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Qing Dynasty Slavery

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The Qing dynasty was the last dynasty to rule in China before the turn of the modern century. During the Qing dynasty an initial expansion of slavery and bondage occurred, and the Qing people possessed about two million slaves when their conquest of China began (Hinks). Qing rulers soon saw advantages with phasing out slavery and began to introduce slave reforms, turning previous slaves and serfs into a peasant class. The practice of selling slaves accompanied with land, and the physical abuse of slaves became forbidden for landowners in China underneath the Qing government. These reforms were some of the first China had seen in the proper treatment of slaves, and were largely successful. Between 1723 and 1730 Qing rulers freed the large majority …show more content…

Lower class, uneducated individuals from rural areas commonly move to large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing to find work. Due to being uneducated and desperate for work these individuals are at high risk to being incorporated into modern slavery. Many traffickers trick these victims into working in sweatshops under harsh conditions for little to no pay. Cases of violations of labor standards commonly involve mentally disabled people working illegally under harsh working conditions (“China - Global Slavery Index …show more content…

An organized practice of couples having children exclusively for the purpose of selling them exists in China. These children often end up being sold as illegally adopted sons and daughters, or being sold into forced marriages and sex trafficking (“China - Global Slavery Index 2016”). Traffickers will transport children to urban areas forcing them to partake in a practice known as forced begging, in which they will pose as homeless in order to receive donations. Traffickers will also deceive minority families into believing that they can provide their children with jobs in hospitality, construction or manufacturing but are instead forced to engage in criminal activity or prostitution. An estimated 1.5 million children are currently enslaved in China (“China - Global Slavery Index

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