global study guide 

European Imperialism

• Justified by ideas expressed in Social Darwinism and the “White Man’s Burden”
  • White Man’s Burden = poem, about how Western Colonial Powers wanted to civilize the people they controlled 
• European countries wanted to obtain markets for their manufactured goods.
• Political power obtained through use of technology 
• Portugal colonized Brazil and makes Portuguese the official language in Brazil
• European colonizers influenced the culture of the regions under their control

Africa

• Desirable because it had a wealth of natural resources 
• Scramble for Africa 
• Happened because Africa had a lot of raw materials used in industry 
• Berlin Conference: when European nations met to divide up areas of Africa for them to control 
• European exploration was limited by the different physical features of Africa

India

• France and Japan interested because they wanted to obtain valuable natural resources 
• British landlord system in India led to famine and suffering 
• British build railroads, schools, and irrigation systems to strengthen its political and economic control in India
• Sepoy Rebellion
  • Attempt to remove foreign influence in India

China

• Europeans interested in China to gain commercial advantages 
• China able to be imperialized because of military weakness and Europe’s strong desire for expansion 
• Boxer Rebellion 
  • Attempt to remove foreign influence in China 
• Letter to Queen Victoria from China was to try and stop the flow of Opium into China 
• Opium Wars
  • Beginning of domination of China by foreign powers
  • Led to an increase in Western trade and influence in Asia 
  • Great Britain forces China to open up ports for trade