6.2 - Ap World

Describe the point of view of King Leopold toward imperialism

He wanted the belgians to conquer African land in the Congo basin

In general, summarize the relationship Europe had with Africa prior to this point.

The original relationship had been based on the interactions from the slave trade. Even though most European countries deemed this illegal they still continued to export manufactured goods to africa and import africa's natural resources.

European presence was specifically limited in Africa at first. Why did this change?

• British colonists became more numerous in the 1800s and Europe expanded with the use of better military technology. 

What was the significance of the Suez canal - how did they build it? How did it impact Egypt?

• It shortened the water route to Asia

• It was managed by the french but over 1 million egyptians made up the labor (forced to work, unpaid, as a form of taxation)

• Many died during the building of the canal and when the unrest of the egyptians began to threaten Britain's commercial interests, britain seized control of egypt

Describe the following colonies of West Africa in your own words: Sierra Leone

• est 1787

• Home for freed slaves

Describe the following colonies of West Africa in your own words: Gambia

• est 1816

• Another base to stp the exportation of slaves

Describe the following colonies of West Africa in your own words: Lagos

• crown colony in 1861

• Base for the annexation of modern Nigeria

Describe the following colonies of West Africa in your own words: Ghana and Gold Coast

• ghana was acquired by Britain in stages

• Gold coast; crown colony in 1874

• Asante Empire (north): 1901

What three things is Britain bringing to these colonies:

•  Western education

• English

• Christianity 

 

 How does Britain expand its empire in West Africa? Explain.

• Diplomacy and warfare

• Tricked the leaders of african territories into signing treaties that ultimately became meaningless and resulted in wars that the europeans won

Summarize the presence of the French in Africa (by the way, a ‘settler colony’ is where a country sends its people to live there permanently rather than just temporarily).

• 1830: drove ottomans out of algeria and turned it into a settler colony by 1870

  • This attracted many immigrants (french, italian, spanish, maltese)

• They also established trading posts in New guinea, the ivory coast, and niger in competition with the west african colonies of the british 

 

Explain what the ‘Scramble for Africa’ was.

• Industrialized nations competed for the natural resources in africa 

Explain what happens at the Berlin Conference - who is involved? WHO ISN’T?

• Otto von Bismark wanted to keep the peace in Europe so he set up the conference from 1884-1885

  • Here they decided the colonization of africa. They agreed on colonial boundaries and the free movement of goods on Africa's major rivers (Niger and Congo).

  • No africans were invited

Explain what led to the Boer War conflict. Why was there tension between these groups?

• After the British moved into south africa, they began to fight with the afrikaners over land. 

• The british eventually drove afrikaners and africans away from their land and into refugee camps

  • They were segregated by race and known as concentration camps

  • The medical care and sanitation was very poor and the food rations were meager

What was the impact or result of the Boer Wars?

• Britain absorbed the settler colonies in the southern tip of africa 

• Many africans and afrikaners were displaced from their land and found it very difficult to earn a decent living. 

• Many in the concentration camps died (though more died in black camps)

Why was King Leopold’s rule of the Congo different or unique compared to other colonies?

He owned the colonies personally

 Describe Leopold’s treatment of the Congolese. What was the impact of his leadership?

• He used colonial officials against the native congolese and economically exploited the congo free state

• The labor conditions were brutal with many having their hands cut off as a warning, those who couldn’t meet their quotas being brutally killed/beaten, and spouses being held captive so workers wouldn’t run away

By 1900 which countries were unclaimed by Europe? Why were they able to resist?

• Abyssinia (ethiopia), and liberia

• Native forces were too strong

What items do Europeans want from South Asia? How does this lead to the Seven Years’ War?

• Spices, gems, and trade with the East

• France was driven out of India after its loss to britain in the 7 years war

• The british wanted more trading power in India with less competition from the other european powers

What was the role of the East India Company?

• Eventually controlled the entire indian subcontinent and recruited sepoys for the military

China had a different experience than South Asia or Africa - describe how they were imperialized.

• It maintained its own government.

• Europeans were able to carve out spheres of influence through their military prowess

Taiping rebellion

• Caused when local officials launched a campaign against the God Worshipping Society 

• Internal conflicts made China an easy target

Yellow river

2.  The yellow river also changed course and flooded many areas (lead to drought and lack of food)

Plague

 Bubonic plague contributed to many deaths

Boxer rebellion

During this rebellion many native chinese christians were killed (instead of the foreigners they were aiming for)

Why did Japan end its isolation in 1853 - what impact did this have on the country?

• They were threatened

• It led to the Meiji restoration, an overthrowing of the traditional government. 

  • Caused Japan to rapidly industrialize and made japan look outwards to expand itself

Where is Japan imperializing/setting up colonies? How could this help them successfully colonize further?

• Mexico and Latin America

• They used the money they gained from these colonies to create an empire in east asia

The Dutch in Southeast Asia

• Began with a private company

• 1641 they controlled the spice islands

• Dutch east India Company took over trade from portuguese and set up several trading posts

  • very profitable but they eventually went bankrupt from corruption

• Dutch took control of Dutch East Indies

• islands began producing crops that supported the dutch economy

• the plantations restricted the amount of rice farmers could grow which led to hardships for indonesian farmers who relied on said crops to survive

The French in Southeast Asia

• Wanted an imperial presence in asia: desired cash crops

• Gained control of Northern vietnam after defeating china in the sino-japanese war

• Pressured siam to cede control of lagos 

• By 1890s controlled cambodia, laos, and all of vietnam

  • Nations known as french Indochina

The British in Southeast Asia

• Influence began when East India Company acquired Penang in 1786

• Founded port of singapore in 1824

  • Chinese immigrants made it the most important seaport in SEA

• Eventually controlled all of Malay peninsula: Burma, northern Borneo

• Investors attracted by mineral wealth (ex; tin and gold)

• Promoted planting of cash crops (rubber, pepper, tobacco, etc)

• End of 19th C, Malay was the greatest producer of rubber

Siam

 Modern day Thailand

- Escaped 19 C imperialism

- Monarchs handled diplomatic relations with british and french

- Instituted a series of modernizing reforms

    - built railroads

    - western style schools

Why did the British decide to colonize Australia?

Lost its american colonies

How did British rule impact Australia and New Zealand?

• Penal colonies were established to house convicts and that became its chief economic activity

• Began to grow after the discovery of its fine wool industry and later the discovery of copper and gold

• War broke out with the maori

• Gold rush provided a market for foodstuffs

  • Sheep grazing and dairy farming were the base for the economy

How did the US imperialize American lands?

• Took land from the indigenous

How did the Monroe Doctrine give the US power in the Americas?

• It kept the European powers from interfering in the politics of the colonies

How does Manifest Destiny connect to imperialism?

• It provides the colonists with a religious justification/motivation for what they do

List the locations of and impact on those imperialized overseas.

• Hawaii became a US territory after the US overthrew the monarch

• Gained guam, Cuba, puerto Rico, and the Philippines in the Spanish-American war

• The roosevelt company stated that if there was any instability in the Latin american countries, the US would intervene

Summarize the expansion of Russia - where did they go, when?

• Catherine the Great annexed half of poland from the ottomans

• Alexander I annexed Finland, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and a part of armenia

What was the Great Game - explain Russia’s role in it.

• Russias continued pushing into central asia led to an unsuccessful rivalry with the british over dominance in afghanistan

• Russia also annexed lands in China (notably Manchurian)