The Opium Wars

In the 19th century, Britain's trade of opium with China started a war known as the Opium War. China had traded many things with Britain including tea, which had now become very important in Europe. Britain wanted to trade something with China so it would not become a one sided trade that would hurt Britain. They began to trade opium to the Chinese. Opium is a highly addictive drug that is made from poppy plants, and is used to make many highly addictive drug. Many of Chinas population became addicted, and Chinas economy was damaged trying to pay for all the opium with gold, silver, and tea.
In 1838, the Chinese government started to restrict opium trade with Britain. Chinese government refused to let opium in the country, and would not back down from the British who pressured it onto them. This lead to the British attacking China to allow opium in the country. This was known as the Opium Wars. The British won these drug wars, and China faced defeat. Chinese government signed a treaty to allow opium to be traded in Chinese ports. They also allowed the sale of Opium legal. This caused Chinese government to become weaker and control was lost.