Give a critical account of the causes and main results of the First Anglo-Chinese War (Opium War) of 1840-42.

Give a critical account of the causes and main results of the First Anglo-Chinese War (Opium War) of 1840-42.


Although the Portuguese had established themselves in Macao many years beforehand, the Chinese had not extended the ‘privilege’ of trade to many other Europeans, until in the 18th century they opened one port; Canton.
Indeed, one can find the origins of the Opium War in that very system at Canton because it created much irritation and frustration for Britain . “An old port, Canton was tradition-bound and corruption ridden ”. The foreigners were especially irritated by unreasonable levies and other restrictions on trade by the Chinese. In 1689, the first of the EIC ships sent was “assessed an exorbitant measurement fee of 2,484 taels ”. Haggling with officials, reduced the fee by half; “1,500 taels”. There was restricted access to Chinese officials, and yet they were constantly “plagued by official interference ”.

Britain was very much aggravated ...