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Battle of Palikao Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Battle of Palikao and the Second Opium War

Cheat Sheet:
The Battle of Palikao and the Second Opium War Study Guide

The Second Opium War: Context and Precursors

The Battle of Palikao occurred in September 1860, marking a significant engagement during the First Opium War.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Battle of Palikao took place in September 1860, but it was a key event in the Second Opium War, not the First Opium War.

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The Battle of Palikao was a standalone conflict unrelated to the broader Second Opium War.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Battle of Palikao was a pivotal engagement within the larger context of the Second Opium War.

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The Battle of Palikao took place on August 21, 1860, the same day the Taku Forts were captured.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Battle of Palikao occurred on September 21, 1860. The Taku Forts were captured on August 21, 1860, approximately one month earlier.

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The Anglo-French advance on Beijing was halted in 1858 by the signing of the Treaty of Tianjin.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Treaty of Tianjin, signed in 1858, concluded the initial phase of the conflict and halted the Anglo-French advance on Beijing at that time.

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The Anglo-French forces failed to recapture the Taku Forts in 1859, leading to a significant defeat.

Answer: True

Explanation: An attempt by Anglo-French forces to recapture the Taku Forts in 1859, after they had been returned to Qing control, resulted in a significant defeat for the allies.

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The Anglo-French forces successfully captured the Taku Forts on August 21, 1860, reopening the river route to Beijing.

Answer: True

Explanation: The capture of the Taku Forts on August 21, 1860, was a critical success for the Anglo-French forces, as it secured the river route to Beijing.

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The main goal of the Anglo-French expedition was to establish new trade routes in Manchuria.

Answer: False

Explanation: The primary objective of the expedition was to compel the Qing government to adhere to the terms of the 1858 Treaty of Tianjin, which included provisions related to trade and diplomatic access, not specifically new routes in Manchuria.

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The Taku Forts were captured after the Battle of Palikao, securing the river route to Beijing.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Taku Forts were captured on August 21, 1860, which was prior to the Battle of Palikao on September 21, 1860. This capture secured the river route.

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The Treaty of Tianjin signed in 1858 successfully concluded the Second Opium War permanently.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Tianjin was signed in 1858, but it did not permanently conclude the Second Opium War. Violations and subsequent events led to the continuation of hostilities.

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What was the broader conflict that included the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: The Second Opium War

Explanation: The Battle of Palikao was a significant event within the larger military conflict known as the Second Opium War.

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What was the primary objective of the Anglo-French expedition that led to the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: To force adherence to the 1858 Treaty of Tianjin.

Explanation: The primary objective of the Anglo-French expedition was to compel the Qing government to comply with the terms stipulated in the 1858 Treaty of Tianjin.

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The Battle of Palikao: The Engagement

The Battle of Palikao took place at the bridge of Baliqiao, which gave the battle its name.

Answer: True

Explanation: The battle is named after its location, the bridge of Baliqiao, where the engagement occurred.

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The Anglo-French forces numbered approximately 50,000 soldiers, significantly outnumbering the Qing forces.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Anglo-French forces numbered approximately 10,000 soldiers, while the Qing forces were estimated to be around 50,000 strong, meaning the Qing forces significantly outnumbered the Anglo-French.

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The Qing forces sustained approximately 1,200 casualties during the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: True

Explanation: Reports indicate that the Qing forces sustained approximately 1,200 casualties during the engagement.

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The British forces suffered over 50 casualties, including killed and wounded, at the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: False

Explanation: The British forces suffered 2 killed and 29 wounded, totaling 31 casualties, which is not over 50.

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The French forces sustained more casualties than the British forces during the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: False

Explanation: The French forces sustained 3 killed and 18 wounded (21 total), while the British forces suffered 2 killed and 29 wounded (31 total). Therefore, the British sustained more casualties.

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The engagement near Chang-Kia-Wan involved a large Chinese army being dispersed after Anglo-French artillery silenced their guns.

