British Empire: What is Imperialism?

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Imperialism is defined as relationships that are unequal between two humans or territories. This is usually based on concepts of authority and the articulation of dominance over a particular territory. It comprises of the extension of control and regulation of one state over another nation. The British has been known to be a colonial power that has always practiced dominance over many states particularly in Africa. The British Empire is seen as one of the largest empires in both the past and current times. This is because it has many African and Asian colonies compared to the rest of the Empires. The empire was known to use force to subdue the states that it ended to subdue. The colonial power is seen to force its colonies to adopt certain policies that were favoring the British Empire at the cost of its colonies. It makes rules, policies and redraws boundaries, which collectively change these countries to suit the British Empire. Collectively these strategies made the empire the largest in the world with no threat of global dominion. It is believed that the British Empire accomplished its position through imperialism. This is by forcing its subject to adopt policies and engaging in wars to manipulate a country or colonial power. The opium wars are seen as an example of the imperialism of the British Empire. It also illuminates how the British Empire managed to become the largest colonial power.
The opium wars are two wars that were between the Britain and Chinese. The British was against the Chinese back in the nineteen century with the intention to stop the Chinese government from growing influx of opium . “The first war took place in 1839 and ended in 1842. It was seen as the Chinese attempt to resist the Britain free trade pra...

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... nature is demonstrated by British imposition of free trade on the Chinese territories. The two wars brought up the signing of treaties, which reduced the import duty and removed trade barriers that had earlier been imposed by the Chinese to protect the country’s economy.

References
Cunynghame, A.A.The Opium War; being recollections of service in China. Philadelphia: G. B. Zieber & co. printed sources. 1845.
Fay, Peter W. Opium War, 1840-1842: Barbarians in the Celestial Empire in the Early Part of the Nineteenth Century and the War by Which They Forced Her Gates. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1975.
Parker, Edward H. Chinese account of the Opium War. Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, 1888.
Polachek, James M. The Inner Opium War. Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center, 1991.
Waley, Arthur. The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes. New York: Macmillian, 1958.

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