Use the timeline to answer the question.

Question

1842 – The Treaty of Nanking is signed between Great Britain and China.
1850 – Civil War Period begins.
1850 – Taiping Rebellion begins.
1856 – Second Opium War fought by China against Great Britain and France begins.
1860 – Second Opium War ends with China’s defeat.
1864 – Taiping Rebellion ends in a Pyrrhic victory for the Qing dynasty because it lost a lot of support from its citizens in the process.
1878 – Civil War Period ends.
1894 – First Sino-Japanese War between China and Japan begins.
1895 – First Sino-Japanese War ends with China’s defeat.
1899 – Boxer Rebellion begins.
1901 – Boxer Rebellion ends.
1911 – Xinhai Revolution begins.
1912 – Xinhai Revolution ends with the collapse of the Qing dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China.

Analyze the effect of the Treaty of Nanking on the Qing Dynasty using the timeline. What happened to the Qing Dynasty after the Treaty of Nanking?

(1 point)
Responses

Answer 1

The Treaty of Nanking, signed in 1842, marked a significant turning point for the Qing Dynasty and had profound repercussions in the following decades. After its signing, the Qing Dynasty faced a series of challenges that undermined its stability and authority.

1. Loss of Sovereignty: The Treaty of Nanking resulted in significant concessions to Great Britain, including the cession of Hong Kong and the establishment of five treaty ports where British merchants could trade. This loss of territory and autonomy was a blow to the Qing Dynasty's sovereignty and prestige.

2. Civil Unrest: The humiliating defeat and unequal terms of the treaty contributed to widespread dissatisfaction among the populace and fueled civil unrest. This discontent eventually led to the onset of the Civil War Period in 1850, marked by the Taiping Rebellion, which aimed to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.

3. Further Conflicts: The treaty set a precedent for other Western powers to pursue their own interests in China, leading to further conflicts, most notably the Second Opium War (1856-1860). The Qing Dynasty was again defeated, resulting in additional humiliating treaties that further eroded its power and territorial integrity.

4. Internal Struggles: The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) was one of the deadliest conflicts in history and resulted in immense loss of life and strain on the Qing government. Although the Qing ultimately retained control, it emerged weakened and with diminished support from its citizens.

5. Decline of Authority: The continued internal strife, compounded by external pressures such as the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), further depleted the Qing Dynasty's authority. The defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War, following the Treaty of Nanking, highlighted China's vulnerability against rising powers.

Ultimately, the Treaty of Nanking set in motion a cascade of events that culminated in the Xinhai Revolution (1911), leading to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 and the establishment of the Republic of China. The treaty initiated a pattern of foreign domination and internal conflict that plagued the Qing, precipitating its downfall.