history

Imperialism  Unit Study Guide - Exam on Tuesday, March 10

General Concepts & Justifications

  • Definition of imperialism: when a stronger nation controls weaker regions politically, economically, or militarily

  • Motives for imperialism

    • Economic: need for raw materials, new markets, cheap labor

    • Political/strategic: control of trade routes (ex: Suez Canal), global power

    • Cultural: belief in European superiority

  • Industrialization and imperialism

    • Industrial technology increased military advantage

    • Industrial economies required resources and markets

  • Social Darwinism

  • White Man’s Burden

  • Forms of imperial control

    • Direct rule vs. indirect rule

    • Assimilation vs. paternalism

    • Spheres of influence

China

  • Traditional Chinese worldview

    • Belief in cultural and economic self-sufficiency

    • Limited contact with Europe before the 1800s

  • Trade tensions with Britain

  • Opium Wars

    • Immediate outcomes:

      • Treaty of Nanjing

      • Opening of treaty ports

      • Extraterritorial rights for Europeans

  • Impact of Western imperialism

    • Decline of Qing authority

  • Macartney Mission

  • Internal rebellions

    • Taiping Rebellion

    • Boxer Rebellion (anti-foreign resistance)

  • Spheres of influence

    • Competition among European powers

    • Increased foreign control without full colonization

  • Causes of Qing weakness

India

  • Role of the British East India Company (BEIC)

    • Controlled trade and governance before direct British rule

    • Relied heavily on Indian soldiers (sepoys)

  • Sepoy Rebellion (1857)

    • Causes:

      • Religious and cultural tensions

      • Greased rifle cartridge rumor (cow and pig fat)

    • Why it was dangerous for Britain:

      • Sepoys made up most of the army

    • Limitations of the rebellion: Lack of national unity and centralized leadership

  • Impact of the rebellion

  • British “divide and rule” strategies

    • Censorship of nationalist newspapers

    • Prevention of unified resistance

  • Indian nationalism

    • Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi Movement

    • Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

  • Gandhi

    • Salt March as an example of civil disobedience

Africa

  • Scramble for Africa

  • Berlin Conference

    • Africa divided by European powers

    • Consequences of European borders:

      • Ignored ethnic and linguistic groups

  • Ethiopia 

    •  Remained free– defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa

  • Congo Free State

    • King Leopold II’s claims of humanitarianism

    • Reality:

      • Forced labor

      • Mutilation
        Exploitation of rubber

  • Congo Reform Association

    • Use of photographs and reports

    • Generated international outrage and pressure

  • Imperial policies

    • Exclusion of Africans from political power

    • Example of paternalism

  • Legacy of imperialism in Africa today

  • Strategic importance of Africa