First chapter test important dates and happenings

Economic reasons for the ‘scramble of Africa’

Economic reasons for the ‘scramble of Africa’

The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) meant Europeans needed more resources. This meant they went to Africa and Asia where resources were in abundance. However this led to the Long depression (1873-1896) when production > demand.

Political reasons for the ‘scramble of Africa’

European borders settled in 1871 but Europeans wanted more power, prestige, and influence as nationalism was on the rise. This can be seen in the Naval Defence Act of (1889) and the White Mans Burden.

Social reasons for the ‘scramble of Africa’

New working class!! the development of Quinine allowed for more colonisation as people weren’t scared of Malaria anymore. Moreover, Egyptian instability led to the British takeover of the Suez Canal and Cape Colony in 1882.

Benefits on Africa

• Education for natives

• Water sanitation

• New transport system

• Developed states

• Better Farming

Drawbacks on Africa

• Didn’t consider African Geography

• African culture undermined

• Killed/exiled African government

• Administrative hierarchy

• changed African economy

• Land-ownership change

• Large scale exploitation

Fashoda Incident

• 1898, clash between British and French expansion ambitions. Both claimed Sudan

• As France just lost the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871) they knew they could not take in Britain and were told to stand down

• France took Morocco and Britain claimed Sudan and Egypt

Germany Weltpolitik

• Kaiser Wilhelm II came into power in 1888 and embarked on Weltpolitik which allowed for aggressive involvement in colonialism.

• Their expansion of the Navy in the North sea threatened Britains Naval Defence Act (1889)

Entente Cordiale

• In 1904, the Fashoda incident was settled and the cordiale was signed which ended the long-standing rivalry with France and Britain.

• They signed this also due to their shared worry of Germany’s coming to power. Germany felt threatened by this Cordiale

Agadir and Morocco

• As a way to cause conflict, Kaiser Wilhelm II made a speech in support of the Moroccan Independence which led to the Moroccan crisis of 1905.

• Again in 1911, after their failure in 1905, Germany sent a gunboat to Morocco to cause conflict again which caused the Algeciras crisis.

The Boxer Rebellion

• From 1898-1901, Chinese nationalists rebelled against the government due to their failure to prevent foreign influence which the government eventually joined and declared war on the foreign powers.

• The 8 power alliance eventually defeated the rebellion and had their own slice of China.

Boer Wars

• After the first Boer War of 1881, Britain wanted the Orange Free State and Transvaal. The Dutch farmers felt threatened and eventually had Germany supply them with arms. This started a guerrilla war between Britain and the Dutch Farmers.

• The Dutch farmers lost after Britain started using explosives and concentration camps which ended in British win. However, it left 120,000 casualties and 210. million euros in war costs.

Commodore Perry

• In 1853, American sailors came back to America after crashing onto Japanese island however they seemed to be treated badly

• Commodore Perry confronted Japan about their refusal to trade and threatened violence with Japan if they refused to trade with them which ended with 2 ports opening

Meiji restoration

• As the opening of ports came with enormous risk, they decided to start modernisation as a way to avoid their colonisation in 1867.

• A german modeled constitution was made, all regions were united and developed their own military, Navy, education system and industrialisation.

First Sino-Japanese war

• Japan knew they had limited resources as they were an island so in 1894, Japan looked at China for overseas possessions. Japan knew this was an opportunity to test its military strengths.

• Japan quickly overtook Korea, Manchuria and Peking.

• Under the Treaty Of Shimonoseki in 1895, Japan ceded Korea,

Russo-Japanese war

• As Russia started to move further up to China reaching Korea, Japan tried to negotiate but Russia wanted war as they believed they were superior to Japan.

• In 1904, Japan destroyed two warships and pushed Russia all the way back to Mukden. At this time Japan also gained control of the nearby seas which meant that Russia had to go around Europe to reach China instead. As Britain had control of the Suez Canal, they refused Russian entry which made their trip longer.

• When Russia finally got to a face-off with Japan, they ended up losing to Japans more modernised ships.

• The Treaty Of Portsmouth ended Russian influence in Manchuria and Kora was formally recognised as Japans.