More Details

Summary:

"In 1784, when Americans first voyaged to China, they confronted Chinese authorities who were unaware that the United States even existed. Nevertheless, a long, complicated, and fruitful trade relationship was born after American traders, missionaries, diplomats, and others sailed to China with lofty ambitions: to acquire fabulous wealth, convert China to Christianity, and even command a Chinese army. In America's First Adventure in China, John Haddad provides a colorful history of the evolving cultural exchange and interactions between these countries. He recounts how American expatriates adopted a pragmatic attitude--as well as an entrepreneurial spirit and improvisational approach--to their dealings with the Chinese. Haddad shows how opium played a potent role in the dreams of Americans who either smuggled it or opposed its importation, and he considers the missionary movement that compelled individuals to accept a hard life in an alien culture. As a result of their efforts, Americans achieved a favorable outcome--they established a unique presence in China--and cultivated a relationship whose complexities continue to grow."--Publisher's website.

Table of Contents:

• First contact : the voyage of the empress of China
• System men : the rise of Perkins & Co.
• All for a cup of tea : finding goods for the Canton market
• Beachhead of God : the first wave of missionaries
• Rising on smoke : opium and identity in Canton
• Formal ties : the Caleb Cushing mission
• Centrifugal force : the spread of people, goods, capital, and ideas
• Heavenly war : Americans and the Taiping rebellion
• Cooperation : Burlingame and the reinvention of Sino-western relations.

Author/Creator:

Haddad, John Rogers

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

America's first adventure in China: trade, treaties, opium, and salvation [by Haddad, J.R.]

Subjects:

United States — Relations — China

China — Relations — United States

United States — Commerce — China — History — 18th century

China — Commerce — United States — History — 18th century

United States — Commerce — China — History — 19th century

China — Commerce — United States — History — 19th century

Opium trade — China — History — 19th century

Missions, American — China — History — 19th century

China — History — Opium War, 1840-1842

China — History — Taiping Rebellion, 1850-1864

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-273) and index.
Description based on print version record.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Call Numbers:

E183.8.C5 H174 2013eb

ISBNs:

9781439906910 (electronic bk.)
1439906912 (electronic bk.)
9781439906897 (cloth, alk. paper) [Invalid]
1439906890 (cloth, alk. paper) [Invalid]
1439906904 [Invalid]
9781439906903 [Invalid]

Other Standard Numbers:

[Unknown Type]: 40022233604

OCLC Numbers:

833765904

Other Control Numbers:

EBC1158527 (source: MiAaPQ)
[Unknown Type]: ybp9991235