AP World History: Unit 6

Imperialism

A policy where a state extends its power over other territories politically, economically, or militarily

Social Darwinism

Application of “survival of the fittest” to justify European dominance and imperialism

Civilizing mission

Belief that Europeans had a duty to spread their culture, religion, and civilization to non-Western peoples

White Man’s Burden

Idea that Europeans were responsible for ruling and “uplifting” other peoples

Nationalism

Intense pride in one’s nation that fueled competition and empire-building

Economic imperialism

Dominance of one country over another through economic control rather than direct political rule

Colony

Territory settled and ruled directly by people from another land

Protectorate

Territory with its own government but under the control of a foreign power

Sphere of influence

Area where a foreign nation has exclusive economic rights and privileges

Direct rule

Colonial administration where the imperial power governs directly

Indirect rule

Colonial system where local rulers maintain power under imperial supervision

Berlin Conference (1884–85)

Meeting where European powers divided Africa without African participation

Scramble for Africa

Rapid European colonization of Africa in the late 1800s

British Raj

British colonial rule over India after the Sepoy Mutiny

Unequal treaties

Agreements that heavily favored Western powers and limited sovereignty of Asian states

Informal empire

A system where a country exerts economic or political influence without formal colonization

China’s Century of Crisis

Period of Qing decline due to internal problems and foreign pressure (late 1700s–1912)

Population explosion (China)

Rapid growth from 100 million to 430 million leading to resource strain

Qing Dynasty

Last Chinese dynasty weakened by rebellion and foreign intrusion

Taiping Rebellion

Massive civil war led by Hong Xiuquan with radical social reforms (20–30 million dead)

Hong Xiuquan

Leader of Taiping Rebellion who claimed to be Jesus’s brother

Land redistribution

Policy proposed by Taiping rebels to equalize land ownership

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China over opium trade

Lin Zexu

Chinese official who attempted to stop opium trade

Treaty of Nanjing (1842)

Ended First Opium War; opened ports and ceded Hong Kong

Spheres of influence (China)

Regions where foreign powers had economic control in China

Self-Strengthening Movement

Qing effort to adopt Western technology while keeping Confucian values

Boxer Rebellion

Anti-foreign uprising in China crushed by Western powers

Hundred Days Reform

Failed attempt to modernize China’s government and economy

Collapse of Qing Dynasty

End of dynastic rule in 1911 due to internal weakness and nationalism

Ottoman Empire

Declining empire known as the “Sick Man of Europe”

Sick Man of Europe

Nickname for the weakened Ottoman Empire in the 1800s

Capitulations

Policies granting Europeans legal and economic privileges in the Ottoman Empire

Selim III

Ottoman ruler who attempted reforms but was overthrown

Tanzimat Reforms

Ottoman modernization program promoting equality and industrialization

Young Ottomans

Group advocating constitutional government and reform

Abdul Hamid II

Ottoman ruler who suspended constitution and ruled autocratically

Young Turks

Reform group that restored constitution and promoted nationalism

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japanese feudal government before modernization

Sakoku

Japan’s policy of isolation from foreign influence

Commodore Perry

U.S. naval officer who forced Japan to open ports in 1853

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Political revolution that modernized and centralized Japan

Industrialization (Japan)

State-led development of industry and infrastructure

Zaibatsu

Powerful Japanese industrial and financial family conglomerates

Modernization

Adoption of Western technology, industry, and institutions

National army (Japan)

Centralized military replacing samurai system

Sino-Japanese War

War where Japan defeated China and gained influence

Russo-Japanese War

War where Japan defeated Russia, proving its power

Japanese imperialism

Japan’s expansion into Korea, Taiwan, and Manchuria

Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

Indian rebellion against British rule due to cultural and political tensions

Ghost Dance Movement

Native American religious movement resisting U.S. expansion

Xhosa Cattle Killing

African resistance movement that led to famine after killing livestock

Resistance movements

Efforts by indigenous people to oppose imperial rule

Adaptation

Strategy where societies adopted Western technology or practices

Industrial capitalism

Economic system based on industrial production and private ownership

Global market economy

Worldwide trade system linking regions economically

Export economies

Economies focused on producing goods for export

Cash crops

Agricultural products grown for sale rather than local use

Raw materials

Natural resources used in industrial production (rubber, cotton)

Economic dependency

Reliance of colonies on imperial powers for trade and resources

Core vs periphery

Model describing industrialized nations dominating less developed regions

Neocolonialism

Economic control of a country without direct political rule

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy promoting equal trade access in China

Dollar diplomacy

U.S. policy using economic power to extend influence abroad

Foreign investment

Money invested by one country into another’s economy

Banana republics

Countries economically dependent on a single export controlled by foreign companies

Push factors

Conditions forcing people to leave their homeland (poverty, famine)

Pull factors

Conditions attracting people to a new area (jobs, opportunity)

Industrialization (migration)

Created demand for labor, encouraging migration

Urbanization

Movement of people to cities for work

Irish Potato Famine

Mass starvation that caused Irish migration

Diaspora

Scattering of people from their homeland

Cultural diffusion

Spread of ideas and culture between societies

Ethnic enclaves

Neighborhoods populated by specific immigrant groups

Nativism

Hostility toward immigrants

Chinese Exclusion Act

U.S. law banning Chinese immigration

Racial hierarchies

Belief systems ranking races used to justify discrimination

Remittances

Money sent by migrants back to their home country

Causation (AP skill)

Analyzing causes and effects of historical events

Industrialization → imperialism

Industrial needs drove expansion overseas

Imperialism → migration

Empire-building caused labor movement

Long-term causes

Deep-rooted factors leading to events

Short-term causes

Immediate triggers of historical events