Imperialism in China – Worksheet Questions

Why did Britain begin selling opium in China?

• To reverse the trade imbalance and obtain silver

• To promote public health in China

• To comply with Chinese anti-drug laws

• To fund missionary work in East Asia

What is a trade imbalance?

• When a country imports more than it exports

• When a country exports more than it imports

• When a country’s imports and exports are equal

• When tariffs are eliminated on all goods

According to Lin Zexu’s letter, why was China angry about the opium trade?

• Britain banned opium at home but sold it illegally in China

• China profited excessively from opium taxes

• The emperor encouraged opium smoking across the empire

• British merchants refused to trade tea with China

Which of the following was NOT a term of the Treaty of Nanjing?

• All foreigners were expelled

• Hong Kong was ceded to Britain

• Several ports were opened to British trade

• China paid indemnities to Britain

What is a sphere of influence in the context of China?

• An area where a foreign nation controls trade and investment

• A region fully annexed by a foreign nation

• A place limited to missionary activity only

• A territory ruled by local warlords without foreign involvement

Which rebellion was primarily an internal civil war against the Qing dynasty?

• Boxer Rebellion

• Taiping Rebellion

• Opium War

• Sino-Japanese War

Which rebellion targeted foreigners and Chinese Christians?

• Taiping Rebellion

• Boxer Rebellion

• White Lotus Rebellion

• Nian Rebellion

Which was a major effect imperialism had on China?

• It weakened China’s sovereignty through unequal treaties and increased foreign control over trade and territory

• It unified China under a democratic constitution

• It eliminated all foreign influence and restored complete isolation

• It dramatically increased peasant wealth and reduced taxation

A major goal of the Boxer Rebellion in China was to:

• rid their countries of foreigners
• expand their respective territories
• receive international military support
• restore an absolute monarch to the throne
  

Which situation led to the defeat of China in the Opium War (1839-1842)?

• a civil war on the Sino-Tibetan border
• the technological advantages of the European powers
• a famine that weakened the Chinese military
• the lack of support for the Manchu government from Chinese scholars