How_britain_went_to_war_with_china_over_opium -

China was forced to pay 21 million silver dollars for the destroyed opium and war costs [1, 5].

Five "treaty ports" (including Shanghai and Canton) were opened to British trade [2, 3]. how_britain_went_to_war_with_china_over_opium

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Britain had an insatiable demand for Chinese goods, particularly , silk , and porcelain [1, 4]. However, China operated under the "Canton System," which restricted trade to a single port and required payment in silver [3, 4]. This created a massive trade deficit for Britain, draining its silver reserves [1, 6]. The Solution: Opium China was forced to pay 21 million silver