The First China War, also known as the First Opium War, was fought between China and Britain from 1839 to 1842. The conflict arose from Britain's opium trade with China, which had become a significant source of revenue for the British East India Company.

Causes of the war:

• The Chinese government attempted to stop the opium trade by confiscating and destroying British-owned opium.

• In response, Britain sent a military expedition to China to force the Chinese to open their ports to British trade and to compensate the British for their losses in the opium trade.

• The Chinese refused to negotiate, leading to a series of battles between the British and the Chinese.

Key events of the war:

• The British captured Hong Kong in January 1841 and used it as a base for their operations in China.

• The Chinese suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Chuenpi in the same year.

• The British captured the city of Nanking in August 1842, and the Chinese were forced to sign the Treaty of Nanking, which ended the war.

• The treaty forced China to open five ports to British trade, pay a large indemnity to Britain, and cede Hong Kong to the British.

Impact of the war:

• The First China War marked the beginning of a period of unequal treaties between China and Western powers.

• It also led to the decline of the Qing Dynasty and the rise of anti-foreign sentiment in China.

• The opium trade continued to flourish, leading to further conflicts between China and Western powers.

• The war also had significant economic consequences, as it disrupted China's export trade and caused inflation and social unrest.