Unit 3 Notes 4:

Imperialism in Asia

Why did western powers desire the Pacific

Rim lands?

Their strategic location along the sea route to China

Rich source of tropical agriculture, minerals, and oil

What imperial motive is this?

Economic

What three European powers first claimed

control of lands in Southeast Asia?

Britain
France
Germany

Why did so many Chinese move to

Malaysia? What was the effect?
Britain encouraged
them to move there
for jobs in their mines
As a result, eventually
Malaysians became a
minority in their own
country
Conflict between
Chinese residents and
Malaysians remains
today

Why were the Indochinese upset with the

French?
The French
quadrupled the
amount of rice
produced
However, there was
actually less rice
available for the
Vietnamese because
the French would
export most of it

Why was Siam (present-day Thailand) able to

maintain its independence?
Located between a
French and British
controlled area, the
Siam King
promoted his
country as a neutral
zone

How did King Mongkut modernize Siam?

Started schools
Reformed the legal system
Reorganized the
government
Built its own railroads and
telegraph systems
Ended slavery

Why did most Americans dislike the idea of

colonizing?
Because they fought for their independence from
Britain, most Americans disliked the idea of colonizing
other nations

Describe the two groups that supported

imperialism in the US
Empire Builders: felt
the US should fulfill its
destiny as a world
power, colonizing like
Europeans
Business interests:
welcomed the opening
of new markets and
trade possibilities

The Unites States Chooses Imperialism

By the late 1800s, with European countries
gathering more and more colonies across the
globe, the United States, in order to compete,
makes the decision to acquire new territories
and open new markets.
In 1898, the US attacked Spain in Cuba.
The Spanish-American war last 3 months with a
US victory

The Outcome
America and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris,
which:
Made Cuba independent
Gave the US control of Puerto Rico and Guam
Gave the US the Philippines in exchange for $20
million (paid to Spain)

Flags of US Colonized Countries and

Territories
Philippines Flag

Cuban Flag

Puerto Rican Flag

Why did the US want to annex Hawaii?

Annexation- the adding of territory to a country
Because sugar producers wanted an extra two cents
per pound on sugar cane

How did Queen Liliuokalani resist the

United States efforts?
She called for a new
constitution that would
give her more power
The new constitution
would also give the
Hawaiians more political
power and take away
power from the business
owners

What was the result of these actions?

To prevent this from happening, a group of American
businessmen had the Queen arrested and removed
from power
They then made the president of the Dole Fruit
Company the leader of Hawaii
Stanford B. Dole then asked the US to annex Hawaii
In 1898, Hawaii became a colony of the United States
It later became a state in 1959