Imperialism and Colonialism: Key Concepts and Historical Events

Old Imperialism

Pre-1750 expansion focused on trade routes, ports, and coastal settlements; driven by mercantilism and trade.

New Imperialism

Post-1750 expansion involving direct political control of territories; driven by industrialization, nationalism, and ideology.

Industrialization (cause of imperialism)

Created demand for raw materials, new markets, and cheap labor, fueling imperial expansion.

Colonial Imperialism

Direct control of territory and people by a foreign power (ex: British India).

Economic Imperialism

Control of a region's economy without direct political rule (ex: China).

Political Imperialism

Control through puppet governments or protectorates.

Socio-cultural Imperialism

Imposition of language, religion, education, and culture on indigenous peoples.

Nationalism

Strong pride in one's nation that encouraged competition for empires.

Darwinism

Theory of natural selection ("survival of the fittest").

Social Darwinism

Belief that stronger nations were justified in dominating weaker ones.

White Man's Burden

Idea that Europeans had a moral duty to civilize non-Western peoples.

Scramble for Africa

Rapid European colonization of Africa during the late 1800s.

Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

European meeting that divided Africa without African participation.

Ethiopia (Abyssinia)

African nation that successfully resisted European colonization.

Liberia

African nation founded for freed enslaved people; remained independent.

Belgian Congo

Colony controlled by King Leopold II marked by brutal exploitation.

King Leopold II

Belgian ruler responsible for human rights abuses in the Congo.

South Africa

Region colonized by the British; rich in diamonds and gold.

Boer Wars

Conflicts between British and Dutch settlers (Boers) over land and resources.

British East India Company

Trading company that ruled India before direct British control.

Sepoy

Indian soldier employed by the British East India Company.

Sepoy Rebellion (1857)

Indian revolt against British rule caused by religious and cultural tensions.

British Raj

Period of direct British government control over India after 1857.

Indian Civil Service

British administrative system used to govern India.

Canton System

Qing policy restricting foreign trade to one port.

Trade Imbalance

China exported more goods than it imported, causing silver shortages for Britain.

Opium

Drug sold by Britain to China to balance trade.

Opium Wars

Wars between Britain and China over opium trade.

Treaty of Nanking (1842)

Ended First Opium War; opened ports and ceded Hong Kong to Britain.

Extraterritoriality

Foreigners not subject to local laws.

Spheres of Influence

Regions where foreign powers controlled trade and investment.

Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)

Controlled by the Dutch for resources and trade.

French Indochina

French colony including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

British Malaysia

British colony important for tin and rubber production.

Australia

British settler colony; indigenous peoples displaced.

Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Native Americans by the U.S. government.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

U.S. policy warning Europe not to colonize the Americas.

Manifest Destiny

Belief that the U.S. was destined to expand westward.

Spanish-American War (1898)

War that resulted in U.S. acquisition of overseas territories.

Philippines

U.S. colony after Spanish-American War.

Puerto Rico

U.S. territory gained in 1898.

Guam

U.S. territory gained from Spain.

Indigenous Resistance

Efforts by native peoples to resist imperial rule.

Ghost Dance

Native American spiritual movement opposing U.S. expansion.

Philippine Resistance

Armed resistance to Spanish and later U.S. rule.

Maori

Indigenous people of New Zealand who resisted British colonization.

Xhosa Wars

Conflicts between the Xhosa people and European settlers in South Africa.

Cultural Resistance

Efforts to preserve traditional beliefs and practices.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Feudal military government that isolated Japan.

Isolationism

Policy of limiting contact with foreign nations.

Matthew Perry

U.S. naval officer who forced Japan to open trade.

Treaty of Kanagawa (1854)

Agreement opening Japanese ports to the U.S.

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Political revolution that modernized and industrialized Japan.

Westernization

Adoption of Western technology, military, and education.

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

War where Japan defeated Russia, proving its modernization.

Main cause of New Imperialism

Industrialization

Main justification for imperialism

Nationalism and Social Darwinism

Two African nations that resisted colonization

Ethiopia and Liberia

Difference between direct and indirect imperialism

Direct controls government; indirect controls economy or influence