Soon the British occupied the Chesern Island and after this the Chinese lost Shanghai and Hong Kong to Britain. They also invaded the ancient capital, Nanking and the contemporary capital, Peking.

The prestige of the Manchu rulers was affected by the defeat of China. It led to internal discontent, disorder and chaos. The anti-Manchu people of China cooperated with the British and thus the emperor of China was compelled to conclude a treaty with Cornvallis.