What treaty ended the First Opium War, imposing unequal terms on China?

The Treaty of Nanjing, signed in 1842, marked the end of the First Opium War between Britain and China. This treaty is significant because it imposed a series of unequal terms that favored the British. Key provisions included the cession of Hong Kong to Britain, the payment of heavy indemnities by China, and the establishment of five treaty ports where British merchants could trade freely. The treaty also granted extraterritorial rights to British nationals, meaning they were subject to British laws and not Chinese laws while in China.

This unequal treaty exemplified the broader pattern of Western imperialism in the 19th century, where powerful nations forced weaker states into concessions that undermined their sovereignty and economic autonomy. The Treaty of Nanjing set a precedent for subsequent treaties that further eroded China's integrity, leading to a history of foreign intervention and control in the region.