Causes
Population in China grew due to a good economy and American crops such as corn and potato. They went from 100 million in 1685 to 430 million in 1853. Agricultural production was unable to keep up with the growing population. The results were poverty, misery and starvation.
Government corruption did not help. The Chinese Imperial government did not perform basic functions well like tax collection, flood control, social welfare and public safety. Peasants were harassed and beaten continually by corrupt tax collectors and Imperial soldiers.
Government corruption did not help. The Chinese Imperial government did not perform basic functions well like tax collection, flood control, social welfare and public safety. Peasants were harassed and beaten continually by corrupt tax collectors and Imperial soldiers.
Effects
Hong Xiuquan proclaimed himself the younger brother of Jesus Christ. The rebels rejected Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Proclaimed equality for all according to Christian ideology. They called for the abolition of private property, redistribution of land, abolishment of prostitutions and opium smoking and called for equality for women. This kind of sounds like socialism.
They denounced the Qing Dynasty as foreigners because of their Manchu background and wanted a return or Han rule. Eventually provincial military leaders and Western military support, NOT QING DYNASTY, defeated the uprising. Approximately 20 to 30 million died in the uprising. This along with the First Opium Wars of 1839, began the weakening from within of the Qing Dynasty. This contributed the defeat in the Second Opium War and eventual signing of Unequal Treaties.
They denounced the Qing Dynasty as foreigners because of their Manchu background and wanted a return or Han rule. Eventually provincial military leaders and Western military support, NOT QING DYNASTY, defeated the uprising. Approximately 20 to 30 million died in the uprising. This along with the First Opium Wars of 1839, began the weakening from within of the Qing Dynasty. This contributed the defeat in the Second Opium War and eventual signing of Unequal Treaties.