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== Summary ==
{{Battlemap|war=2nd China War 1856-60<br>First Campaign|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.000472882d5dee7fc8ee2&ll=33.614619,116.982422&spn=28.953303,44.912109&t=p&z=5}}
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.
