whap unit 6

Unit 6.1

Motivations for Imperialism

• Cultural- Colonial powers thought they were superior to those they colonized

  • Social Darwinism - A theory that argued the spread of European and U.S powers proved they were biologically superior and more fit to survive than others

  • Technological superiority gave Europeans the justification to superimpose aspects of their own cultures on the colonies (Ex: Language used to unite diverse colonies)

• Religious

  • Some argued that missionaries were imperialists because they wanted people to drop their traditional religion (Ex: Ancestral veneration) to adopt European religions such as Christianity

    However, missionaries argued that they combined religious and humanitarian efforts (Ex: Teaching secular subjects, improving healthcare, David Livingstone advocate for the abolishment of slavery)

• Economic

  • Companies - Many European companies set trading posts and international relations in Southeast Asia to engage in the Spice Trade, which was a highly valued luxury crop in Europe

    • East India Company (EIC) - British imperialism in India, illegally exported Opium into China in exchange for Tea (Later Topic)

    • Dutch East India Company (VOC) - Monopoly on spice productions in the islands around Java

  • Industrial Revolution - Competition for expansion/natural resources, markets, and low-wage labor

    • Britain = Leading economic power. They had access to raw materials and settler colonies (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) that provided a market for British good

6.2

Imperialism in Africa

European relationships with Africa stemmed from the Slave Trade. Europe sought to imperialize Africa for natural resources like ivory, gold, and palm oil (helped lube factory machinery, making it more efficient) Britain utilized diplomacy (treaties) and warfare (military strength)

• British in Egypt

  • Suez Canal connecting to Asia built by corvee laborers - unpaid workers who were forced to work on projects as a form of taxation (similar to Inca Mit’a system)

• French in Africa

  • Settler colonies attracted French immigrants

SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

• Berlin Conference - A meeting of European powers to organize the colonization of Africa between different European countries

  • No African representatives

  • Superimposed boundaries

• Boer Wars - Brutal war between Afrikaners and British

  • British forced Afrikaners to live on concentration camps

Congo - King Leopold II of Belgium

• Ruthless system of economic exploitation for ivory and rubber

• Workers (slaves) heavily punished

• Claimed he was bettering the country but instead was killing and exploiting the Congo people

Imperialism in South Asia

Seven Years War -

EIC

• Slowly began to control all of Indian subcontinent

• Began recruiting native Indian Soldiers (Sepoys) to fight for British army

Imperialism in East Asia

CHINA

• Spheres of Influence within China - European nations had superior military strength, and they took exclusive trading rights and access to natural resources

• Taiping Revolution

  • Attempt to overthrow Qing Dynasty

  • Internal struggle that weakened government, making China easily dominated by foreign countries

• Chinese famine from natural disasters

JAPAN

• Extremely isolated until U.S. secured treaty that opened trade through ports

• Meiji Restoration - Overthrowing of traditional government led to rapid industrialization in hopes of protecting culture

• Looked for expansion for natural resources

• Government encouraged Japanese agricultural workers to take contracts in countries like Hawaii and Guam

Imperialism in Southeast Asia

• VOC captured Indonesian islands to monopolize spice trade and production

  • Plantations

• French desire for cash crops

• British wanted cash crops and wealth of natural resources (Malaya = world’s greatest producer of natural rubber)

• Siam - Modernizing reforms and industrialization

Australia and New Zealand

Australia = British Penal Colony (Britain convicts sent)

• Discovery of copper and gold spurred growth

New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi - protected rights of original Maori inhabitants

United States Imperialism

Trail of tears

• Forced migration of Native Americans onto Indian Territory (Oklahoma)

• Called this because it was a miserable journey of death and suffering

Monroe Doctrine - European nations should not interfere with the affairs of countries in the Western Hemisphere

Manifest Destiny - The U.S. natural right for westward expansion

• U.S desire for territorial conquest came from feelings of nationalism and cultural superiority

6.3