Question

The main purpose of Lin Zexu's letter to Queen Victoria was to persuade her to ________.

A. end trade between Britain and China
B. increase the supply of opium brought to China
C. allow the Chinese to sell opium back to the British
D. stop British merchants from selling opium to the Chinese

Answer 1

The main purpose of Lin Zexu's letter to Queen Victoria was to persuade her to "D. stop British merchants from selling opium to the Chinese," since many Chinese found this practice to be detrimental to Chinese society.

Answer 2

D. stop British merchants from selling opium to the Chinese

To balance trade with China, the British introduced Indian opium to the country creating an addiction crisis. Lin Xexu wrote Queen Victoria asking her to end the sale of opium in China. The goal was to resolve the problem peacefully. Victoria refused to end the trade and eventually China had to go to war in an attempt to end the trade.