Spheres+of+Influence+&+Extraterritoriality

__ Spheres of influence __  [|http://americandecembrist.wordpress.com] In the 1900s, China was controlled by 5 different European nations; France, Britain, Germany, Japan and Russia. The areas that these foreign nations controlled were called the Spheres of Influence. The five foreign nations annexed the areas of China by having significant political, cultural, economic and military influence. These nations were aware of China’s continuous problems and took advantage of them. France, Britain, Germany, Japan and Russia gained control through negotiated treaties. This allowed them to control China’s government. America, who was a trading partner with China, worried that the other nations would soon divide China into colonies, and shut out American traders. In order to prevent this in 1899, America declared the “Open Door Policy”. This stated that China’s “doors” are to be open to merchants of all nations. Britain and the other European nations agreed, and this helped protect US trading rights and China’s freedom from colonization.

Extraterritoriality [|http://3.bp.blogspot.com] British foreigners smuggled opium into Chinese territory for non-medical reasons.
 * Opium is a habit- forming narcotic that doctors used to relieve pain.

The Chinese population was soon addicted to the foreign supply of opium. The continuous supply of the drug caused tremendous problems for China. The emperor of Qing was furious about the situation. One of the emperor's highest advisors wrote a letter to Queen Victoria of England in 1839. The pleas for help went unanswered, and Britain refused to stop trading opium with the Chinese. The consequence for Britain refusing to stop was the Opium War. 
 * **The Opium War was the clash between Britain and China. ** China's outdated ships couldn't hold up to Britain's steam powered gunboats.

After the Opium War, China was humiliated by their defeat. They signed a peace treaty, the Treaty of Nanjing, in 1842. The Treaty stated that:


 * Britain gained the island of Hong Kong.
 * China was to refund Britain for the money they spent fighting the Chinese.
 * They were to open more ports for British trade.
 * Foreign citizens living in China are to have extraterritorial rights.

Two years later, another treaty was signed in 1844. It said that the U.S. and other foreign citizens benefited extraterritorial rights, which meant that foreigners did not have to obey to Chinese law in Guangzhou and four other Chinese ports. Foreigners could only be tried in their own courts.

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