Second+Opium+War

====When: The Second OPIUM War (1856-1860) was fought between Qing China on one side Great Britain and France on the other. In 1858, the Chinese signed the Treaty of Tianjin in which the British, French, Russians, and the United States opened 11 more Chinese ports to Western trade. The four states also won the right to open small embassies in Beijing, the opening of the interior of China, and navigation rights along the Yangtze River. China was also forced to pay war reparations to Britain and France. In 1859 when the British and French tried to go to Beijing, the Chinese denied the entry. A battle ensued, which forced the retreat of Western forces from near Beijing. In 1860, a large force of British and French captured Yantai and Dalian, then landed near Bei Tang.====

[[image:800px-Chinese_officers_tear_down_the_British_flag_on_the_arrow.JPG]]
===It begin because to dispute over access to Chinese trade benefits. The British desired more concessions from the Chinese, including the opening of all of China to British merchant vessels but the Qing government of Emperor Xianfeng refused these requests. The direct cause of the war happened in October 1856 when Chinese officials boarded a Chinese owned ship named the Arrow and arrested 12 Chinese subjects for piracy. The British objected to this move, claiming that the ship had been recently registered by the British and was protected under the Treaty of Nanjing. The British also claimed that the vessel was flying the Union Jack and that this move by the Qing had offended British sovereignty. ===

===In 1857, the British attacked Guangzhou and captured the fort. The British asked for help from both the French and the Untied States. In 1858, the Western forces sailed to Tianjin and captured the forts near the city. ===

===In 1858, the Chinese signed the Treaty of Tianjin in which the British, French, Russians, and the U.S. opened 11 more Chinese ports to Western trade. China was also forced to pay war reparations to Britain and France. Right after the Qing agreed to this treaty, the Qing decided that they would try to resist further Western encroachment. ===

=== In 1859 when the British and French tried to go to Beijing, the Chinese denied the entry. A battle ensued, which forced the retreat of Western forces from near Beijing. In 1860, a large force of British and French captured Yantai and Dalian, then landed near Bei Tang. In the resultant battle, the British-French coalition captured Dagu fort and took the town of Tienstin. ===