Imperialism and Its Impacts from 1750 to 1900

Ap World History

What motivated nationalist sentiments for imperialism among world powers in the late 19th century?

A strong sense of identity and loyalty to a state led powers like Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan to assert authority over other territories.

How did Britain respond to the loss of its American colonies?

Britain sought new lands to open to settlement.

What was France's rationale for expanding its overseas territories post-Franco-Prussian War?

France aimed to compensate for its humiliating defeat by Prussia.

What were the motivations behind Italy and Germany's colonial ambitions?

Italy and Germany, as newly unified states, sought colonies for economic, strategic reasons, and prestige.

How did Japan express its nationalist pride in the late 19th century?

Japan asserted its pride through incursions into Korea.

What form of racism was prevalent among colonial powers during imperialism?

Colonial powers believed they were inherently superior to those they subjugated, often supported by pseudoscientific claims.

What is Social Darwinism and how was it applied during the era of imperialism?

Social Darwinism adapted Darwin's theory of evolution to society, suggesting that certain races were superior and justified imperialism.

What cultural influences did colonizers impose on their colonies?

Colonizers introduced their own language, political, educational, and religious institutions, impacting architecture and recreational activities.

How did missionaries contribute to imperialism?

Missionaries persuaded people to abandon traditional beliefs in favor of Christianity.

What economic motives drove European powers to engage in imperialism?

Companies sought to maximize profits through commercial treaties with local rulers, establishing trading posts and ports.

What was the significance of the Berlin Conference in the context of the Scramble for Africa?

The Berlin Conference, hosted by Otto von Bismarck, established artificial colonial borders that disregarded the realities of local societies.

What were the consequences of the new colonial borders established in Africa?

New borders divided unified societies and united rival groups, leading to conflict.

What conflict arose between the British and Afrikaners in South Africa?

The Boer Wars, where the British army ultimately drove Afrikaners and Africans from their lands.

By 1900, which African countries remained unclaimed by European powers?

Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) and Liberia.

What were the spheres of influence in China during imperialism?

European nations carved out areas in China where they had exclusive trading rights and access to resources.

What was the Boxer Rebellion and who encouraged it?

An anti-imperialist group called the Boxers attacked Chinese Christians and Western missionaries, encouraged by Empress Dowager Cixi.

What was the Monroe Doctrine and its significance?

Issued in 1823, it stated that European nations should not intervene in the affairs of Western Hemisphere countries.

What belief did white Americans hold regarding expansion in the 19th century?

They believed in Manifest Destiny, a right to expand to the Pacific Ocean.

What territories did the U.S. gain after the Spanish-American War in 1898?

Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

What did the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine state?

It stated that the U.S. would intervene in Latin America if countries demonstrated instability.

What did the Proclamation of 1763 reserve for Native Americans?

All the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.

What event in 1829 prompted attempts to force the Cherokee off their land?

The discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Georgia.

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

A law that forced the Cherokee and other Southeast Native American tribes to relocate to what is now Oklahoma.

What was the Ghost Dance movement and what event did it lead to?

A Native American resistance movement that resulted in the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890.

What marked the beginning of the Philippine Revolution in 1596?

Several revolts broke out in provinces around Manila.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Paris regarding the Philippines?

It transferred control of the Philippines from Spain to the United States.

What war broke out following the Treaty of Paris concerning the Philippines?

The Philippine-American War.

How did the introduction of railroads impact colonial markets?

It lowered the cost of transporting raw materials and helped open up colonial markets for manufactured goods.

What was the significance of the electric telegraph invented in 1832?

It transformed communications, allowing news to travel instantaneously.

What agricultural change occurred under imperialist powers?

Subsistence farmers abandoned traditional ways and grew cash crops instead.

What is guano and why is it significant?

Guano is rich in nitrates and phosphates, making it an excellent natural fertilizer.

Why did Britain's Parliament ban Indian cotton textiles in 1721?

Because they competed with the native wool industry.

What were some uses of rubber during this period?

It was used to produce tires for bicycles, hoses, gaskets, waterproof clothing, and shoe soles.

What was the demand for palm oil driven by?

The need for constant lubrication of machinery in Europe's factories and candle making.

What was ivory primarily used for?

Piano keys, billiard balls, knife handles, and ornamental carvings.

What was a consequence of industrialization in terms of raw materials?

The need to find raw materials that could be turned into finished products for global sale.

How did urban population growth affect food demand?

The demand for food was increasingly met by imports made possible by new technology such as refrigeration.

What was the Culture System introduced by the Dutch government in 1830?

It forced farmers to choose between growing cash crops for export or performing compulsory unpaid work.

What Chinese goods were in great demand in Great Britain?

Porcelain, silk, and tea.

What was the role of the English East India Company formed in 1600?

To engage in the lucrative spice trade.

What was the monopoly held by the Dutch East India Company?

Trade with the Dutch East Indies, where the Spice Islands were located.

What was the primary reason for the trade imbalance between Britain and China?

The Chinese were not interested in British goods, leading to low British silver reserves.

What countries sought the same trading privileges in China that Britain gained after the Opium Wars?

Japan, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States.

What are spheres of influence in the context of imperialism in China?

Areas where imperial powers forced China to grant exclusive trading rights.

What were the consequences of opium trade for China?

Opium addiction weakened many people, and China's economy suffered as silver flowed to Britain to pay for opium.

How did cotton production impact the global economy during imperialism?

Cotton became central to the global slave economy, leading to food supply declines as farmers shifted to cotton cultivation.

What was the impact of European control over palm oil production in Sub-Saharan Africa?

European states created a monocrop economy, with local populations not profiting and facing brutal retaliation.

What labor migration occurred from India during the imperial period?

Indian laborers migrated to British colonies in the Caribbean, South Africa, East Africa, and Fiji.

Where did Chinese laborers migrate during the 19th century?

Chinese laborers migrated to California and British Malaya to build railroads and work as farmhands.

What was a common reason for migration among Chinese and Indian workers?

Many became indentured laborers to pay for transportation from impoverished communities to areas with more opportunities.

What drove many Indians to leave the subcontinent in the 19th century?

Poverty was the principal reason for migration.

What initiated the Chinese diaspora in the mid-19th century?

The gold rushes in California, South Australia, and western Canada.

What were some reasons for Irish emigration?

Reasons included becoming part of the United Kingdom and religious discrimination from British rulers.

What was the significance of the first wave of Italian emigration?

It began with the unification of Italy in 1561 and saw over 7 million Italians leave by 1900.

What are ethnic enclaves?

Clusters or neighborhoods of people from the same foreign country formed in major cities.

How did Chinese immigrants fare in Southeast Asia during colonial rule?

They thrived under colonial rule.

What was the role of Indian indentured servants in Mauritius and South Africa?

Many Indians worked on sugar plantations, with both Hindus and Muslims emigrating.

What social system did Hindus bring to South Africa, and what happened to it?

They brought the caste system but soon abandoned it.

What discriminatory provisions were included in the California constitution of 1879 against Chinese workers?

It prohibited hiring Chinese workers and prevented them from becoming citizens.

What was the rationale behind the discrimination against Chinese immigrants in California?

They were deemed 'dangerous to the well-being of the State'.

What measures were encouraged by the California constitution regarding Chinese residents?

Cities were encouraged to remove or segregate Chinese residents.

What was the impact of imperialism on local economies in colonized regions?

Local economies were often exploited for resources, with little benefit to indigenous populations.

How did imperial powers respond to native resistance in colonized areas?

They met resistance with brutal retaliation.

What infrastructure developments were made by imperial states in colonized regions?

Imperial states created railroads and pathways to transport goods back to Europe.