Imperialism and America's Rise to Power

German Expansion

• Bismarck advocated for expansion because Germany's domestic markets had limited growth potential.
• The search for new markets became essential for economic growth.

Decline of the British Empire

• The British Empire's decline stemmed from its stagnation relative to other European powers.
• They relied on naval superiority but became isolated from European affairs.
• The Suez Canal provided critical access to India and Asian trade routes, saving time compared to sailing around Africa.

Peripheral Factors and Industrialization

• Japan feared being excluded from China, where different powers were already dividing territories.
• Industrialization necessitated the search for international trade routes, new markets, and raw materials, as domestic markets became saturated.

Rubber and the Congo

• Rubber became a vital resource.
• Belgium, under King Leopold II, controlled the rubber resources in the Congo, which became his personal property.

Britain's Shift from Splendid Isolation

• Germany's rise and Kaiser Wilhelm II's challenge to British naval superiority prompted Britain to move away from splendid isolation.
• The Boer Wars and Kaiser Wilhelm II's telegram to Paul Kruger increased tensions between Great Britain and Germany.
• Britain sought alliances due to the existing Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and the Franco-Russian Alliance.
• Protecting colonies became difficult without allies.

King Leopold II and the Congo

• King Leopold II's actions in the Congo were exceptionally brutal.
• The Belgian Parliament eventually forced him to relinquish his personal control of the Congo, making it a Belgian colony.

The Berlin Conference

• The Berlin Conference aimed to establish rules for the scramble for Africa as Germany joined the competition.
• The agreements included:
  • Open access to the Congo and Niger Rivers for all European powers.
  • A ban on slave trade.
  • A requirement to notify other European powers before claiming land.
• The goal was to bring order to the scramble for Africa through the Treaty of Berlin.
• Slavery was not entirely abolished.
• A French cartoon depicted Kaiser Wilhelm II carving up Africa.

Kaiser Wilhelm II and Bismarck

• Kaiser Wilhelm II came into power in 1888, succeeding his father after a brief interim.
• Bismarck, as Chancellor of Prussia, unified Germany and later became Chancellor of all of Germany.
• Bismarck pursued a policy of isolating France through Realpolitik, while Wilhelm II aimed to compete with Great Britain.
• Wilhelm II's failure to maintain the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia was a significant mistake, leading to the Schlieffen Plan.
• The Schlieffen Plan involved invading France, assuming a quick victory, and underestimating Russian mobilization capabilities.

Effects of the Scramble for Africa

• The scramble for Africa had both positive and negative effects on African colonies.
• Positives: effective government organization, healthcare, railroads, infrastructure, farming methods, sanitation.
• Negatives: persecution, loss of culture, violence, arbitrary borders dividing people, undermining of traditional cultures, creation of a money system leading to capitalism, European diseases, exploitation of resources, prevention of industrialization, inhumane treatment, resistance by Africans.

Part A and Part B Questions

• Part A questions focus on causation, requiring analysis of factors and their significance.
• Part B questions require addressing the question, maintaining a balanced approach, and determining the stronger argument.
• Weak responses in both parts are characterized by factual inaccuracies and a lack of understanding.

America's Rise as a World Power

• America expanded westward under the concept of manifest destiny, gaining power.
• Involvement in the Spanish-American War marked America's first imperial adventure.
• The Monroe Doctrine established a foreign policy that rivaled Europeans.
• The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine further asserted American influence.
• Before 1871, America practiced isolationism, but later shifted to prevent European control of the hemisphere.
• The need for a strong navy, overseas bases, and access to China drove American expansion.
• Spanish-American War (Cuban mistreatment, sugar cane). Economic imperialism (Dollar Diplomacy under FDR)
• Guam, the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico.

The Spanish-American War

• The USS Maine was an immediate cause, blowing up due to engine failure but blamed on the Spanish.
• The Teller Amendment initially prevented the U.S. from taking over Cuba.
• The Platt Amendment, however, allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs and granted Guantanamo Bay.
  Philippines War (Philippine-American war).
• The Treaty of Paris in 1898 resulted in the United States gaining control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
• The Platt Amendment circumvented the Teller Amendment, allowing U.S. influence over Cuba.
• The Platt Amendment was in effect until 1934 and FDR's Good Neighbor Policy.
• The Philippine-American War, resulting from the U.S. not granting the Philippines independence, was longer and cost more American lives than the Spanish-American War.
• U.S. did not put it in writing to the Filipinos.

Big Stick Diplomacy and the Roosevelt Corollary

• Teddy Roosevelt's diplomacy was known as "big stick diplomacy."
• The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine allowed the U.S. to intervene in Western Hemisphere affairs if order was not maintained.
• The U.S. intervened in Venezuela and helped Panama gain independence to build the Panama Canal for trade and military purposes.

Japan's Modernization and Expansion

• Japan was initially an isolated country under the Tokugawa shogunate.
• Contact with Matthew Perry in 1853 led to trade with Japan.
• The Meiji Restoration modernized Japan, adopting Western culture and industrializing rapidly.
• Japanese surveyors, engineers, geologists, and teachers came to Japan
• Japan expanded its influence, particularly in Korea, leading to the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) against China.
• Japan gained control of Korea and the Liaodong Peninsula, including Port Arthur.
  Russia, Germany, and France pressured Japan to give Port Arthur back.

Triple Intervention and Anglo-Japanese Alliance

• Russia, Germany, and France pressured Japan to return Port Arthur, leading to the Triple Intervention.
• The Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 was the first alliance Great Britain made with another power, aiming to counter Russian influence in China.
• The British recognized the interests of the chinese.

Franco-Russian Alliance and Entente Cordiale

• The Franco-Russian Alliance in 1894 and the Entente Cordiale between Great Britain and France in 1904 shaped the alliances leading to World War I.
• The Entente Cordiale addressed issues in Africa and paved the way for closer relations.

The Causes of World War I

• The causes of World War I can be summarized by the acronym MAIN: militarism, alliance systems, imperialism, and nationalism.
• Militarism: the belief that a strong army and navy was needed.
• Alliance System: A system of alliances aimed at preserving world peace, but resulted in paranoia.
• mperialism: expanding influences through colonies.
• Nationalism: A feeling of strong pride and devotion to one's country

Russo-Japanese War

• The Russo-Japanese War began because Japanese ships are destroyed by the Russian Ships.
• Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War was facilitated by Great Britain preventing the Russian Baltic Fleet from using the Suez Canal.
• The Treaty of Portsmouth, mediated by Teddy Roosevelt, ended the war, but Japan did not receive an indemnity, leading to anti-American sentiment.
• Racism and prejudice against Japanese civilians on the West Coast of the U.S. added to tensions.
  Anti Racism and Prejudice occurred after the San Francisco schools were separating the kids of different races.