Important People
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837–1901) and empress of India (1876–1901). Her reign was one of the longest in British history.
Queen Victoria
Began over sugar plantations in Cuba. This war led to increasing U.S. imperial control over many islands.
Spanish-American War
A meeting of European leaders to set rules for the division of Africa among the major European powers. Did not invite or consider native Africans.
Berlin Conference of 1884
The process of developing machine production of goods, usually at a national level.
industrialization
A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, or economically.
Imperalism
The inventor of communism along with Friedrich Engels.
Karl Marx
Conflicts over the British practice of importing opium into China. Britain won, allowing them to force China to accept the "Unequal Treaties."
Opium Wars
Peasant-led anti-foreign rebellion in mid-19th century China demanding equality and shared property. Destroyed by Empress Cixi.
Taiping Rebellion
Fear of immigrants or foreign ideas.
xenophobia
Application of "survival of the fittest" to human societies. This theory suggests that the "white" nations were better adapted and therefore science dictates that white should rule over other races. Invented by Herbert Spencer.
Social Darwinism
Leader of Egypt who established Egyptian independence from the Ottoman Empire and industrialized Egypt.
Muhammad Ali
Anti-foreign Chinese rebellion in the year 1900. Involved the murder of thousands of foreigners before being brutally suppressed by foreign troops.
Boxer Rebellion
Laws designed to prohibit Chinese immigration to the U.S. Made it extremely difficult for Chinese immigrants to migrate to the U.S.
Chinese Exclusion Acts
The idea that is the duty of the Europeans and their descendants to bring civilization to the native inhabitants of the earth.
White Man's Burden
War between China and Japan. Began over control of the Korean Peninsula. Ended with a Japanese victory. Resulted in a series of unequal treaties between Japan and China.
Sino-Japanese War
American admiral who forced Japan to sign a trading agreement with the U.S. through threat of arms.
Commodore Matthew Perry
1905 war between Russia and Japan where Russia suffered a humiliating defeat and Japan established itself as a world power.
Russo-Japanese War
19th century Mexican reform movement to limit the power of the Catholic church and limiting the power of the military. Codified in the Constitution of 1857.
La Reforma
A Russian council composed of representatives from the workers and soldiers.
soviets
Rebellion against British East Indian Company rule in India. Began with Hindu and Muslim soldiers and spread. Resulted in Queen Victoria taking control of India herself.
Sepoy Mutiny
Ruler who held power of Qing China from 1862-1908. She was for traditional values with some limited reforms such as the self-strengthening movement. He primary interest was in maintaining her power.
Dowager Empress Cixi
(1899-1902) War between Great Britain and the Boers in South Africa over control of rich mining country. Great Britain won and created the Union of South Africa comprised of all the South African colonies.
Boer War
Group began by E.D. Morel that fought against Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo. Ultimately succeeded through the efforts of John & Alice Harris.
Congo Reform Association
Ship canal designed to improve trade between Europe and Asia. It opened to shipping in 1869. Its strategic importance led to the British conquest of Egypt in 1882.
Suez Canal
Exiled Ottomans who established a group that worked for the secularization and modernization of the Ottoman Empire.
Young Turks