Which of the following statements best interprets why the Canton System ended?

Question

A. Europeans refused to see themselves as tributes to the Qing Dynasty
B. Europeans' efforts to avoid Canton System regulation led them to smuggle illegal drugs into China, resulting in war
C. Very few countries wanted to use the Canton system
D. The Qing dynasty decided that trading with Europeans was not beneficial

Answer 1

The statement that best interprets why the Canton System ended is:

B. Europeans' efforts to avoid Canton System regulation led them to smuggle illegal drugs into China, resulting in war.

This accurately reflects the historical context in which tensions escalated due to trade imbalances and the illegal opium trade, leading to conflicts such as the Opium Wars, which ultimately resulted in the dismantling of the Canton System.