What was the impact of the British opium trade on China?
a. The opium trade had little economic effect on China in the long run.
b. Its use was restricted to the peasantry of northern China, where production of food rapidly decreased.
c. The government was quickly able to halt the importation of opium, so that it did not have the disastrous impact on the Chinese population that was expected.
d. Due to the addiction of the imperial court, the British were welcomed as a valuable trade partner of China.
e. Within years China's favorable balance of trade was reversed and silver began to flow out of the country.
Answer: E