JR

Nationalism and New Imperialism Notes

Nationalism

  • Arose in the 19th century after the French Revolution.
  • Shift from identifying as subjects of kings to citizens of NATIONS.
  • Defined by ethnicity, language, territory, religion, and cultural ideals.
  • Can be independence nationalism or competitive nationalism.

Competitive Nationalism

  • Belief in national superiority, proven through wealth, military, and empire.

New Imperialism

  • Building large global empires with complete political and economic domination.
  • Facilitated by new technologies allowing access to interiors and military dominance.
  • Practiced by European powers, the US, and Japan in India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Technological Advancements

  • QUININE: prevented malaria, enabling deeper inland travel in Africa.
  • STEAMBOAT: Improved river transportation for troops and fire.
  • MAXIM GUN: First automatic machine gun (600 rounds/min), symbolizing imperial conquest.

Scramble for Africa

  • European powers met at the BERLIN CONFERENCE (1884-1885) to divide Africa.
  • Motivated by resources and a "civilizing mission".

Resistance

  • ETHIOPIA successfully resisted Italian colonization, winning at the Battle of Adwa in 1896.

Leopold II and the Congo

  • Leopold II of Belgium established a private colony in the Congo.
  • Exploited locals for rubber and ivory, resulting in millions of deaths.

Imperial Japan

  • Meiji Restoration in 1868: Japan modernized rapidly, adopting Western practices.
  • Expansion led to the SINO-JAPANESE WAR (1894-1895) and annexation of Taiwan and Korea.