Imperialism

Imperialism Vocabulary
Imperialism direct or indirect control of one nation by

another nation.
Colony direct control by the imperial nation
Protectorate protected by the imperial nations military
Sphere of Influence imperial power was the only one
that could trade in the region
Social Darwinism idea that the stronger nations should
survive while the weaker should be conquered.
Sepoy hired Indian soldier
Berlin Conference meeting of leaders from 14 European
nations who divided the continent of Africa to control
Boers Dutch people living in South Africa

Imperialism Vocabulary
Open Door Policy proposed by the United States to allow

any country to trade with China

Meiji Restoration name given to the modernization of
Japan by the Emperor.
Monroe Doctrine President James Monroe issued a
warning in 1823 warning Europeans not to build any new
colonies in the Americas.
Roosevelt Corollary US is a police force in the Western
Hemisphere (the Americas).
Yellow journalism greatly exaggerated newspaper stories
which ultimately led to the War of 1898 (Spanish-American
War)
Great White Fleet name given to the U.S. Naval fleet by
President Theodore Roosevelt

Motives
Needed markets to sell the goods made in their

factories
Needed the cheap raw materials for their factories
Establish military posts
Benefit smaller countries with European ideas
Social Darwinism idea of survival of the fittest;
the strongest nations should survive while the
weaker nations should be conquered

Imperialism Controversy

Others felt that the

Cons
imperial country had a
Pros
duty to spread their
government, culture
Ended local warfare and religion. (Rudyard
Kiplings The White
Set up schools,
Mans Burden)
hospitals, farming,
Kept native people from
industry, and
moving upward in
transportation.
society.
Encouraged human
Imperial country
rights.
thought themselves
superior.
Destroyed local
businesses

European Nations in Asia

England

Singapore (1819), New

Zealand (mid-1800s),
Australia (1770), Burma,
India (1600) East India
Company
The sun never sets on the
British Empire.

France

Vietnam, Cambodia
(1884): French IndoChina

Siam (Thailand): The

only Southeast Asian
country to remain
independent

Sepoy
Rebellio
n
Also known as the
First War of
Independence

East India Company begins trading

in India (1600), set up forts for
protection. Steadily built a trading
empire in India.
Sepoys were hired Indian soldiers
for the East India Company.
Didnt like the British, felt they
were fighting against their own
people and that the British were
trying to convert them to
Christianity.
1857, rumors that bullets were
greased with cow and pig fat.
(Muslims cant touch pigs, Hindus
believe animals are sacred).
Rebellion began, was put down by
the British military in 1858.

British
Influence
in India

British take control of India

from the East India
Company.
Viceroy was sent to rule.
India was called the jewel
of the crown in the British
Empire.
To ease anger in India, the
British built schools,
universities, railroads,
telegraph lines, paved
roads, and irrigation canals.
British told the Indians to

Africa During Imperialism

The race for Africa began when Belgium claimed
an area around the Congo.
Other Europeans joined the race to claim Africa.
The Berlin Conference of 1884-85:
14 European nations met to decide how Africa was going
to be divided.
No African representation
Divided the continent with no regard to ethnic or language
boundaries.

Africa is easily dominated because the Europeans

have advanced weaponry, and the Africans are
not working together.

Africa After the Berlin Conference

France: Algeria, Tunisia, part of

Africa

(Northern
Africa)
(gold,
diamonds,
hides, palm
oil, ivory,
rubber)

Morocco
Spain: part of Morocco
England: Egypt
Italy: Tripoli
Free: Liberia and Ethiopia
North Africa becomes important in
World War II. This is where much
of the early fighting in WW2 is
centered!

Europe needs a faster route to

Egypt and the
Suez Canal

trade with Asia

French and Egyptians split the
cost of the canal (52% vs 48%)
Opened in 1869
Egyptians need money sell their
part to the British
The British navy kicks out the
French
Britain makes Egypt a
protectorate

Zulu
Wars

British take Dutch port

of Cape Town.
The Dutch settlers
(Boers or Afrikaners)
moved inland onto Zulu
land.
Zulu King Shaka
defeated the Boers in
1816.
Zulu King Cetshwayo
stood up to the British
in 1879, fought for 6
months (Zulu War).

Opium Wars - China

China had been isolationist since the era of
colonization.
The British were determined to open trade with
China, so they began to trade the drug opium.
The Chinese government outlawed the sale of
Opium and the British protested.
There are two separate wars (1839-1842),
(1856-1860). The Chinese lose. They are forced
to trade with the British, and they lose the city
of Hong Kong to the British.

2. Corrupt government
3. Food shortages
4. Peasant unrest
5. Power of local warlords
*Leads to the Taiping Rebellion an
internal rebellion which attempted to
establish a kingdom where no one lived in
poverty.
*Europeans want access to the natural
resources in China.
*U.S. Proposes Open Door Policy, all
countries have an equal opportunity to
trade in China.

China

Boxer
Rebellion
: China

China started secret

societies to kick out
Europeans (tired of
Europeans trying to
spread Christianity)
The Society of the
Harmonious Fists
(Boxers) attacked
foreigners in 1900.
Britain, France,
Germany, Russia, Japan
and U.S. sent troops to
stop the rebellion.