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Course: World History Project AP® > Unit 6

Lesson 2: 6.1—State Expansion and Economic Imperialism
Arts and humanities
World History Project AP®
Consequences of Industrialization
6.1—State Expansion and Economic Imperialism
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Opium Wars

Google Classroom
Use the "Three Close Reads" approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What was the Chinese-European balance of trade problem in the early nineteenth century?
  2. What product did the British find to solve this balance of trade problem?
  3. What did the Qing Dynasty rulers do in reaction to the flow of opium? How did the British react?
  4. What concessions did the British extract from China following the First Opium War?
  5. How did the Opium Wars affect the Taiping Rebellion?
  6. William Gladstone was a reformer in this period. How did he feel about the First Opium War?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. Using evidence from this video, explain how and why internal and external factors have influenced the process of state building from 1750 to 1900.
  2. British companies wanted to sell opium in China. British military forces supported them. What does this tell us about the relationship between government and private businesses in this era of capitalism and empire?
  3. How does the evidence in this video help you to respond to the Unit Problem, which asks “What were the effects of imperialism, and how did communities try to manage or resist those effects from c. 1750 to 1900 CE?”
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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