Changes

China deliberately isolated itself from the West, allowing only one port in southern China to conduct trade with Europe:  Guangzhou.  But the British learned that the Chinese people (like many people worldwide) became easily addicted to opium, a terrible drug that is illegal today.  In the late 1700s the British took advantage of this addiction and began sending massive amounts of opium to China.  At one point a Chinese government official wrote a letter to Queen Victoria begging her to stop this.  In 1839 the Opium War broke out over this issue, but the British defeated the Chinese and the Treaty of Nanjing gave the British the key port of Hong Kong, which it held until 1997.  Another treaty in 1844 gave other western powers, including France, Germany, Russia and even the United States, extraterritorial or foreign rights to four additional ports, along with special exemptions from Chinese law.

China deliberately isolated itself from the West, allowing only one port in southern China to conduct trade with Europe:  Guangzhou.  But the British learned that the Chinese people (like many people worldwide) became easily addicted to opium, a terrible drug that is illegal today.  In the late 1700s the British took advantage of this addiction and began sending massive amounts of opium to China.  At one point a Chinese government official wrote a letter to Queen Victoria begging her to stop this.  In 1839 the Opium War broke out over this issue, but the British defeated the Chinese and the Treaty of Nanjing gave the British the key port of Hong Kong, which it held until 1997.  Another treaty in 1844 gave other western powers, including France, Germany, Russia and even the United States, extraterritorial or foreign rights to four additional ports, along with special exemptions from Chinese law.

The opium drug problem continued and in 1850 a Christian heretic named Hong Xiuquan led the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) in order to rid the country of opium and establish a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.”  Declaring himself to be the second son of God and the younger brother of the Messiah, Hong conquered much of southeastern China, but lost it back to the Qing Empire in 1864.  Historians estimate that 20 million were left dead from these conflicts, and consider this Rebellion to have been one of the most deadly in all of history.

The opium drug problem continued and in 1850 a Christian heretic named Hong Xiuquan led the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) in order to rid the country of opium and establish a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.”  Declaring himself to be the second son of God and the younger brother of the Messiah, Hong conquered much of southeastern China, but lost it back to the Qing Empire in 1864.  Historians estimate that 20 million were left dead from these conflicts, and consider this Taiping Rebellion to have been one of the most deadly in all of history.

Chinese leaders then called for a new educational system to prevent a repeat of these conflicts, by training young people not to engage in such rebellions.  They also sought a modernization of the Chinese military.  The Dowager Empress Cixi (1861-1908) started a modernization program that included gunboats and factory-made weapons.  Foreigners operated these factories, and foreign influence increased.

Chinese leaders then called for a new educational system to prevent a repeat of these conflicts, by training young people not to engage in such rebellions.  They also sought a modernization of the Chinese military.  The Dowager Empress Cixi (1861-1908) started a modernization program that included gunboats and factory-made weapons.  Foreigners operated these factories, and foreign influence increased.

American Commodore Matthew Perry attempted to break the isolation of Japan by sailing into Edo (Tokyo) harbor in 1853.  His trip was successful, causing the Treaty of Kanagawa to be signed in 1854 to allow the United States to use two ports and also to open an embassy.  European nations then gained similar access by 1860.

American Commodore Matthew Perry attempted to break the isolation of Japan by sailing into Edo (Tokyo) harbor in 1853.  His trip was successful, causing the Treaty of Kanagawa to be signed in 1854 to allow the United States to use two ports and also to open an embassy.  European nations then gained similar access by 1860.

Japan urbanized during the 1700s, causing families to leave farms and begin to work in cities, and some of the Japanese women worked in city jobs for the first time.

Japan urbanized during the 1700s, causing families to leave farms and work in cities, and some of the Japanese women worked in city jobs for the first time.

The Japanese ultimately revolted against the Tokugawa shogun, who abdicated power in November 1867.  The cause was complaints about too much foreign influence.  A new emperor Mutsuhito established the Meiji government in the spring of 1868, which lasted until 1912.  During this Meiji period feudal lords gave their land back to the emperor, and Mutsuhito industrialized Japan, strengthened its national military, centralized its government and established universal public education.  In the late 1800s the Japanese produced coal and built railroads and many factories.   

The Japanese ultimately revolted against the Tokugawa shogun, who abdicated power in November 1867.  The cause was complaints about too much foreign influence.  A new emperor Mutsuhito established the Meiji government in the spring of 1868, which lasted until 1912.  During this Meiji period feudal lords gave their land back to the emperor, and Mutsuhito industrialized Japan, strengthened its national military, centralized its government and established universal public education.  In the late 1800s the Japanese produced coal and built railroads and many factories.   

By the early 1900s Japan was a world power that could compete militarily and economically with the greatest nations in the world.  Japan first defeated China, which had invaded Korea in 1894.  Japan beat the Chinese back, causing them to retreat from Korea, and then Japan invaded and conquered Manchuria in the Sino-Japanese War.  The peace treaty (signed in 1895) gave the Pescadores Islands and Taiwan to Japan.

By the early 1900s Japan was a world power that could compete militarily and economically with the greatest nations in the world.  Japan first defeated China, which had invaded Korea in 1894.  Japan beat the Chinese back, causing them to retreat from Korea, and then Japan invaded and conquered Manchuria in the Sino-Japanese War.  The peace treaty (signed in 1895) gave the Pescadores Islands and Taiwan to Japan.

Japan felt it was invincible.  It next took on Russia and defeated it in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.  Japan destroyed the Russian fleet and received control of the southern portion of the Chinese Eastern Railway and a lease on the Liaodong Peninsula, including Port Arthur, in its Treaty of Portsmouth with Russia.  Russia withdrew from Manchuria and promised to stay out of Korea.

Japan felt it was invincible.  It next took on Russia and defeated it in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.  Japan destroyed the Russian fleet and obtained control of the southern portion of the Chinese Eastern Railway and a lease on the Liaodong Peninsula, including Port Arthur, in its Treaty of Portsmouth with Russia.  Russia withdrew from Manchuria and promised to stay out of Korea.

Japan took over Korea and annexed it in 1910.  This alarmed the rest of the world, making everyone wonder if and when Japan would stop expanding.  Japan took over Korea’s schools and taught the children in a way that favored Japan.  Japan also took over the presses (media) in Korea, thereby controlling what was said.  Japan completely dominated Korea.  Japan’s land policies favored Japanese settlers.  An underground nationalist movement in Korea began to grow, with resentment towards Japan.  Many Koreans and Chinese are resentful of Japan to this day.

Japan took over Korea and annexed it in 1910.  This alarmed the rest of the world, making everyone wonder if and when Japan would stop expanding.  Japan took over Korea’s schools and taught the children in a way that favored Japan.  Japan also took over the presses (media) in Korea, thereby controlling what was said.  Japan completely dominated Korea.  Japan’s land policies favored Japanese settlers.  An underground nationalist movement in Korea began to grow, with resentment towards Japan.  Many Koreans and Chinese are resentful of Japan to this day.

So Japan was initially a target of imperialism but eventually ended up as being one of the most imperialistic nations of all!

So Japan was initially a target of imperialism but eventually ended up as one of the most imperialistic nations of all!

=== Latin America ===

=== Latin America ===