23. The Second Opium War further imposed the will of the British Empire in China by trying to legalize the opium trade so they could capitalize on the 12-15 million citizens addicted to the drug.
Following the First Opium War, British traders lobbied for the legalization of the opium trade and demanded that the Treaty of Nanking be renegotiated, opening all of China to British trade. When the Chinese refused the British demands, diplomatic efforts to resolve the outstanding issues failed. With the support of the French, Great Britain initiated a second war in China, which overthrew the Emperor and deposed the government. The conditions of peace imposed by the British Empire included the opening of all China to British trade and the legalization of the opium trade throughout China, where an estimated 12-15 million people were addicted to its use.