British/Chinese Opium Trade

Opium was a major factor in China's downfall. China imported huge amounts of opium from Britan on the black market, tipping the balence of power both politically and economically in Britan's favor. The Brittish exported more Opium to Canton than any of their goods combined. It undermined China's laws and proved to other nations to be easily taken advantage of, and all around weak. Corruption and addiction consumed China, not only it's officials but also it's commoners. Not only was the illegal trade of goods weakening it, but the goods itself, opium weakened it. It would have been less catastrophic if the illegal trade had been something else that was less destructive. When the weakened Chinese government tried to fight back the Brittish and reduce their country's dependency on the British, they only slipped further. China tried to rebel against the Brittish, but they lost and fell further down the political food chain. After winning the Opium wars, the Brittish made rules for trade tipped even more in their favor, establishing almost complete dominance over the Chinese government.