Motives for Imperialism
Which motive used the idea of spreading Christianity to justify imperialism?
God
What was Africa like politically before European imperialism?
Diverse kingdoms and societies with established trade networks.
What private company controlled India before the British government took over?
British East India Company
Which African leader successfully resisted Italian imperialism at the Battle of Adwa?
Menelik II
What economic pattern did imperialism create in Africa?
Extraction of raw materials for European benefit.
What ideology claimed some races were superior and used that to justify imperial rule?
Racism/Social Darwinism
Which European king brutally exploited the Congo?
King Leopold II
What was the Sepoy Mutiny?
A rebellion by Indian soldiers against British rule in 1857.
Who led nonviolent resistance against British rule in India?
Gandhi
How did the Berlin Conference impact African borders?
Borders were drawn without regard to ethnic groups.
Which motive focused on raw materials, markets, and profits?
Money
What 1884–1885 meeting divided Africa among European powers?
Berlin Conference
Why was India called the “Jewel in the Crown”?
It was Britain’s most valuable colony.
What strategy did Gandhi use to fight British rule?
Civil disobedience / nonviolent resistance
How did imperialism contribute to future conflict in Africa?
Artificial borders caused ethnic tensions and instability.
What political belief emphasized national strength and competition between countries?
Nationalism
Who promoted British expansion from “Cape to Cairo”?
Cecil Rhodes
What happened after the Sepoy Mutiny?
The British government established the British Raj.
Why was Ethiopia able to resist colonization when most of Africa could not?
Strong leadership, military modernization, and unity.
How did railroads both help and hurt India?
Improved infrastructure but reinforced British economic control.
Explain the difference between a justification and a true motivation for imperialism.
Justifications were moral excuses; true motivations were power, wealth, and competition.
What was one major long-term effect of imperialism in Africa?
Poverty, ethnic conflict, economic dependency, resource extraction.
What were two major impacts of British railroads in India?
Improved transportation and trade but mainly benefited British economic control.
Compare one African resistance movement to Indian resistance.
Africa often used military resistance; India used organized political and nonviolent resistance.
Was imperialism more beneficial or harmful overall? Support your answer.
Open-ended, requires evidence.