Question

Why did European powers intervene in China in the late 1800s?

A. to stop the sale of opium
B. to open China to trade
C. to liberate political prisoners
D. to overthrow the Chinese emperor

Answer 1

European powers intervene in China in the late 1800s "to stop the sale of opium".

Step-by-step explanation:

• During 1800s European powers were stronger and were intervening China for the opium war.

• During 1800s UK was trading opium into china illegally. But these actions were outlawed by the Chinese government.

• They started destroying the opium traded through UK; this resulted into the opium war.

• The canton trade was signed between china and UK after the first opium war. So, Europe was intervening china in late 1800s for the opium trade between them.

Answer 2

B. to open China to trade

Step-by-step explanation:

China was a very closed country, and it was not fond at all in engaging into trade with the rest of the world. The Western colonial powers were the total opposite. They were engaging in trade across most of the world, making a lot of wealth from this.

The colonial powers didn't liked the idea that China had such great potential and so many things to offer, but it was closed to the world, and particularly to them. This led to military intervention by the colonial powers, and they managed to win in the conflict.

The end result was that China lost pretty much all of its ports, as the coastline was controlled by the colonial powers. The raw materials and goods from China became controlled by the colonial power, which were making enormous amount of wealth from it, while the Chinese people were suffering in poverty.