Answer: True

Explanation: The skirmish at Chang-Kia-Wan saw the Anglo-French artillery effectively neutralize the Chinese artillery, leading to the dispersal of the Qing army.

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Two days after Chang-Kia-Wan, the allied cavalry found the Chinese army positioned defensively behind a wide plain.

Answer: False

Explanation: Two days after Chang-Kia-Wan, the allied cavalry encountered the Chinese army positioned defensively in front of a canal with two bridges at Baliqiao, not behind a wide plain.

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During the Battle of Palikao, the Anglo-French forces launched a flanking maneuver while the Chinese army attacked frontally.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Anglo-French forces launched a frontal assault and a flanking maneuver, while the Chinese army attacked frontally and attempted to defend their position.

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Sengge Rinchen's elite Mongolian cavalry successfully broke through the Anglo-French lines.

Answer: False

Explanation: Sengge Rinchen's elite Mongolian cavalry launched charges but were ultimately annihilated by the concentrated firepower of the Anglo-French forces, failing to break through their lines.

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The simplified Chinese name for the Battle of Palikao, 八里桥之战, translates to 'Battle of the Eight-Mile Bridge'.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Chinese name for the battle, 八里桥之战 (Bālǐqiáo zhī zhàn), literally translates to 'Battle of the Eight-Mile Bridge'.

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The infobox image for the Battle of Palikao depicts the Anglo-French commanders.

Answer: False

Explanation: The infobox image typically depicts the location of the battle, such as 'The bridge of Palikao on the evening of the battle,' rather than the commanders.

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The canal and bridges at Baliqiao created an open battlefield, allowing for easy maneuverability for both sides.

Answer: False

Explanation: The canal and bridges at Baliqiao created a bottleneck, restricting maneuverability and trapping Chinese troops, rather than creating an open battlefield.

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The term 'casualties' in the context of the battle reports only includes soldiers who were killed in action.

Answer: False

Explanation: Casualties typically encompass killed, wounded, and sometimes captured or missing personnel. The reported numbers usually include both killed and wounded.

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The fighting at Chang-Kia-Wan was characterized by a prolonged artillery duel between both sides.

Answer: False

Explanation: The engagement at Chang-Kia-Wan involved an initial cavalry skirmish followed by Anglo-French artillery silencing Chinese guns, leading to dispersal, rather than a prolonged artillery duel.

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The term 'annihilated' suggests that Sengge Rinchen's troops suffered minor losses.

Answer: False

Explanation: The term 'annihilated' implies complete destruction and suggests that Sengge Rinchen's troops suffered catastrophic losses, not minor ones.

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In which year did the Battle of Palikao take place?

Answer: 1860

Explanation: The Battle of Palikao occurred in the year 1860.

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Which location gave the Battle of Palikao its name?

Answer: The bridge of Baliqiao

Explanation: The battle is named after the bridge of Baliqiao, where the decisive engagement took place.

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Approximately how many soldiers comprised the Anglo-French forces at the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: 10,000

Explanation: The Anglo-French forces engaged at the Battle of Palikao numbered approximately 10,000 soldiers.

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What was the approximate number of casualties sustained by the Qing forces at the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: 1,200

Explanation: The Qing forces sustained approximately 1,200 casualties during the Battle of Palikao.

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What does the simplified Chinese name for the Battle of Palikao, 八里桥之战, literally translate to?

Answer: Battle of the Eight-Mile Bridge

Explanation: The simplified Chinese name for the Battle of Palikao, 八里桥之战 (Bālǐqiáo zhī zhàn), literally translates to 'Battle of the Eight-Mile Bridge'.

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What was the fate of Sengge Rinchen's elite Mongolian cavalry during the battle?

Answer: They launched charges but were completely annihilated by allied firepower.

Explanation: Sengge Rinchen's elite Mongolian cavalry launched charges against the Anglo-French lines but were ultimately annihilated by the superior allied firepower.

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How did the terrain and geography, specifically the canal and bridges at Baliqiao, influence the battle?

Answer: It created a bottleneck that trapped and exposed the Chinese troops to heavy losses.

