The document outlines Chinese history from the late 18th to mid 19th century, highlighting several key events: 1) McCartney's mission to China in 1793 highlighted problems in China's governing structure and leadership's failure to engage with the West. 2) The Opium Wars of the 1840s showed Western aggression against China, beginning the end of the Qing dynasty and imposition of unequal treaties. 3) The massive and deadly Taiping Rebellion of the 1850s-60s, which coincided with the American Civil War but received much less historical study, reflecting potential weaknesses in how historians choose topics.

2. The Trouble with China
Learning Objective: To outline the course
of late 18 and 19 Century Chinese history
th th
to 1860 and identify some broad themes for
the start of the IB Higher Level course
proper

8. McCartney
“ The Empire of China is an old, crazy, first-rate Man
of War, which a fortunate succession of and vigilant
officers have contrived to keep afloat for these hundred
and fifty years past, and to overawe their neighbours
merely by her bulk and appearance. But whenever an
insufficient man happens to have the command on deck,
adieu to the discipline and safety of the ship. She may,
perhaps, not sink outright; she may drift some time as a
wreck, and will then be dashed to pieces on the shore; but
she can never be rebuilt on the old bottom.

9. “The breaking-up of the power of China (no very improbable
event) would occasion a complete subversion of the commerce,
not only of Asia, but a very sensible change in the other
quarters of the world. The industry and the ingenuity of the
Chinese would be checked and enfeebled, but they would not
be annihilated.
Her ports would no longer be barricaded; they would be
attempted by all the adventures of all trading nations, who
would search every channel, creek, and cranny of China for a
market, and for some time be the cause of much rivalry and
disorder.
Nevertheless, as Great Britain, from the weight of her riches
and the genius and spirits of her people, is become the first
political, marine, and commercial Power on the globe,
it is reasonable to think that she would prove the greatest gainer
by such a revolution as I have alluded to, and rise superior over
every competitor.”

10. The Thirteen Factories c1805

13. Results
•
Crushing victory
for the British
forces
•
Beginning of the
end for the Qing?
•
Unequal
Treaties
•
Trouble ahead

17. The Taiping Rebellion
(or don’t take exams
too seriously!)
•
Missionary Influence
•
Hong Xiuquan and the civil
service exams
•
Younger brother of Jesus?
•
20-30 million deaths
•
Same time as American civil war
•
Fall of Nanjing in 1864

19. Plenary: Key Incidents and
themes
•
Problems in governing China: Geography
and communications
•
Leadership and failure to engage the
West: McCartney’s mission
•
Western aggression: the Opium Wars
•
Internal problems: The Taiping rebellions
and others

20. TOK Link/Learner
Profile
How do historians choose to select their
areas of study? Why is it that the
American civil war has generated so much
more research than the much larger
Taiping revolt? Does this suggest any
potential weaknesses in historical study?