Aftermaths of the Opium War

(Plat, John, The signing and sealing of the Treaty of Nanking,1846, painting, Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection)

The opium war lasted a total of 3 years with a report announcing 520 British casualties, as well as 18000-20000 deaths from the Chinese. After the war, a lot changed. Firstly, China had to pay the British a large sum of money, $21 million dollars, and a treaty was signed, in order to restore peace. The Nanking treaty included arrangements such as ceding Hong Kong to Britain, extraterritoriality, exemption from local law, indemnity, direct contact with customs collectors, most-favored-nation principle, and no trade monopoly. (Ting, Joseph)

Hong Kong would now belong to Britain, for 99 years and the influence of western culture in China grew drastically. British colonial institutions were introduced to ports, like the Maritime customs service. They, along with many others, projected western legal traditions into China. (Keller) The British chose Hong Kong for various reasons-it was close to Guangzhou, it included the main port for foreign trade and more. Additionally, more ports were opened. Before the wars, British traders who were only allowed to trade in Guangzhou were now enabled to trade at five treaty ports. In 1757, Guangzhou was declared the only open for western trade until the treaty was signed. (Ting, Joseph) They were also permitted to trade with whoever they liked.