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Second Opium War
Great Britain and France wanted to extend their trading rights in China. -
Treaties of Tianjin
The Treaties of Tianjin were signed by the British, French, and Chinese. This ended the first phase of the Second Opium War. The Western powers concluded a series of treaties with China in an effort to open its lucrative markets to Western trade. -
The Beijing Convention
The Beijing Convention signaled the end of the Second Opium War. China accepts the treaties previously negotiated with Great Britain and France at Tianjin -
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Sino-French War
War between China and France over the Chinese protectorate of Vietnam. -
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First Sino-Japanese War
The war, in which China is defeated, marked the emergence of Japan as a major world power and demonstrated the weakness of the Chinese empire. It also encouraged the Western powers to make further demands of the Chinese government. -
Open Door Policy
Secretary of State, John Hay sent a diplomatic note to Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Russia regarding actions taking place in China. Hay’s circular declares that;
1. Each great power should maintain free access to a treaty port or to any other vested interest within its sphere
2. Only the Chinese government should collect taxes on trade, and 3. No great power having a sphere should be granted exemptions from paying harbor dues or railroad charges. -
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The Boxer Rebellion
Boxer rebels in northern China kill more than 200 Europeans, Americans, and Chinese Christians. In turn, Hay issues a second Circular Note to “powers cooperating in China". The Boxer Rebellion then ends in 1901 when U.S. representatives at the international Peking Congress oppose moves to limit China’s independence in
revenge for the rebellion. -
Nine Power Treaty
An agreement signed by the United States, Great Britain, Japan, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, and China. It serves to reaffirm the principles of the Open Door policy. (it affirms China’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and gives all nations the right to do business with it on equal terms) -
World War II Ends
Japan is defeated in World War II. Changes to the world order diminish the importance of The Open Door Policy. -
Open Door Policy is Meaningless
Japan's defeat in World War II and the communist victory in China's civil war ended all special privileges to foreigners, making the Open Door policy meaningless.
