Asian Imperialism Study Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the study of Asian Imperialism, focusing on China and Japan.

Three Cornered Trade System

A trade system involving Britain, India and China. Britain would trade finished textile to India in exchange for opium and then would trade that opium to China for tea. It destroyed the textile industry in India and got China addicted to opium.

Extraterritorial Rights

Legal rights allowing foreign nationals to be exempt from local laws and jurisdiction.

The 1st Opium War

A conflict between Britain and China (1839-1842) over trade rights and opium trade.

The 2nd Opium War

A conflict between Britain, France, and China (1856-1860) leading to expanded foreign privileges.

Special Economic Zones

Areas within a country that allow for more free-market economic policies and foreign investment.

Taiping Rebellion

A massive civil war in China (1850-1864) led by Hong Xiuquan against the Qing dynasty.

Treaty of Nanjing

The 1842 treaty that ended the First Opium War and ceded Hong Kong to Britain.

Self-strengthening movement

A late 19th century reform effort in China aimed at modernizing military and industry.

Sphere of influence

A region where a foreign nation exerts economic and political control.

Open Door Policy

A U.S. policy that aimed to ensure equal trading rights in China and prevent colonies.

Boxer Rebellion

An anti-foreign uprising in China (1899-1901) led by the 'Boxers' to expel foreign influence.

Tokugawa

The last feudal Japanese military government that ruled from 1603 to 1868.

Shogunate

The historical Japanese government system led by a shogun.

Treaty of Kanagawa

The 1854 treaty that opened Japanese ports to American trade, ending Japan's isolation.

Meiji Era

A period of rapid modernization in Japan (1868-1912) following the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Russo-Japanese War

A 1904-1905 conflict between Russia and Japan over imperial ambitions, leading to Japanese victory.

Treaty of Portsmouth

The 1905 treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War, mediated by Theodore Roosevelt.

Annexation

The formal incorporation of one territory into another.

Shiderhara Diplomacy

A diplomatic approach that emphasized compromise and cooperation between Japan and Western powers.

Mao Zedong

Chinese communist revolutionary and founding father of the People's Republic of China.

Jiang Jieshi/Chiang Kai-shek

Leader of the Nationalists in China who opposed the communists.

Cultural Revolution

A sociopolitical movement initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966 aiming to preserve communist ideology.

Long March

A major military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China.

Manchus/Qing

A nomadic people who established the Qing Dynasty in China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 and expanding the empire's territory.

Queen Victoria

The monarch of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901, who oversaw a period of significant expansion of the British Empire and industrial progress.

Lin Zexu

A Chinese scholar and official of the Qing Dynasty, known for his strong opposition to the opium trade and his role in the First Opium War.

Hong Xiuquan

The leader of the Taiping Rebellion in China (1850-1864), who sought to establish a utopian society based on his interpretation of Christianity.

Frederick Ward

An American soldier of fortune known for leading the Ever Victorious Army, he played a significant role in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion in China.

Charles Gordon

A British army officer and military engineer, best known for his command of the Ever Victorious Army during the Qing Dynasty and for his later role in the Sudan.

Dowager Empress Cixi

The de facto ruler of China during the late Qing Dynasty, she wielded significant power from 1861 until her death in 1908, known for her influence over critical reforms and resistance to foreign intervention.

Samurai

A member of the Japanese warrior class, known for their adherence to a strict code of honor and loyalty, the Samurai played a crucial role in Japan's feudal society and were skilled in martial arts and strategy.

Shogun

The military ruler of Japan, the Shogun held significant power and authority over the samurai and the country, especially during the feudal period. Shoguns governed in the name of the emperor and were key figures in Japan's political and military history.

Daimyo

A powerful feudal lord in Japan who ruled over large estates and had his own samurai warriors. Daimyos played a significant role in the political and military structure of feudal Japan.

Matthew Perry

A United States Navy Commodore who played a key role in opening Japan to the West in the mid-19th century. His expedition in 1853 led to the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa, which marked the end of Japan's isolationist policy.

Millard Fillmore

13th President of the United States, he served from 1850 to 1853 and was instrumental in signing the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened Japan to American trade.

Joel Abbot

An American naval officer and diplomat FROM WESTFORD who played a role in U.S.-Japan relations during the 19th century, specifically following the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa.

Mutsuhito

Also known as Emperor Meiji, he ruled Japan from 1867 to 1912 and oversaw the country's rapid modernization and industrialization, transforming it into a major world power.

Theodore Roosevelt

26th President of the United States, he served from 1901 to 1909; negotiated the end of the Russo-Japanese War with the Portsmouth Treaty

Kita Ikki

A Japanese nationalist and political thinker, Kita Ikki advocated for a radical transformation of Japan's political system and was influential in the early 20th century nationalist movements.

Emperor Hirihito

The Emperor of Japan from 1926 to 1989, Hirohito was a key figure during World War II and the post-war period, overseeing Japan's transition to a constitutional monarchy.

Reforms in the Meiji Restoration

1.) An oligarchy was established

2.) The army and navy were modernized/strengthened

3.) Industry was established - beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Japan

4.) A new constitution was written (based on the German model)

5.) Japanese society became less dependent on class

6.) New nation-wide system of education was instituted (based on western model)

7.) Modern banking was introduced

8.) A modern merchant fleet was developed

The Effects of the Russo-Japanese War

Treaty of Portsmouth-Russia had to withdraw from Manchuria and Korea and Japan got all the captured territories, Japan became a major world power and the first Asian imperial nation; first time an asian nation defeated a European nation

The Effects of the Opium Wars

1.) China forced to sue for peace in 1842

2.) The Treaty of Nanjing opened multiple Chinese ports to British traders

3.) Led to the Taiping Rebellion and Britain’s extraterritorial laws over the Chinese

The Effects of SIno-Japanese War

Japan ended up fully annexing Korea, and got their first colonies (Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands). Eventually led to the Russo-Japanese War and established Japan as a formidable imperial power in East Asia.

The Causes of the Taiping Rebellion

1.) Population grew so big famines occured

2.) Food production barely increased

3.) Food prices rose and not everyone could afford it

The Effects of the Taiping Rebellion

1.) 20+ million died

2.) Fueled other smaller rebellions

3.) Foreign powers increased

The Causes of the Boxer Rebellion

1.) Foreign nations carved China up into areas of control demanding special trading rights

2.) Christian missionaries were viewed as agents of colonial powers, angered the locals

3.) Anti-foreigner sentiments grew, leading to increasing violence against foreigners and Chinese Christians.

The Effects of the Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Protocol - Forced China to pay silver to foreign nations and foreign powers were allowed to station troops in Beijing. The Qing Dynasty was crippled and lost the trust of the Chinese people.

Compare/Contrast 18th Century China to 18th Century Europe

1.) Europe: Monarchies started to shift to democracy

China: Imperial Bureaucracy

2.) Europe: Adam’s Smith’s capitalism, introduction of joint-stock companies, trade was sanctioned by govts.

China: Less focus on trade, mercantilism was looked down upon; Farmers and agriculture were valued, main economic activity

3.) Europe: Judeo-Christian Beliefs: Belief in single deity, humankind is sinful, afterlife, atheism was introduced after enlightenment.

China: Confucian beliefs dominate, emphasizing harmony, filial piety, and ancestor worship, with a focus on moral governance and societal stability.