The Second Opium War, sometimes called the Arrow War, can be seen as a continuation of the First Opium War. With imperialism hitting its high point in the 1850’s, western countries wanted more of a say in China. The treaties of Huangpu and Wangxia that China signed with France and the United States respectively in the 1840’s allowed for negotiations after 12 years. The British wanted this privilege as well, and wanted to negotiate the Treaty of Nanking in 1854.
The British wanted all of China to be open to merchants, legalization of the opium trade, foreign imports to be exempt from internal tax duties, the stifling of piracy, regulation of the coolie (Chinese people sent to the west as indentured servants) trade, ambassadors to be allowed to reside in Beijing, and the English version of treaties to take precedence over the Chinese version. China refused to negotiate with any of the countries, which angered the western countries.
Tensions came to a head in October 8, 1856 when Chinese officials boarded the Arrow, a ship rumored to be involved in piracy and smuggling. The officials arrested 12 Chinese subjects from the ship. The Arrow was a Chinese owned ship and registered in Hong Kong, but was flying a British flag and the British claimed it had recently been registered to them. The British demanded the release of the sailors, using the unequal treaties as the legal grounds for this request.
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