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The First Opium War
The First Opium War resulted in a series of military defeats for the Qing Dynasty against the British Empire. The Treaty of Nanjing, signed in 1842, marked the end of the conflict. The terms of the treaty were highly unfavorable to China, ceding Hong Kong to the British, opening several ports for foreign trade, and imposing indemnities. -
Spheres of influence
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several foreign powers established spheres of influence in China, particularly following the Opium Wars and the Boxer Rebellion. The significance of these spheres of influence in China includes Economic Exploitation, Political Fragmentation, National Humiliation, and Loss of Sovereignty. -
100 day reform
The Hundred Days' Reform was a significant but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to modernize China during the late Qing Dynasty, highlighting the internal struggles and challenges facing the country as it grappled with the need for change in the face of external pressures and internal decline. The Hundred Days' Reform came to an abrupt end when Empress Dowager Cixi staged a coup, leading to the arrest of the Guangxu Emperor and the reversal of many reform measures. -
Open Door Policy
The late 19th century saw several foreign powers asserting their influence in China through spheres of influence and economic concessions. The concern for the United States was that it might be excluded from these economic opportunities, prompting the proposal of the Open Door Policy to ensure equal access for all nations. The Open Door Policy emphasized the importance of preserving China's territorial integrity and maintaining the principle of equal and open trade in all parts of the country. -
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Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion was an anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising. The Boxers targeted foreigners, Christians, and Chinese converts to Christianity, blaming them for the economic and social ills facing China at the time. -
Manchu Reforms
The Manchu reforms refer to a series of attempts by the Qing Dynasty to address internal challenges and modernize the administration, military, and society during the 19th century. While some progress was made in military and industrial modernization, these efforts were limited and ultimately insufficient to prevent the decline of the Qing Dynasty in the face of increasing foreign influence and internal upheavals.