How Britain Went To War With China Over Opium

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Victorian Great Britain imported luxurious and exotic items from China, but China only accepted payments in silver, creating a huge imbalance in trade. To avoid losing money on imported goods, Britain had to sell something back to China, and in desperation, the decision was made for Britain to sell opium.

When diplomatic efforts to introduce opium to the Chinese market failed, the British Parliament approved an alternative: war. There were two wars, one from 1839 to 1842 and another from 1856 to 1860. They are collectively known as the Opium Wars. These conflicts are largely forgotten in the Western world, perhaps out of a sense of collective shame. But in China, the Opium Wars are still symbols of national humiliation at the hands of the Western powers.

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[samboni]

This was a century of humiliation for China. I believe it is part of China's motivation to succeed today. Many westerners, including myself, may only see economic and politicial defiance by China. But once you see some history you can see where their defiance is rooted.

[Kyle-srjm]

"We don't want to be addicts and have a drug trade." -China

"You will take the opium, you will buy it from us, or you get the bayonet." -British

[timwatts]

The punchline for this story is that the British Empire was one of the most a ruthless drug cartels in world history.

[paulmakinson]

Interestingly, the HSBC bank was founded to handle the money made from the opium trade. Today, they continue their tradition helping drug traders launder their earnings.

[ch.khurramazizdhillon-csp]

“Madness is something rare in individuals — but in groups, parties, peoples, and ages, it is the rule.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

[pangsia]

as a chinese this part of history pains me to the soul everytime i read it, and each of us Chinese should be forever ashamed if we ever loose gaurd to prevent anything similar ever happen again.

[FIDESCALLE]

These Brits make Pablo Escobar look like child’s play

[poodleinadoodle]

Although this happened long ago, it disgusts me how low we can stoop for material wealth and power.

[skellys]

I was so happy to watch your excellent discussion of the Opium Wars without having to hear the names of the U.S. elite who made fortunes from China's misery, specifically John Jacob Astor and FDR's maternal grandfather, Warren Delano. As Balzac is credited with saying, "Behind every great fortune is a great crime." Starting wars to address a balance of trade issue has been going on for centuries. Isn't is a shame that schools don't teach uncensored history? We humans never seem to learn.

[davidr]

And you wonder why some Nations behave the way they do.

[rtab]

I actually wonder if the Opium Wars are taught in the history classes in Britain

[Clear-]

I believe this conflict should be taught in th U.S. It explains China's views on the future of their country.

[alexandergrigorov]

US: “I’m the country that has intervening in most foreign conflicts ever.”
UK: “Oh my child, you’re no way close.”

[AmazingPhilippines]

I had not know all of these details so thanks for the history lesson. Watching from the Philippines.

[TribalCashAA]

Finally figure out why this is taught minimally, or not at all, in U.S. schools.

[blunderbusssi]

I just want to add that during the British Empire the British Working Class (ie most of us) were living in disease, filth and poverty...don't judge us on the misgivings of the British aristocracy...we still hate them today! 😁 Great video mate! :)

[richardhindley]

Tragic and disgraceful, we really excelled ourselves there didn't we!!!
Thank you for this education.

[stefanwolf]

Britain: "We're joining the war on we're on the side of drugs"

[michaellavery]

Look at Britain now, even the world, what goes around comes around.

[Mariobrownio]

In most languages "narcotics" are called "drugs". Where in China narcotics are called "Du" or "Du-Pin" or literally translated as "poison" or "poisonous substance". China also have severe punishments for all drug related offences, including possessing or using weed.