Imperialism Study Guide

King Mongkut

• King of Siam people (Thailand)

• modernized/supported progression

Persia

• fought over by Britain & Russia for oil

• Persia began to cell concessions —> led to tobacco boycott

• Britian took Persia due to civil unrest

Imperialism

siezing of a country/territory by a stronger country

Suez Canal

• Human made waterway connecting the red sea to the Mediterranean

• “Life line of British Empire”

• allowed British quicker access to colonies

• allowed them to eventually occupy Egypt when financial hardships arose

Tobaco Boycott

Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (supported Persian modernization) organized the boycott to oppose Persian Leader (King Mongkut) who allowed British companies to export Persian tobaco

Pacific Rim

• The countries that boarder the Pacific Ocean

• European powers competed for countries in this area due to geographical advantages (geopolitics)

• Sea route to China

• Sources of tropical agriculture, minerals, and oils

Geopolitics

An interest in or taking of land for its strategic location/products/resources

“Jewel in the Crown”

• What the British consider India

• Most valuable colony of Britain

Opium War

• China is self sufficient and does not want to trade w/ anyone

• Britain wanted to find smth China would buy in large quantities —> Got Chinese addicted to Opium

• Quing Emperor became very angry —> sent a letter to Queen Victoria and was ignored

• They would not stop trading Opium —> led to war (took place mostly at sea)

• China lost because Britian was more industrialized

• Peace Treaty of Nanjing was signed

Crimean War

• Russia vs. Ottomans (Russia wanted Ottoman land)

• Fought mostly in peninsula of Black Sea

• Britian/France supported Ottomans (did not want Russia to get more land)

• Russia was defeated

Boxer Rebellion

• Guangxu pushed for China’s modernization —> declined by Chinese government

• poor peasants and workers resented privileges govern to foreigners by gov —> Campaign = Boxer Rebellion

• Boxers stormed Beijing, keeping European section under siege

• Multinational forces defeated them, raising nationalistic feelings