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1. Latin American countries win independence 2. Napoleon gains and loses power 3. U.S. President Monroe warns Europe against interference in Americas 4. Britain defeats China in Opium War 5. Britain establishes direct rule in India 6. American Civil War embitters North and South 7. European powers plan colonization of Africa 8. Australian colonies gain self-government 9. Japan gains Taiwan after war with China 10. Success of Great Exhibition leads to more world fairs
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4. Britain defeats China in Opium War During the 1800's, European merchants began to bring opium to China as a way to balance trade between the West and China. Opium was illegal in China, so it had to be smuggled in. In 1839, the Chinese tried to stop the illegal trade. Their seizure of opium from British merchants led to the Opium War between China and Britain. Britain easily won the war, which ended with the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. The Treaty gave the Chinese island of Hong Kong to Britain and opened five Chinese ports to British residence and trade.
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