The United Kingdom declared war on the Qing dynasty in 1839 over the opium trade
The British Empire declared war on the Qing dynasty in 1839, sparking the First Opium War after Chinese officials attempted to halt the illegal and destructive British drug trade.
The First Opium War began in 1839 after the Chinese government seized and destroyed over 20,000 chests of British opium to combat widespread addiction. Britain responded with naval force, viewing the seizure as an interference with free trade and an insult to the crown.
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