Imperialism
A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.
Social Darwinism
The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their imperialist expansion.
Nationalism
A feeling of pride, loyalty, and protectiveness toward one's country or "nation."
indigenous
native
Civilizing Mission
The concept that Western nations could bring advanced science and economic development to non-Western parts of the world. Used as a supposedly "humanitarian" justification for imperialism.
Settler Colonies
Colonies in which the colonizing people settled in large numbers, rather than simply spending relatively small numbers to exploit the region; particularly noteworthy in the case of the British colonies in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
King Leopold II
King of Belgium. He was active in encouraging the exploration of Central Africa and became the infamous ruler of the Congo Free State, in which he exploited Congolese labor to extract profits from the rubber trade, killing millions in the process.
Non-state entities
An organization not directly controlled by the national government. In this period, non-state entities like the British East India Company began to hand over control of their territory for their respective national governments.
Túpac Amaru II
Member of Inca aristocracy who led a rebellion against Spanish authorities in Peru in 1780-1781. He was captured and executed with his wife and other members of his family.
Samory Touré
Leader of Malinke peoples in West Africa who formed an army that fought against French for 15 years and proclaimed himself King of Guinea.
Yaa Asantewaa
Led the fight against the British in the last Asante war.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
A revolt led by the "Sepoy" soldiers against the British rule in India. Sparked by the use of animal fat in gun cartridges.
Sokoto Caliphate
Founded in 1809 by Uthman dan Fodio, this African state was based on Islamic history and law.
Zulu Kingdom
Founded by Shaka Zulu in southeastern Africa. Conquest was made possible with highly trained soldiers and short, stabbing spears. An illustrative example of the creation of a new state and anti-imperial resistance.
Ghost Dance Movement
The last effort of Native Americans to resist U.S. domination and drive whites from their ancestral lands, came through as a religious movement.
Mahdist Wars in Sudan
The Mahdist War was a war of the late 19th century between the Mahdist Sudanese of the religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the "Mahdi" of Islam, and the forces of the Khedivate of Egypt, initially, and later the forces of Britain.
Peripheries
The outer edge or limits of a state or territory
Cotton
The plant that produces fibers from which many textiles are woven. Native to India, it spread throughout Asia and then to the New World. It has been a major cash crop in various places, including early Islamic Iran, Yi Korea, Egypt, and the U.S.
Guano
Bird droppings used as fertilizer; a major trade item of Peru in the late nineteenth century.
Palm Oil
A West African tropical product often used to make soap; the British encouraged its cultivation as an alternative to the slave trade.
Opium Wars
Wars between Britain and the Qing Empire (mind 1800s), caused by the Qing government's refusal to let Britain import Opium. China lost and Britain and most other European powers were able to develop a strong trade presence throughout China against their wishes.
Port of Buenos Aires
Capital of Argentina that was transformed into bustling port through the infusion of capital from British firms. Argentina became one of the world's principal exporters of agricultural products through exploitation of its fertile plains as a result.
Economic Imperialism
Independent but less developed nations controlled by private business interests rather than by other governments.
Golandrinas
"Swallows," Italian workers who traveled between Europe and South America in order to work the harvests in both hemispheres. This work allowed many families to buy their own land for farms.
Coolie Trade
The hiring or kidnapping of poor Chinese workers to serve as cheap labor in places such as Cuba, Peru, and California.
Indentured Servitude
A worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to an overseas destination. Before 1800 most were Europeans; after 1800 most indentured laborers were Asians.
Coerced Labor
Forced labor systems (slavery, indentured servitude, debt peonage)
Ethnic Enclave
A place with a high concentration of an ethnic group that is distinct from those in the surrounding area
White Australia Policy
After a flood of immigrants entered the country in the mid-1800s, laws were passed to allow only whites to immigrate. Ideas of racial superiority also led to brutal violence against native peoples. This antagonized many nations particularly those in Asia.
Chinese Exclusion Act
1882 law that barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States
Nativism
A policy of favoring native-born individuals over foreign-born ones
Xenophobia
Fear of foreigners
Convict labor
A system of penal labor practiced in the Southern United States, beginning after the emancipation of slaves at the end of the American Civil War in 1865 to about around 1880.
Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement
Pivotal movement that broke the back of the Xhosa and ushered in a new era of colonial expansion and domination of South Africa by the British. The prophecy was that killing all cattle would bring back ancient chiefs and ancestors.
Taiping Rebellion
The most destructive civil war in China before the twentieth century. A Christian-inspired rural rebellion threatened to topple the Qing Empire. Leader claimed to be the brother of Jesus.
Scramble for Africa
Sudden wave of conquests in Africa by European powers in the 1880s and 1890s. Britain obtained most of eastern Africa, France most of northwestern Africa. Other countries (Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Spain) acquired lesser amounts.
Berlin Conference
A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules colonization of Africa.
Spheres of Influence in China
China became divided by European powers. The different European countries supported each other through the spheres of influence because of economic advantage.
Capitalism
An economic system based on private ownership of property and competition for profits.
Treaty of Nanjing
"Unequal treaty" to end Opium War in which China had to accept British terms for peace, including giving up the island of Hong Kong.