Final answer:
The British won the Opium Wars due to their superior military technology and tactics, leading to treaties that favored British interests and expanded their trade rights in China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British emerged victorious in both the First and Second Opium Wars. The primary reasons for their victory were technological and military superiority, as well as a strategic approach to warfare.
During the First Opium War (1839-1842), the British used their advanced naval forces and armaments to swiftly overwhelm the Chinese traditional junks.
Their tactics included capturing Qing tax barges to disrupt China's revenue stream. The conclusion of the war led to the Treaty of Nanjing, which was greatly in favor of the British, granting them Hong Kong and other trading privileges. The Second Opium War (1856-1860) saw the British, joined by the French, once again defeat the Chinese military forces.
Superior military capabilities, along with broader political motivations to open China's markets, led to further concessions from China, including the legalization of the opium trade and expanded access for foreign traders and missionaries.