First Opium War - The Righteous Minister - Extra History - Part 2
Extra History・6 minutes read
The Honorable East India Company used opium trade to counter debt from military expenses in India and satisfy the tea demand in England, leading to soaring opium sales in China. The conflict culminated in the First Opium War, with Captain Charles Elliott opposing Lin Zexu's crackdown on opium, resulting in the cession of Hong Kong to British control.
Insights
- The Honorable East India Company resorted to opium trade to counterbalance debts accrued from military endeavors in India and to meet the high demand for tea in England.
- Lin Zexu's aggressive actions against opium in China, including the destruction of vast quantities, triggered the First Opium War, leading to the cession of Hong Kong to the British, marking a pivotal moment in the history of colonialism and trade relations.
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Recent questions
Why did the Honorable East India Company turn to opium?
To offset debt from military conquests in India.
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Summary
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Opium Trade: East India Company's Profitable Scheme
- The Honorable East India Company, facing significant debt from military conquests in India, turned to opium as a tradeable good to offset costs incurred by the high demand for tea in England.
- The Company's plan involved growing poppies in India, converting them into opium, selling it in China for tea, and then selling the tea back in Britain for profit.
- Opium sales in China skyrocketed, reaching three million sixty-four thousand pounds annually by 1835, with the number increasing to nearly five million six hundred thirty-nine thousand pounds by 1839.
- Lin Zexu, appointed by the Chinese Emperor, took drastic measures to eradicate opium from China, leading to the destruction of 21,000 chests of opium, causing financial turmoil for all involved.
- The conflict escalated into the First Opium War, with Captain Charles Elliott of the British government facing off against Lin Zexu's efforts to expel the British and their opium from Chinese soil, ultimately resulting in the establishment of Hong Kong as a British territory.
