Imperialism
Define imperialism
Was taking possession of an area, mostly for economic gain, where nations set up spheres of influence rather than directly establishing colonial settlement (as they had done previously... think 13 Colonies)
The Scramble for Africa
European powers hastily carved up Africa, taking whatever territory they wanted without permission from the natives
What was the British East India Company?
English company formed for the take control of trade with East and Southeast Asia and India (With permission from the British crown).
What is opium?
A highly addictive drug
What was the British Raj?
The name given to the period where the British ruled over India
How did Europeans justify their expansion?
Social Darwinism or the idea that there are strong and weak societies and that only the strong will survive and have the right to do whatever they want to the weak.
What was the Berlin Conference?
Was held in Berlin, Germany in 1885… The purpose was to “peacefully” divide Africa between the various attending European powers. (No Africans were involved)
What are Sepoys?
Indian soldiers serving the British East India Company
What is an unfavorable balance of trade?
A nation imports (buys) more than they export (sell).
Spending money instead of saving it
What goods did India produce that made it valuable?
Tea, cotton, coffee, and opium
How did economics motivate imperialism?
Desire for new markets to sell things AND the desire for new resources
How did Europeans conquer Africa? (Two reasons)
1. Superior technology (machine guns)
2. Divide and conquer
What caused the Sepoy Rebellion?
Gunpowder cartridges for their rifles were greased with beef and pork fat which offended the Indian population
What was the reason for the Boxer Rebellion?
It was an anti-foreign rebellion led by a group of martial artists.
They rebelled against foreign influence in China. For example, converting Chinese to Christianity or flooding China with opium
Why was Africa referred to as the "Dark Continent"
Because of the lack of technology and civilization according to European standards
How did politics motivate imperialism?
Nationalism or national pride, lead to competition between European powers. The bigger the empire, the more powerful your nation looked to rivals.
What happened in the Belgian Congo?
10 million Africans were killed harvesting rubber. The Belgian Congo was known for extremely harsh punishments including chopping off hands.
Why was a British education and the ability to speak English important for Indians?
These were pathways to social mobility (the ability to change your social classes and become more successful). Access to better, higher paying jobs.
What was the result of the Opium wars?
Treaty of Nanjing which forced China to open more of itself up to outside influence and the Treaty of Tianjin which legalized the selling of opium in China
What was the long range impact of imperialism in Africa?
Better infrastructure (roads, bridges), better education, and medical care.
However, they were treated like second class citizens and lost their independence, religion, and language
What is the "White Man's Burden"?
Whites are morally obligated to bring the “blessings of civilizations” to “backward”.
Basically whites had a duty to uplift "lesser" civilizations or those lacking European technology
Where did Europeans set up their new borders?
Along geographic features like rivers, mountains, lakes, etc.
Why was India considered the "Jewel in the Crown"?
Because it was Britain's most important colony producing many important products including opium and cotton. Also had a large population for the British to sell their goods to.
What was the Open Door Policy?
US proposed policy that allowed China to stay whole and under its own control (unlike Africa or India) but would establish trade zones that other countries could trade with the Chinese in.
What is a sphere of influence?
An area that a country has control over either through military force or economic dominance.