Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about how the British Empire changed in the mid-nineteenth century. They examine the British Empire in India, Jamaica, East Asia, and Africa and evaluate the extent to which it was transformed during this period.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the importance of gunboat diplomacy for the expansion of the British Empire in East Asia.

Key Notes

• Britain had no colonies in East Asia in the early 19th century.
• A lack of Chinese interest and restrictions imposed by the Qing Empire limited British trade with China.
• The Opium Wars between Britain and the Qing Empire are an example of gunboat diplomacy.
• Britain expanded its formal empire by gaining control over Hong Kong.
• Growing British influence in the Qing Empire helped it develop an informal empire after the Opium Wars.

Vocabulary To Learn

• merchants: merchants are people whose job is to buy and sell goods
• opium: opium is an addictive drug
• gunboat diplomacy: when countries try to achieve their foreign policy aims by using the threat of military force, this is called gunboat diplomacy
• treaty: a treaty is a written agreement between two or more countries, approved and signed by their leaders
• customs: customs are taxes paid on trade

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• British victory in the Opium wars allowed it to conquer large areas of China and establish many new colonies.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Social Darwinism and race in the British Empire Study Guide
• The British Empire and the Scramble for Africa Study Guide
• The British Empire in India Study Guide
• The British Empire in Jamaica Study Guide
• Transformation in the British Empire Study Guide