Opium Trade

The chart illustrates the change from China as a self-sufficient power to a nation that was largely dependent on another. The opium that China imported from the British brought in more money than the British gained from all other goods. Because opium was so addictive, this ensured a constant flow of money from the Chinese to the British. At this point, nothing could be done because so many were dependent on the drug and, therefore, the British as the means of obtaining it. Not only did this crush China's self-dependence, it crippled their nation financially, losing 8,000,000 Spanish dollars when you look at the full picture. If they were not so dependent on the British for opium, they would gain 10,000,000 dollars from the trade connection.

In many ways, the triangle of trade was very similar to the opium trade. Both relied of some sort of dependence between nations of the world. While the triangle of trade was much more of a mutual need - each country had something they needed and something to give to another country - the opium trade was very much a one way deal. The British hooked China on opium, creating a dependence so that it would have a constant supply of money coming in. Because it wasn't reciprocal, China grew greatly indebted, which contributed to its decline.

Although I don't know a lot about current events, I would guess that there are similarities between the opium trade and the U.S.'s dependence on oil. All of our cars run on it, and it has become a natural and necessary part of our lives to get around. However, because we need it so much, we are forced to import it from other countries. Countries with natural supplies of oil really benefit from this because they recognize our dependence on it. There is a way out, but we have become so ingrained in this way of life that it requires a drastic change to free ourselves from our addiction to oil while we funnel our money into other countries.