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• 1 2022-03-05T20:08:08-08:00 The Second Opium War 11 1-2-2 plain 2022-03-06T17:46:19-08:00 According to Kenneth Pletcher on Britannica, In the mid-1850s, China was plunged into civil strife. The British wanted to take the opportunity to expand their trading rights in China. In early October 1856, a group of Chinese officials boarded the Arrow ship of Britain. The ship stopped in Guangzhou. Chinese officials arrested several Chinese crew members, who were later released. However, there are rumors that China has lowered the British flag and insulted the British flag. Later that month, a British warship sailed into the Pearl River and began bombing Guangzhou. At the same time, in 1856, a French missionary was assassinated in China, which the French used as an excuse to join the British military. British and French forces began military operations in late 1857 and quickly captured Guangzhou. In May 1858, British warships arrived at Tianjin, and China was forced to sign the Treaty of Tianjin. According to The United States' Office of The History, The Tianjin Treaty required China to provide residence to foreign officials in Beijing. The treaty also required China to open new ports for Western trade and settlement. At the same time, it gave foreigners the right to travel inside China and Christian missionaries freedom of movement. The treaty also legalized the import of opium. However, due to the Chinese resistance to the Treaty of Tianjin, the treaty was not well implemented. Thus, according to the United States' Office of The History, in August 1860, a fairly large British and French allied forces destroyed Dagu Forts and continued to attack Tianjin. In October, they captured Beijing plundered and burned the Summer Palace of the emperor. According to Pletcher on Britannica, later in October, the Chinese were forced to sign the Beijing Pact, in which they agreed to abide by the Treaty of Tianjin and cede adjacent southern Hong Kong to Britain.
  
  
  The painting is created by Émile Bayard in September 21, 1860. It is about The Battle of Palikao. This is the bridge to Beijing, and Britain and French win in this battle. 
  
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