Treaty of Nanjing - Analysis | Milestone Documents - Milestone Documents

Treaty of Nanjing

( 1842 ) Commentary by Eric Cunningham, Gonzaga University
  • “The Emperor of China agrees to pay the sum of Six Millions of Dollars as the value of Opium which was delivered up at Canton in the Month of March 1839.” - Article IV
  • “The Government of China having compelled the British Merchants trading at Canton to deal exclusively with certain Chinese Merchants called Hong Merchants (or Cohong) … agrees to abolish that practice in future at all Ports where British Merchants may reside, and to permit them to carry on their mercantile transactions with whatever persons they please.” - Article V
  • “The Government of Her Britannic Majesty having been obliged to send out an Expedition to demand and obtain redress for the violent and unjust Proceedings of the Chinese High Authorities towards her Britannic Majesty's Officer and Subjects, the Emperor of China agrees to pay the sum of Twelve Millions of Dollars.” - Article VI
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Illustration of an attack by the Chinese on a British boat in Canton River during the Opium War (Library of Congress)

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