treaty of Nanjing

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

After reading the treaty of Nanjing I understook exactly what Dube meant about the Chinese sentiment that they have been getting screwed for the past 200 years or so. I find it amusing that a country that was basically taken over by the British was ultimately forced to repay millions upon millions to they invaders. The irony is astonishing.
Furthermore, the language that was used to desribe the realtionship between Britain and the Chinese furhter adds to that insult.

[Anonymous]

It is amazing to think that such a small country (Britain) could have such strong control over such a large country (China). I do not only mean by physical size, but by number of people. Why was China's military power so weak at this time to allow this to happen? Did they even have a navy? I think I remember learning about how China at one point had the strongest and fastest navy ships in ancient times. What happened to them in the 19th Century that allowed such an atrocity?

[Anonymous]

A lot of the readings makes me realise I need to do further study, because it is very mysterious to me- just what did Britain do --specifically (aside from the usual imperialistic criminality?) that is referred to in our readings?

[Anonymous]

I agree. It is the imperialism of a little but powerful nation over a big but powerless nation. Nanjing seemed to be the location of injustices. also seems to get messed up first by the British in 1842 and then by the Japanese in 1937.

To be honest, I feel very ignorant about the opium wars in China. I have heard of the term "opium war" and t"the great sleep", but I don't understand the history and forces behind it. I do also feel the strong need to learn get a better understanding about the basis of the treaty and this part of the Chinese history.

[Anonymous]

This article reminded me of a book my mother made me read called The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck. It was about a Chinese family before the revolution, and it focused mostly on one man's life. I always liked that book, but was often surprised by the conditions that people faced. This article cleared up some time issues for me and has further enriched my understanding of why China is Communist today.

[Anonymous]

The treaty of Nanjing was criminal! I'm sorry but China got ripped off. Why did they acquiesce to such a preposterous amount of money to a foreign country. There's a time when you have to stand up as a country and let come what may. In this instance, they should have followed Japan's model of waging war. With that many people working together as one, Britain wouldn't of had a chance. Not to mention the destruction the opium trade did to the inhabitants of China just added injury to insult.

[Anonymous]

When I first completed the reading I was a bit lost because I didn't know how to situate the information, didn't know what led to the different political actions etc. but after the lecture I figure things better. I still can't believe how "outsiders" were so powerful to "win" and impose their profit plan. I wonder how history today would look if the "outsiders" were kicked out from Asia.

[Anonymous]

The Opium wars and the Treaty of Nanjing are in our textbook. It is something I have stressed as a key Treaty the students need to learn. However, it has been really powerful read the actual treaty, and learn the details. Through this exposure, I am able to pose deeper thinking questions about the legacies of imperialism and war which are two big themes in my course. Indemnity is something the kids can wrap their heads around especially when I ask them to imagine to having someone invade our country, import drugs whose sale is basically responsibly for destroying our economy and then having to pay the invaders their costs. Ugh not a pretty concept. I then tie it to the Treaty of Versailles. [Edit by="jbotelho on Jun 23, 8:16:40 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Indemnity. That's the word I forgot. My students get into it when I start talking about imperial Japan, and I forgot that word. I mentioned unfair treaties, but it is the indemnity that really rallied the Japanese and motivated the thinking for being imperialistic.

[Anonymous]

The Treaty of Nanking: Maybe this should have been called the first Rape of Nanking. It seems very much from the language of the treaty and the preceding article Placards Posted on Guangzhou that the British Naval capabilities and their import of Opium was a scourge on China. Through out the treaty China is expected to cede power and grand rights to foreign people. The thing I found most ironic was the Chinese upper class reference to the British as barbarians.[Edit by="jbotelho on Jun 26, 8:35:47 PM"][/Edit]

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