Question

Only within a few decades _________ outstripped China's silver reserves. By the 1830s, there were an estimated 12 million Chinese addicted to opium.

Answer 1

In a few decades, the British opium trade reversed China's silver surplus to a deficit, contributing to severe economic and social problems. By the 1830s, approximately 12 million Chinese were addicted to opium.

Step-by-step explanation:

Within just a few decades, British imports of opium into China had outstripped China’s silver reserves. Initially, opium was introduced by the British as a means to offset the trade imbalance they faced due to the high demand for Chinese tea in England, which had caused British silver reserves to dwindle. To make up for this deficit, the British East India Company dramatically increased opium exports to China from territories such as India. Despite the ban on opium by the Qing dynasty in 1729, the British ignored these laws and continued their trade, which caused a widespread addiction problem. By the 1830s, it was estimated that around 12 million Chinese were addicted to opium. The trade imbalance reversed, with China going from a net exporter of silver to a struggling net importer, thus destabilizing its economy and contributing to social and political unrest.