Imperialism

IMPERIALISM

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically

MOTHER COUNTRY

- A nation (usually European) that acquired and ruled colonies for national gain
- Imports raw materials from the colony, turning them into finished goods some of which are sold to the colonies

COLONY

- Territory ruled by a foreign power - usually overseas
-Produces raw materials for the mother country's factories and buys finished goods produced in the mother country

COLONIZERS

USA, Russia, Japan, European Powers

COLONIZED

Africa, India, China, Korea, Southeast Asia

Why did some European powers expand overseas in the late 19th century?

3 G's:
Gold--To become wealthier
Glory--To dominate others
God--To spread Christianity

Why did Britain want to control Egypt?

shortened transport between Europe and India by building the Suez Canal
Easier to move goods and military forces → advantage over rivals

Cause of Imperialism

New markets and raw materials

Historical context of Imperialism

Industrial Revolution --needed access to cheap raw materials, labor and open markets

European "Justification" for Imperialism

1--Social Darwinism - The Europeans believed their culture was superior to others, and therefore should dominate the world.
2--White Man's Burden

Connection between industrialization and imperialism

European powers, Us, Japan, etc. went through industrialization and needed raw materials for their factories to make products

burden

Something you have to do, but you don't really want to do. A sort of obligation. Ex: Doing homework

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.

White Man's Burden

- Idea that many European countries had a duty to spread their religion and culture to those less civilized
- Europeans had to help because they feel like the people in Africa and Asia are evil and immature.
-Used to justify imperialism
-Theory was based on racism towards people of color

laissez-faire capitalism

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

Why did the British first come to India and what did they want?

Trade\-- British wanted spices, tea, silk.

How did the role of the British East India Company in India change over time?

-Originally they just wanted to trade, but eventually they increased their power. Company tried to settle local disputes and problems and started acting more like a government than a business.

What methods did the British East India Company use to exercise control over India?

SEPOYS:Police force \-- Indigenous people from India who worked for British East Indian company, private army. This is how the company was able to come in and take control.

Why was India considered the "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire?

-High quality goods were in India and in high demand \-- many resources such as tea and cotton and opium

Major Religions in India

Hinduism and Islam

Why was the sepoy rebellion unsuccessful?

Indians did not gain their independence and British government got direct control over India.

After the sepoy rebellion...

British government takes direct control of India.

Why was China so vulnerable to Western Imperialism

China was isolated for many years prior and shut themselves off to trade

What lead up to opium wars

-British wanted tea from China, and China was one of the only places in the world to get this but China didn't want any of the British goods.
-British knew opium was a dangerous drug, it was forbidden in Britain. And yet still sold it to China.

During and After the Opium War

Emperor destroyed the opium, British was enraged, started opium wars.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

An area of nation in which a foreign power controls trade and investment. Created by "unequal treaties" (Treaty of Nanjing)

Extraterritoriality

Europeans did not have to follow Chinese laws, they could only be judged by the laws and courts of their home nation

Who were the Boxers?

A Chinese secret society given the name boxer by foreigners because they practices boxing techniques that they believed made them invisible.

What did the Boxers want?

They wanted foreigners out of China
so they attacked Christians, and Chinese people who converted to Christianity.

Why might it have been difficult for Europeans to colonize Africa?

Sahara Desert, Congo Rainforest, large wildlife, rivers are difficult to navigate, and diseases like malaria.

How did the Europeans get over these problems of colonizing Africa?

-Guns
-Steamboats.
-Quinine- to treat malaria less deadly.
-Telegraph

Berlin Conference

Representatives of European nations agreed on rules colonization of Africa to avoid a war. However, not one African was invited to the meeting.

Define Scramble for Africa.

A time period when Europeans divided and colonized Africa based upon their own needs without consideration of the African people.

Immediate result of Opium War

Signing of the Treaty of Nanking

Mercantilism

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining colonies to provide them with large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.

Areas of British Colonies

North America, parts of Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Australia

Cecil Rhodes

British entrepreneur and politician involved in the expansion of the British Empire from South Africa into Central Africa.

Sepoy Mutiny and Boxer Rebellion

• attempts to remove foreign influence

Sepoy Rebellion (1857)

Revolt of Indian soldiers against the British; caused by a military practice in violation of the Muslim and Hindu faiths (forced to use animal fat to grease their guns)

British East India Company

A joint stock company that controlled most of India during the period of imperialism. This company controlled the political, social, and economic life in India for more than 200 years.