Explanation: The canal and bridges at Baliqiao formed a bottleneck, which the Anglo-French forces exploited to trap and inflict heavy losses on the Chinese troops.

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Key Personalities and Forces

The primary belligerents in the Battle of Palikao were the Qing dynasty of China and the Russian Empire.

Answer: False

Explanation: The primary belligerents were the Qing dynasty of China and an alliance of the United Kingdom and France.

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Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant commanded the French forces during the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: False

Explanation: Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant commanded the British forces. The French forces were led by Charles Cousin-Montauban.

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Sengge Rinchen, commanding elite Mongolian cavalry, led the Qing forces at the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: True

Explanation: Sengge Rinchen, a Manchu general, commanded the Qing forces, which included elite Mongolian cavalry units, at the Battle of Palikao.

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Charles Cousin-Montauban was later appointed Prime Minister of France a decade after the Battle of Palikao.

Answer: True

Explanation: Charles Cousin-Montauban, the French commander, was later appointed Prime Minister of France approximately ten years after the Battle of Palikao.

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The term 'belligerents' refers to the civilians affected by the conflict.

Answer: False

Explanation: Belligerents refers to the nations or parties actively engaged in warfare, not the civilians affected by it.

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Who was the principal commander of the British forces during the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant

Explanation: Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant was the principal commander of the British forces engaged in the Battle of Palikao.

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Who commanded the Qing forces, including elite Mongolian cavalry, at the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: Sengge Rinchen

Explanation: Sengge Rinchen was the commander of the Qing forces, which included elite Mongolian cavalry units, during the Battle of Palikao.

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What title was bestowed upon the French commander Charles Cousin-Montauban following the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: Count of Palikao

Explanation: In recognition of his role in the Battle of Palikao, the French commander Charles Cousin-Montauban was awarded the title Count of Palikao.

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The Road to Beijing and its Fall

The victory at the Battle of Palikao enabled the Anglo-French forces to capture the Qing capital, Beijing.

Answer: True

Explanation: Following the decisive Anglo-French victory at Palikao, the path to Beijing was cleared, allowing the allied forces to advance and capture the capital.

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Upon reaching Tianjin on September 1, 1860, the Anglo-French forces immediately opened negotiations with Qing representatives.

Answer: True

Explanation: Following their arrival in Tianjin on September 1, 1860, the Anglo-French forces initiated negotiations with representatives dispatched from Beijing.

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Negotiations between the Anglo-French and Qing representatives were halted because the Qing forces refused to meet.

Answer: False

Explanation: Negotiations were halted not because the Qing refused to meet, but because Qing forces captured the Anglo-French negotiators who were operating under a flag of truce.

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Following the defeat at Palikao, the Xianfeng Emperor remained in Beijing to oversee negotiations.

Answer: False

Explanation: After the defeat at Palikao, the Xianfeng Emperor fled the capital city of Beijing.

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Prince Gong took charge of negotiations with the Anglo-French forces after the Xianfeng Emperor departed Beijing.

Answer: True

Explanation: With the Xianfeng Emperor having fled Beijing, Prince Gong was appointed to conduct negotiations with the Anglo-French forces.

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Beijing officially surrendered to the Anglo-French forces on October 11, 1860.

Answer: True

Explanation: Following preparations by allied engineers to breach the city walls, Beijing officially surrendered to the Anglo-French forces on October 11, 1860.

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What was the strategic importance of the Anglo-French victory at the Battle of Palikao?

Answer: It allowed the Anglo-French forces to advance on and capture Beijing.

Explanation: The victory at Palikao was strategically crucial as it removed the final significant obstacle, clearing the path for the Anglo-French forces to advance upon and capture the Qing capital, Beijing.

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Which event caused the immediate cessation of negotiations between the Anglo-French and Qing representatives in September 1860?

Answer: The Qing forces capturing negotiators operating under a flag of truce

Explanation: The capture of Anglo-French negotiators operating under a flag of truce by Qing forces immediately halted the ongoing peace talks in September 1860.

