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In the 1850s the Western Powers sought to renegotiate their commercial treaties with China. The British wanted opening of all China to merchants, legalization of the [[opium trade ]] and exemption of import tariffs. The Qing Government refused and relations deteriorated when a Hong Kong vessel '"Arrow" was boarded by the Chinese and there was an attempt to poison Europeans in Hong Kong. The French were drawn in following the execution of a missionary and the Russians and Americans also made representations.

A combined British and French force under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Seymour_(Royal_Navy_officer) Admiral Sir Michael Seymour] was despatched and the British army led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bruce,_8th_Earl_of_Elgin Lord Elgin] and the French army led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Louis_Gros Baron Gros], attacked and occupied [[Canton]] (Guangzhou) in late 1857. The combined force then sailed north to capture the Taku Forts outside Tianjin. There was a temporary end to hostilities in June 1858 with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaties_of_Tianjin Treaty of Tianjin] which gave extensive rights to the Western Powers but was rejected by the Qing Government. The outbreak of the [[Indian Mutiny]] prevented forces being deployed to pursue the campaign.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars Opium Wars] Wikipedia<br>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Opium_War 2nd Opium War 1856-60] Wikipedia<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VfgdAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA628&dq=Seymour+Canton+1858&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=Seymour%20Canton%201858&f=false Chronology] Google Books<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Bh0bAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Narrative+of+the+Earl+of+Elgin%27s+mission+to+China+and+Japan&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's Mission to China and Japan] Google Books==== Historical Books on-line ====[http://www.archive.org/stream/frontieroverseas06indi#page/400/mode/2up Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India - Events in China from 1842-60] www.archive.org<br>

[[Category:Wars and Campaigns|China War, 2nd]][[Category:2nd China War 1856-60| 2nd China War]][[Category:Campaigns with FIBIS Battle Maps|China War, 2nd]]