The Beginning Of The 20th Century To The 1930s British And American Tobacco Company And Henan Tobacco Industry

With the imperialism invasion deepening in the early of 20th century, Britain & American Tobacco Co., founded in 1902, came to China and monopolized Chinese tobacco market gradually. In order to decrease product cost and gain the profit as much as possible, it began to look for the compatible tobacco resource in China.Henan province, located in middle of China, has the suitable environment for the growth of Tobacco such as climate and soil etc. and long history of tobacco. Britain & American Tobacco Co. came to Henan province after investigation and succeeded in growing the new-typed tobacco in middle of Henan. It took all kinds of measure to spread the new-typed tobacco so that Xuchang became one of the three tobacco bases of China in the front of 20th century. Therefore, the planting area, output and quality of tobacco there increased obviously. Britain & American Tobacco Co. set up the purchase station in Xuchang and nearly monopolized the tobacco purchase in Henan. The tobacco facture technology changed from basking to baking. Moreover, the national tobacco enterprises developed in Henan, but pushed out by Britain & American Tobacco Co. At the same time, it also exerted a subtle influence on society, economy and people's life of Henan province.During the period from the early of 20th century to 1930s, Britain & American Tobacco Co.'s economy activity in Henan province broke up the traditional agriculture planting structure and accelerated disintegrating the traditional economy, especially in the middle of Henan. It not only improved the breed of tobacco but also had a model effect on the development of national tobacco industry, which pushed on the modernization to society, economy and people's life of Henan. However, Britain & American Tobacco Co. was cruel to conquer in Henan. It plundered tobacco sources and sold its products all by its special rights. The national tobacco industries in Henan just existed difficultly in the condition that Britain & American Tobacco Co. monopolized. Even some tobacco enterprises bankrupted. In a word, the Tobacco of Henan pay great cost for its own development owing to Britain & American Tobacco Co. during this period.