The Declaration of Independence of 1776 began the American
Revolution officially. At the same time, money became the most
pressing issue confronting General George Washington. Raising a
revolutionary army called for heavy financing. It was no accident
that China trade turned out to be so magnetic to a struggling new-
born America.
The Qing court in Peking (Beijing) had no idea what the American
Revolution was about. Virtually, no Chinese cared. But, they cared
about the astonishing range of exotic merchandise coming from a
distant corner of the world known as America. Chinese paid silver
coins for America's seal skins, otter pelts, sandalwood, sea
cucumbers, and ginseng. Yes, Chinese have a long history of
consuming American ginseng.
In a land of rule rather than law, kickbacks and downright bribes
were expected and practiced to grease the hands that moved the
foreign trade along. Local Qing officials were as complicit as their
American visitors when and where their "mutual benefits" were
concerned.
Between 1783 and the early 1800s, America's coffers saw a steady in-
flow of Chinese silver coins. Then, America enjoyed impressive trade
surpluses that helped tide it over until brighter days were on the
horizon. Silver coins shine, don't they?
Like it or not, the love-hate relationship between America and China
practically began with the American Revolution.
Author: renqiulan
