The Opium Wars were little more than about tea, and whether countries should be forced to trade. The British wanted tea and did not yet know how to grow it in India. They also wanted silk and other such things, but tea was the one true 'need' that they simply could not get elsewhere. Chinese officials of course did not want to open the country up to trade. They were willing to sell tea, but …showed first 75 words of 302 total…

…showed last 75 words of 302 total…easily have caused trouble. Did Britain have the right to force China to trade? I don't feel that it did, and that Britain was wrong to attack. Nevertheless, the British did not wake up each morning longing to see far-away Chinese people hooked on opium. All they wanted was a cup of tea to start the day with. The Chinese government could simply have stopped the opium trade easily, by trading in other goods instead.