AP World Unit 6

Social Darwinism

Belief that “superior” races should rule “inferior” ones.

Civilizing Mission

European excuse for imperialism- claiming they were “helping” locals.B

Berlin Conference

1884 meeting to divide Africa without African input.

King Leopold II

Controlled the Congo Free State as his personal, brutal colony.

Suez Canal

Connected the Mediterranean and Red Seas; shortened the trip to Asia.

Scramble for Africa

Intense competition between Europeans to colonize Africa.

Settler Colony

Colony where many Europeans moved to live permanently (e.g., Australia)

British Raj

Period of direct British rule in India (1885-1947)

Sepoy Mutiny

Indian soldier revolt against the British; led to direct British control.

Opium Wars

Britain fought China to keep selling opium; resulted in “Unequal Treaties”

Spheres of Influence

Areas in China where foreign powers controlled trade.

Taiping Rebellion

Massive civil war in China against the Qing Dynasty.

Boxer Rebellion

Anti-foreign uprising in China; put down by a 8-nation alliance.

Tupac Amaru II Rebellion

Indigenous revolt against Spanish rule in Peru.

Xhosa Cattle Killing

South African movement to kill cattle to drive out the British (failed)

Ghost Dance

Native American religious movement to resist US expansion.

Guano

Bat/Bird poop used as fertilizer; became a massive trade commodity.

Rubber

Essential for tires; harvested through forced labor in Congo and Brazil.

Palm Oil

West African product used to lubricate industrial machinery.

Diamonds

Discovered in South Africa, leading to a massive “rush” and Cecil Rhodes’ rise.

Monocultures

Economies that rely on only one crop (makes them vulnerable)

Indentured Servitude

Migrant labor (mostly Indian/Chinese) under long-term contracts.

Chinese Exclusion Act

1882 US law banning Chinese immigration.

White Australia Policy

Laws restricting non-white immigration to Australia.

Ethnic Enclaves

Neighborhoods like “Chinatown” where migrants kept their culture.

Banana Republics

Small nations whose economies were controlled by foreign fruit companies.