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What happened to the Xianfeng Emperor after the Qing army's defeat at Palikao?

Answer: He fled the capital city of Beijing.

Explanation: Following the decisive defeat of his army at the Battle of Palikao, the Xianfeng Emperor fled from the capital city of Beijing.

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Who was left in charge of conducting negotiations with the Anglo-French forces after the Emperor fled?

Answer: Prince Gong

Explanation: Prince Gong, the Emperor's brother, was entrusted with the responsibility of conducting negotiations with the Anglo-French forces after the Xianfeng Emperor departed Beijing.

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On what date did Beijing officially surrender to the Anglo-French forces?

Answer: October 11, 1860

Explanation: Beijing officially surrendered to the Anglo-French forces on October 11, 1860, following the military pressure exerted by the allied army.

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Post-Conflict Actions and Treaties

Twenty British, French, and Indian captives died during their imprisonment, with their bodies remaining recognizable.

Answer: False

Explanation: Twenty British, French, and Indian captives died during their imprisonment, but their bodies were reportedly barely recognizable due to the harsh conditions.

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Lord Elgin ordered the destruction of the Forbidden City as retribution for the mistreatment of prisoners.

Answer: False

Explanation: Lord Elgin proposed the destruction of the Forbidden City as a punitive measure, but the Summer Palaces were ultimately destroyed instead.

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The French commander opposed the burning of the Summer Palaces and did not participate in the action.

Answer: True

Explanation: The French commander was opposed to the burning of the Summer Palaces and consequently did not participate in their destruction.

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The Treaty of Tianjin required the Qing court to pay indemnities and accept foreign diplomats in Beijing.

Answer: True

Explanation: Key terms of the Treaty of Tianjin included the Qing court's obligation to pay indemnities and accept the presence of foreign diplomats in Beijing.

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The Treaty of Tianjin explicitly legalized the opium trade between China and Western powers.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Tianjin did not explicitly address or legalize the opium trade. However, its broader terms and the subsequent diplomatic climate effectively permitted the continuation of the opium trade.

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The destruction of the Summer Palaces was intended as a reward for the Qing court's cooperation.

Answer: False

Explanation: The destruction of the Summer Palaces was a punitive measure, intended to punish the Qing court for the mistreatment of prisoners and deter future transgressions.

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Where were the prisoners held after the occupation of Beijing?

Answer: The Ministry of Justice (Board of Punishments)

Explanation: The prisoners captured during the conflict were held in the Ministry of Justice, also known as the Board of Punishments, within Beijing.

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Which imperial palaces were entered and looted by the Anglo-French forces after occupying Beijing?

Answer: The Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace

Explanation: Upon occupying Beijing, the Anglo-French forces entered and looted the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace.

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Who ordered the burning of the Summer Palaces?

Answer: Lord Elgin

Explanation: Lord Elgin, the British High Commissioner, ordered the destruction of the Summer Palaces.

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Which of the following was a key term agreed to in the Treaty of Tianjin?

Answer: The Qing court paying indemnities and accepting foreign diplomats.

Explanation: A significant term of the Treaty of Tianjin required the Qing court to pay indemnities and accept the presence of foreign diplomats in Beijing.

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What was the stated purpose behind Lord Elgin's order to burn the Summer Palaces?

Answer: To punish the Qing court for prisoner mistreatment and deter future kidnapping.

Explanation: Lord Elgin ordered the burning of the Summer Palaces as a punitive measure against the Qing court for the mistreatment of prisoners and to discourage future acts of kidnapping.

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Which of the following statements accurately describes the Treaty of Tianjin's effect on the opium trade?

Answer: It was not explicitly mentioned, but the terms effectively allowed the trade to continue.

Explanation: The Treaty of Tianjin did not explicitly address or legalize the opium trade. However, its broader terms and the subsequent diplomatic climate effectively permitted the continuation of the opium trade.

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How many Anglo-French captives reportedly died during their imprisonment?

Answer: 20

Explanation: Reportedly, twenty Anglo-French captives died during their period of imprisonment.

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