imperialism study guide

Key Terms

  • Imperialism - a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially
  • Racism - a belief that one race is superior to others
  • Social Darwinism - the application of Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution and “survival of the fittest” to human societies (particularly as justification for imperialist expansion).
  • Berlin Conference - a meeting in 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed upon rules for European colonization of Africa
  • Paternalism - a policy of treating subject people as if they were children, providing for their needs but not giving them rights
  • Assimilation - the adoption of a conqueror’s culture by a conquered people
    • A policy in which a nation forces or encourages a subject people to adopt institutions and customs
  • Indirect control - Indirect rule focused on ruling through some cooperating native ruler or rulers who profit from the relationship.
    • Local government officials were used
    • Limited self-rule
    • Goal: to develop future leaders
    • Government institutions are based on European styles but may have local rules
    • Eventually, local population would govern itself
    • Local ruler to accept foreign authority
  • Direct Control - an imperial or central power takes direct control over the legislature, executive and civil administration of an otherwise largely self-governing territory.
    • Foreign officials brought in to rule
    • No self-rule
    • Viewed Africans as children unable to handle complex business of running a country
    • Government institutions are based only on European Styles
    • paternalism, Association, Assimilation
  • Sphere of influence - an area within which the political and economic interests of one nation are more important than those of other nations
  • Colony - a land controlled by another nation
  • Protectorate - a country ruled by another country
  • Economic imperialism - A situation in which foreign business interests have great economic power or influence
  • Apartheid - a system of political, economic, and social exploitation to ensure white minority rule and economic dominance over the black majority
  • White Man’s Burden - the idea that Europeans have a duty/responsibility to help uncivilized nations
  • King Leopold II - Leopold was the king of Belgium (1865 to 1909)
    • He colonized Congo with Henry Morton Stanley.
    • He sent raw materials to Belgium to make money and he treated the Africans worse with mass murder, malnutrition and mutation.
    • He made the Africans slaves.
    • In 1885 at the Berlin Conference he declared that Congo is a free state.
  • Cash crops - A crop which is grown for sale to return a profit
    • Sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, tea, rice opium, and coffee
  • Missionaries - People who travel far from home for an extended period of time to spread the faith and help others
  • Westernization - conversion to or adoption of western traditions or techniques
  • Sepoy Mutiny - an 1857 rebellion of Hindu and Muslim soldiers against the British in India
  • The Opium Wars - a conflict between Britain and China, lasting from 1839-1842, over Britain’s opium trade in China
  • Boxer Rebellion - a 1900 revolt in China, aimed at ending foreign influence in the country
  • Treaty of Nanjing - 1842, ended Opium war, said the western nations would determine who would trade with China, so it set up the unequal treaty system which allowed western nations to own a part of Chinese territory and conduct trading business in china under their own laws; this treaty set up 5 treaty ports where westerners could live, work, and be treated under their own laws; one of these was Hong Kong. (after the first opium war)
  • Meiji Revolution - a chain of events that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji
  • Self Strengthening Movement - a movement that promoted the need for China to learn from the Europeans through the study of modern Western science and languages
    • Improvement in navy and infrastructure

Learning Targets

  • I can discuss the connection between the Industrial Revolution and the rise of Imperialism.
    • The industrial revolution provided European countries with a reason to add land to control. As Europeans continued to industrialize, they searched for new markets and raw materials to improve their economy,
  • I can evaluate the political, economic, and social causes of Imperialism.
  • I can evaluate the effects of Imperialism on Africa and Asia.
    • Africa
    • Congo
    • Nigeria
    • Ethiopia
    • Asia
    • Seopy
    • China

Notes

  • Motives of Imperialism
    • Economic - the desire to make money, to expand and control foreign trade, to create new markets for products, to acquire raw materials and cheap labor, to compete for investments and resources, and to export industrial technology and transportation methods
    • Exploratory - motives were based on the desire to explore “unknown” or uncharted territory, to conduct scientific research, to conduct medical searches for the causes and treatment of diseases, to go on an adventure, and to investigate “unknown” lands and cultures
    • Political - motives were based on a nation’s desire to gain power, compete with other European countries, expand territory, exercise military force, gain prestige by winning colonies, and to boost national pride and security.
    • Ideological (racist) - motives were based on cultural values such as the belief that the white race was superior, other cultures were “primitive,” Europeans should “civilize” peoples in other parts of the world, great nations should have empires, and only the strongest nations will survive
    • Religious - motives included the desire to spread Christianity, to protect European missionaries in other lands, to spread European values and moral beliefs, to educate people of other cultures, and to end the slave trade in Africa.

Study Guide

  • What were the reasons why western nations sought colonies all over the world? Be able to explain those reasons as well as give an actual historical example for each.
    • In Africa
    • Interest in exploring
    • Religious Revival (Christian Missionary)
    • Raw Materials (Gold, Diamonds, Jute, Coffee, Rubber)
    • Outer Reasons
    • Colonies have pride
    • Feeling of superiority (Great Britain more industrialized)
  • Compare and contrast the reactions to imperialism of the peoples of either Africa, India, and China
  • Describe the various attitudes of Europeans toward the native peoples of the nations they conquered.
    • Felt the need to “civilize” and be a savior to the other nations
    • Ex. White Mans’ Burden
  • Explain the long term impact of European imperialism on the economic development of the areas that were colonized.
    • Slowed Down
    • Made countries not self sufficient
    • Couldn’t work on there in
  • Be able to define and understand each of the concepts listed here:
  • Be able to understand the connection between the Industrialization of Western Europe and the motives behind imperialism occurred
  • Identify key figures who played a significant role in imperialization (especially in Britain):
  • Cecil Rhodes, Henry Stanley, David Livingstone
  • Describe the successful and unsuccessful nationalist movements that occurred in
  • colonies and understand the effects of these movements
  • Understand the long term impacts of imperialism and why certain countries look the way they do because of imperialism
  • Be able to recognize the causes and effects of King Leopold's actions in the Congo
  • Be able to identify regions/countries in Africa and South Asia

Crash Course Videos

  • Imperialism in China
    • China originally traded with Britain with silver and porcelain in exchange for tea, but Britain felt there was a trade inequality. Britain found out that they wanted to trade

Why did Europeans Imperialize?

