With reference to the period up to 1856, discuss the consequences for China of their defeat in the First Opium War.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the consequences for China of their defeat in the First Opium War. Candidates may refer to the effects of the Treaty of Nanjing which resulted in China being forced to open up ports for trade and relinquish Hong Kong. It could be argued that the most damaging consequences were the loss of extraterritoriality clauses that saw China lose sovereignty. The issue of opium had also not been resolved with devastating social consequences for China and the arrival of missionaries led to the introduction of Christianity. The outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion can be seen as a consequence of China’s defeat in the war and this civil conflict led to the deaths of millions of Chinese people. China’s defeat also led to a series of unequal treaties which further undermined their sovereignty.