Treaty of Tientsin ends the first phase of the Second Opium War

Background. The Second Opium War, also known as the Arrow War, began in 1856 following the seizure of the British ship Arrow. By 1858, British and French forces had captured Canton and moved north, seizing the Taku Forts and threatening Beijing. This military pressure forced the Qing court to negotiate, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Tientsin in June 1858.

Signatories and Parties. The Treaty of Tientsin was a collective name for several treaties signed at Tianjin. The parties included Great Britain, France, Russia, and the United States. The Xianfeng Emperor authorized negotiations in May 1858, though he later resisted Western encroachment. The treaties were eventually ratified by the Emperor in 1860 via the Convention of Peking.

Immediate Aftermath. Although the treaties ended the first phase of the war, they failed to satisfy British goals for improved trade. In June 1858, hawkish ministers prevailed upon the Xianfeng Emperor to resist Western encroachment, leading to renewed conflict. The war concluded in 1860 with the Convention of Peking, which ratified the earlier treaties and resulted in significant territorial concessions.