13 - imperialism

imperialism

a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force

queen victoria

monarch of the UK (1837-19010 during a period of industrial, cultural, and imperial expansion known as the victorian era

social darwinism

the belief that some races or societies are superior to others and that “survival of the fittest” justifies social hierarchies or imperial domination

nationalism

a strong sense of pride and loyalty to ones nation, often promoting its interest above others

white mans burden

the idea that europeans had a moral responsibility to “civilize” non european people

rudyard kipling

british writer and poet who popularized the phrase “white mans burden” and supported imperialism

industrialization

the shift from small scale production to large scale production through the usage of technology and machinery 

dr david livingstone

scottish missionary and explorer in africa, known for mapping regions and opposing the slave trade

henry morton stanley

journalist and explorer famous for finding dr david livingstone in africa; later helped king leopold II in the congo

king leopold II

king of belgium who exploited the congo free state for personal profit, leading to massive human rights abuse

congo free state

private colony in central africa controlled by king leopold II, notorious for brutal exploitation of local people

settler colonies

colonies where foreign people settled permanently, often displacing or dominating indigenous populations

manifest destiny

19th century belief that the USA was destined to expand across the N. America continent 

rubber

valuable natural resource harvested from rubber trees, used in industrial manufacturing, especially tires

palm oil

plant oil used in cooking, soap, and industrial products; important in colonial trade, especially W. Africa

guano

bird or at excrement used as highly effective fertilizer, often leading to colonial exploitation

quinine

medicine derived from cinchona bark, used to prevent and treat malaria, enabling european colonization of africa

british east india company

powerful british trading company that controlled large parts of india before british government rule

dutch east india company

dutch trading company that dominated trade and colonial territories in SE. Asia (17-18th centuries)

gunboat diplomacy

using military threats or displays of naval power to achieve foreign policy goals

berlin conference - 1884-1885

meeting where european powers divided africa into colonies without considering african input

scramble for africa

rapid invasion, colonization, and division of african territory by european powers in the late 19th century

otto von bismarck

german chancellor who unified germany and hosted the berlin conference to regulate european colonization in africa

partition of africa

the division of african territory among european powers during the late 19th century

sovereignty 

the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference 

nation state

a political entity in which a defined territory is governed by a centralized government representation a distinct cultural or ethnic group

colonialism

the practice of acquiring and exploiting colonies for economic, political, or cultural gain

empire

a group of states or territories controlled by one rule or government

citizen

a legally recognized member of a state with rights and responsibilities

subject

a person under the rule of a government or monarch, often without full rights

indirect rule

colonial system where local leaders are used to govern under the authority of the colonizing power

informal imperialism

influence or control over a country without formal political annexation, often through trade or diplomacy

gold coast

british colony in W. Africa known for gold and cacao production

concessions

special economic privileges granted by a country to foreign powers or companies in its territories 

protectorate

territory controlled and protected by a stronger state while maintaining its local rulers

spheres of influence

areas where a foreign power claims exclusive economic or political privileges

sierra leone

W. African colony established by the british for freed slaves and as a strategic port

cape colony

S. African colony originally established by the dutch, later taken over by the british

afrikaners

descendants of dutch settlers in S. Africa, AKA boers

boers

dutch settlers in S. Africa who clashed with the british during colonization

boer wars

conflicts (1880-1881, 1899-1902) between the british and boers over control of S. African territory

sepoys

indian soldiers employed by the british east india company

british raj

period of british rule over india from 1858 to 1947

sino japanese war

conflict between china and japan (1894-1895) over control of korean and influence in E. Asia

suez canal

strategic waterway in egypt connecting the mediterranean sea to the red sea, vital for trade

cairo

capital of egypt and key city for trade, administration, and european imperial interest in N. Africa 

corvee laborers

workers forced to perform unpaid labor, often for public projects under colonial or imperial authorities

liberia

W. African country founded in the 19th century for freed african american slaves

abyssinia

historical kingdom in E. Africa that successfully resisted european colonization 

open door policy

US policy (1899) promoting equal trading rights in china and opposing colonial monopolies

monroe doctrine

1823 US policy opposing european interference in the Americas

spanish american war

1898 conflict in which the US defeated spain and gained territories like the PHI, guam, and PR

roosevelt corollary

extension of the monroe doctrine allowing the US to intervene with L. America to maintain stability

neocolonialism

indirect control of a country through economic or political influence rather than direct colonization

united fruit company

american corporation that dominated banana production and trade in C. America

banana republics

countries economically dependent on a single export crop, often controlled by foreign corporations

indochina

french colonial territories in SE. Asian including VN, LA, and CA

the great game

strategic rivalry between britain and russia over the influence of C. Asian during the 19th century 

cecil rhodes

british imperialist and businessman in S. Africa, known for expanding british colonies and diamond mining

telegraph

communication technology using coded electrical signals, revolutionizing long distance messaging

steamships

ships powered by steam engines, increasing speed and reliability of sea travel and trade

maxim gun

early machine gun used by european powers to gain military advantage in colonial wars

artillery

large clavier guns used in warfare, including cannons and howitzers

de beers mining company

major diamond mining company in S. Africa founded by cecil rhodes

manchus

ethnic group from NE. China that established the qing dynasty

qing

last imperial dynasty of China (1644-1912), ruled by the manchus

qianlong

qing emperor (1735-1796) known for territorial expansion and cultural achievements 

lord macartney

british diplomat who attempted to establish trade relations with qing china in 1793

canton system

chinese trade policy restricting foreign trade to the port of canton

opium

narcotic imported by britain into china, leading to the widespread of addiction and conflict

opium wars

conflicts (1839-1842, 1856-1860) between china and britain over trade and opium

treaty of nanking

1842 treaty ending the first opium war, ceding HK to britain opening ports for trade

unequal treaties

treaties that favored western powers at the expense of chinas sovereignty 

extraterritoriality

right of foreigners to be tried under their own laws, not the laws of the host country