From the wiki page it seems like there was actually a very strong anti-war sentiment in the West at the time (this was not covered in my history classes!) http

From the wiki page it seems like there was actually a very strong anti-war sentiment in the West at the time (this was not covered in my history classes!) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War#Reaction_in_Britain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Opium_War#Reaction_in_Br... A lot of the complaints voiced by the pro-war people ironically hinge on feeling slighted by the imperial court and that the Qing "didnt see them as equals"