  • Interest in exploring
  • Religious revival (Christian Missionaries etc.)
  • Raw Materials (Ex. gold, diamonds, jute, coffee, rubber)

In Africa

  • Before Imperialism
    • Traditional beliefs
    • Europeans could not navigate African Rivers
    • Disease discouraged European exploration
  • Europeans & Americans learn about Africa through newspapers → sparks interest

Congo

  • David Livingstone, missionary from Scotland
    • Supported rights & freedom of native people
  • Henry Stanely
    • Explore Africa → Hired by King Leopold ll
    • Traced Congo River
    • Helped King Leopold obtain Congo treaties with local chiefs of Congo River Valley
  • King Leopold ll
    • Brutally exploited Africans
    • Forced to produce rubber
    • Humanitarians demanded change
    • Many died because of inflicted abuse
    • 1908 Belgian took away Leopold's rule

Forces Driving Imperialism

  • Industrial Revolution provided Europeans with reasons to add land to their control (excuse)
  • Search for new markets & raw materials → improve economics
  • Social Darwinism: “survival of the fittest” to human societies ( justification for imperialist expansion).
  • European superiority → racism
  • Europe countries wanted to civilize/westernize

Promoting Imperialism in Africa

  • Britain had technological superiority
  • Africa had outdated weapons
  • Transportation allowed close communication between the colony & its controlling nation
  • Perfection of quinine (drug that immunized Europeans from African diseases 1829)
  • Separated cultures → Europe took advantage

Division of Africa (began 1880)

  • Discovering diamond increased interest
  • Berlin Conference (1884-1885)
    • Lay down rules for division in Africa
    • European country can claim land but has to notify other nations
    • No African rulers attended meeting but it decided their fate

New Period of Imperialism

  • Forms of Control
    • Colony: A land controlled by another country
    • Protectorate: Country ruled by another country
    • Sphere of Influence: An area which the political & economic interest of one nation are more important than those by another nation

Negative Effects

  • Africa lost control of land & independence
  • Many died of diseases from Europe
  • Forced to migrate for work
  • Identity problems

Positive Effects

  • Reduced local warfare
  • Sanitation & schools improved

IN INDIA

  • Before Imperialism
    • British East India TradingCompany ruled over India (little interference from British govt.)
    • Company had its own army led by British officers & staffed by sepoys
    • India was a supplier for raw materials, mostly agriculture

Why did Europeans Imperialize?

  • Most valuable colony
  • By 1700: 3 major trading ports
    • Bombay
    • Madras
    • Calcutta
  • Produced raw materials
  • British manufacture
  • India competition prohibited
  • Railroad network
  • Raw products → ports
    • Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute, opium (opium went to Britains then to China)

International Events

  • Crimean War (1850s) cut off Russian Jute → Boosted raw jute from Bengal, India
  • Cotton production increase in India during Civil War

Negative Impacts

  • British held most economic & political power
  • Restricted Indian owned industries
  • Cash Crops → Loss of self sufficiency
  • Food production decrease = food famine]
  • Increase missionaries → racist attitudes & threatened Indian traditional life

Positive Impacts

  • Buying of the world’s third largest railroad
    • Enabled India to develop a modern economy & connected other regions
  • Sanitation and public health improved
  • British troops cleared bandits
  • End to local warfare among local rulers
  • Caste System: determined occupation, where you lived, servants
  • Social Class, untouchables= lowest class system

Sepoy Mutiny

  • 1850s Indians believed British were racist & tried to convert them to Christianity
  • Rumor there was pig and cow fat in cartridges → upset at disrespect of religion
  • Sepoys who disobeyed went to jail
  • Sepoys rebelled, marched to Delhi → captured the city
  • Fierce fighting
  • Took more than a year to regain control
  • Result
    • British took direct command
    • Raj: British rule after India came under British Crown

IN ASIA

  • Before imperialism
    • Self sufficient
    • Healthy agriculture
    • Little interest in trading with the West
    • Europeans determined to find large product to sell

Why Asia?

  • Economic advantages
    • Trading routes to Middle East
    • Demand for products (tea, opium, silk, spices)
  • Political advantages
    • Military bases
    • Potential “puppet” govt.
    • Nationalism: more colonies → more power

Wars

  • Opium War (1839-1842)
    • China and Britain
    • China stopping Opium trade because opium had lots of health disadvantages
  • Treaty of Nanjing
    • China pay compensation for lost opium
    • Hong Kong ceded to Britain
    • Increased ports West could use to trade
    • Second Opium War
    • Chinese burned British factories
    • Britain & France vs. China
  • Both Wars → start an era of unequal treaties → decline of Qing Dynasty
  • After Opium Wars
    • Qing Dynasty wants to increase military strength
    • China suffered defeat against advanced Japan army

Boxer Rebellion (1900s)

  • Attempt to drive out foreigners
    • Rebellion not supported by govt.
    • Upset at Qing Dynasty & increase of Christian missionaries
    • Complete failure
    • Led to death of Qing Dynasty → no power

Qing Dynasty has to pay large amounts of $$ to Western powers