British-dominated Shanghai

In the middle of the 19th-century, their victory in the First Opium War allowed for British expansion into Chinese territory. The newly established British settlements, formed after the Treaty of Nanking, allowed for five treaty ports to open up in Shanghai city. These ports brought in American and French involvement, and began as one of the most notable colonial periods driven by trade and resources in the 1800s.

The Shanghai International Settlement allowed for consular jurisdiction from Americans and British, and 19th-century Shanghai would see a long and drawn-out period of occupation. At the time of the international settlement, Shanghai was already under unequal treaties with other world powers. When the French decided to depart with their own settlement in 19th-century Shanghai, the American and British settlements would combine to create the Shanghai International Settlement.

In the International Settlement, residents would live under foreign influence and rule. The united municipal council was formed without consideration of the local consular officials, forming government actions to build roads and tax the local concessions. During this time period, citizens of China were subjected to extreme taxation, monopoly over their commerce and economy, and lived under increasing British and American rule. 

As the council came to hold a monopoly over all of the International Settlement, Shanghai would experience one of the most influential colonial periods in history. British, American, and French rule over many parts of Asia involved artificial economies designed to funnel money into the colonial powers. Similar to the rubber farms of Vietnam, citizens would live under police forces, utility providers, and commerce that was dominated by the British. These conditions led to revolts, including incidents where citizens were shot by 19th-century Shanghai International Settlement officers, placing British colonial rule in an ever-increasing negative light.

Countries like Italy, France, and many other European powers played a heavy involvement in the colonization of Asia prior to, during, and after the period of the Opium War. The International Settlement of 19th-century Shanghai was entirely foreign-controlled with staff from Denmark, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, and even workers from New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries. The only department not led by a British figurehead was led by an Italian figurehead. 

These settlements were patrolled by their own police and fire force composed of foreign agents, and also had a defense system named the Shanghai Defense Force. This military reserve would face plenty of resistance over the years until it was eventually fortified by a permanent installment of forces from the British Army in 1927. 

Imperial Japan
In the turn of the 20th century, Japan had increasingly imperial motives throughout Asia. The Japanese were also under the same kind of unfair treaty ports experienced by the Chinese at the time, but Japan negotiated with western powers to remove these treaties during its increasingly modernized age. As it departed from colonial rule, the nation would join in with the European powers to craft treaty ports of its own, thus beginning the Japanese colonization of China. 

During World War I, Japan was able to expand within China by siding with the British and French, taking over all German territory within Shanghai–and becoming the largest population of foreign citizens within the city. Under the pretense of Chinese aggression, Japan would eventually invade Shanghai in 1930. Throughout World War II, the city would see occupation from Japanese forces, occupying the Shanghai International Settlement until it was returned to Chinese through multiple treaties with the British and Americans. 
 

Learn About Chinese History

The history of colonialism is ripe with academic value, providing insight into the problems of the past to craft solutions for the future. Gale provides much-needed resources of this period to scholars, students, researchers, and educators alike, paving an open road to a more informed tomorrow. Any collection can be bolstered with resources on the conquest and eventual liberation of Shanghai, the colonization of Asia, and the different imperial entities that would craft this period like Great Britain, Japan, America, France, Italy, and more. 

COLLECTIONS INCLUDED

Foreign Office (FO) Series

Date Range: 1836–1955

Series: FO 93, 371, 656, 671, 672, 881, 914, 925, and 1092

Ministry of Labour

Date Range: 1941

Series: LAB 2

Treasury

Date Ranges: 1939–1943

Series: T 160

War Office

Date Ranges: 1927–1935

Series: WO 32

Public Record Office Maps and Plans

Date Range: 1924

Series: MR 1