Economic Imperialism
Independent but less developed nations controlled by private business interests rather than by other governments; examples include British East India Company influence in India, Banana Republics in Honduras
Social Darwinism
The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies - particularly as a justification for their racism and imperialist expansion
Civilizing Mission
the concept that Western nations could bring "advanced" science and economic development to non-Western parts of the world that justified imperial administration; included notion that colonialism was a duty for Europeans and a benefit for the colonized.
White Man's Burden
idea that Europeans had a duty to spread their religion and culture to those "less civilized;" originally coined by a British poet and writer named Rudyard Kipling in his poem of the same name
Belgian Congo
Exploited by Leopold II at Belgium under the Berlin Act, Leopold was supposed to act as a trustee. He violated the agreement and stripped the country of its resources and mutilated its people
Settler Colony
Large numbers of people come to the colonies to live in the colony and establish a permanent presence. Britain established these including Jamestown and New Zealand
Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement
Pivotal movement that weakened 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; an example of an indigenous rebellion against European imperial expansion
Ghost Dance Movement
The last effort of Native Americans to resist US domination and drive whites from their ancestral lands, often viewed as an indigenous religious movement.
Indian Revolt of 1857
Also called the Indian's first War of Independence; began in 1857 as a revolt of Sepoys (soldiers) of the British East Indian Company army; was ended by British military and resulted in full British control of India and loss of British East India Company's power
Opium Wars
wars between Great Britain and China, began as a conflict over the opium trade as GB illegally imported opium produced in the Middle East and South Asia in hopes of forcing trade with China; ended with the Chinese treaty to the British- the opening of 5 Chinese ports to foreign merchants, and the grant of other commercial and diplomatic privileges
Boxer Rebellion
1899 rebellion in Beijing, China started by a secret society of Chinese who opposed the "foreign devils". The rebellion was ended by British troops; led to decreased power and influence of the Qing Dynasty
Taiping Rebellion
(1850-1864) A revolt by the people of China against the ruling Manchu Dynasty because of their failure to deal effectively with the opium problem and the interference of foreigners.
Spheres of Influence in China
an area where a foreign nation controlled economic developments such as railroad construction and mining; occurred in China after the Opium Wars
ethnic enclave
A place with a high concentration of an ethnic group that is distinct from those in the surrounding area; a result of migration movements driven by industrialization
Chinese Exclusion Act
(1882) The US denied any Chinese laborers to enter the country while allowing students and merchants to immigrate.
White Australia Policy
Before 1973, a set of stringent Australian limitations on nonwhite immigration to the country. It has been largely replaced by a more flexible policy today; a reaction to migrations driven by industrialization
Cecil Rhodes
British entrepreneur and politician involved in the expansion of the British Empire from South Africa into Central Africa. The colonies of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) were named after him; representative of African imperialism in the 19th century
Treaty of Nanjing
1842, ended Opium Wars in China and led to diminished Chinese political and economic power; set up 5 treaty ports where westerners could live, work, and be treated under their own laws; one of these was Hong Kong.
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.
Berlin Conference
A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules to colonize Africa