Imperialism

Imperialism Topics

Africa India China Japan

“Imperialism is a Glorious Pursuit”

Definition Imperialism is a policy in which a

strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially

Involves the takeover of a country or territory and its people (Risk in real life)

Motives—Why? Economic Political Religious Exploratory Ideological (Racism)

Key Themes Between 1850-1914, industrialized countries

exploit overseas colonies for resources and markets.

Western imperialists, with superior arms and technology, establish colonies in Asia and Africa; colonial rule, however, provokes native resistance and spurs feelings of nationalism.

Countries in East Asia respond to Western imperialism in different ways; China initially resists foreign influence while Japan ends its isolation and begins to modernize like its Western counterparts.

Suez Canal Opened in 1869, it is

a manmade waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea

Built by the French Why might it be

important to European imperialism in Africa?

It was a strategic location as the shortest link

between Europe and Asia!

Imperialists Divide Africa

Africa Before Imperialism

Many ethnic groups but few Europeans rule in Africa

African armies and traders kept Europeans out (equal technology, many people)

Rivers were impassable, making it difficult to get inland

Competition Europeans learn

about Africa from explorers (Muslims)

Greed, nationalism, racism, and philanthropy (missionaries) motivate European colonialism

Competition A growing need for new

markets and raw materials to improve their economies

Superior arms (Maxim gun), the steam engine, medicines, and African rivalries help Europeans dominate Africa

Social Darwinism

The application of Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution and “survival of the fittest” to human societies

Created by Herbert Spencer

Justification for imperialist expansion

Social Darwinism

Societies with more wealth, power and technology were superior to those without

Europeans had a right and a duty (“burden”) to spread their values to others

Territorial Scramble

The Berlin Conference (1884-5) divides Africa among European nations

The division fails to take into account African ethnic and linguistic groupings

Focus only on wants of European Nations

Berlin Conference Simulation

Read directions and identify the goals of your countries

Negotiate and discuss how best to divide the African continent

Submit map and answers to reflection questions upon completion of exercise

Time: ~ 45 minutes

Reflection QuestionsWhat similarities and differences

do you see between your map and the map of 1914 Africa?

How did this exercise help you and your group to understand the process of imperialism in Africa?

African Imperialism—A Review…

How did the force of nationalism influence the process of imperialism in the late nineteenth century?

What advantages did the Europeans have that enabled them to conquer the people of Africa?

Explain the concept of Social Darwinism. What imperial motive did it pertain to?

What was the Berlin Conference, and what long-term impact did it have on the African people?

Imperial Control Two basic methods of colonial

management: indirect and direct Indirect control used by Britain

and U.S. (in Pacific) Direct control used by French

and other European powers Paternalism and assimilation

(“association”)

Colonial Management

Indirect Control Direct ControlLeadership

Self-Rule

Goal

Governmental Style

Examples

Colonial Management

Indirect Control Direct ControlLeadership Local government officials

were used Foreign officials brought in to rule

Self-Rule Limited self-rule No self-rule

Goal Goal—to develop future leaders

Goal—assimilation

Governmental Style

Government institutions are based on European styles

but may have local rules

Government institutions are based

only on European styles

Examples Examples: British colonies such as

Nigeria, India, Burma U.S. colonies on Pacific

Islands

Examples: French colonies such as Somaliland, Vietnam German colonies such

as Tanganyika Portuguese colonies

such as Angola

African Resistance

Africans resist colonial rule, despite lack of adequate organization and weapons

Ethiopia successfully resists European dominance

Impact of Colonial Rule

Positive Effects Negative Effects

Impact of Colonial Rule

Positive Effects Negative Effects Reduced local warfare, raids between rival tribes

Africans lost control of their land and their independence

Improved sanitation, construction of schools and

hospitals led to increased life spans and improved literacy

rates

Many died as a result of disease (smallpox), famine,

and resistance

Economic expansion, construction of railroads,

dams, telephone / telegraph lines

Breakdown of traditional African culture (loss of

identity), division of African continent

White Man’s Burden“Take up the White Man’s

burden—Send forth the best ye

breed—Go, bind your sons to exile

To serve your captives’ need;

To wait, in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild—

Your new-caught sullen peoples,

Half devil and half child.”

Which imperialist motive(s) do/does this poem excerpt reflect? How does

it justify imperialism as a

noble and necessary enterprise?

British Imperialism in India

British Control The East India

Company seizes control of most of India (incredibly successful)

Britain considers India its primary colony, serving as its main supplier of raw materials

“Jewel in the Crown”

Raw materials 300 million people large potential market

for British-made goods Restrictions set up that prevented Indian

economy from operating on its own; India produced raw materials for British manufacturing, purchased British finished goods

No competition between Indian and British goods

Indians Rebel Indians object to

the racist attitudes of the British rulers

The Sepoy Mutiny turns into widespread rebellion

The British government takes direct control of India

Indian Nationalism

Indians begin to demand a greater role in government, resenting a system that made them second-class citizens in their own country

Nationalists form the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League

Such groups were formed because they recognized the need to reform in order to resist European imperialism

Imperialism in China and Japan

Chinese Resistance

China has little interest in trading with Western nations

British import large amounts of tea from China and smuggle opium into the country

Opium War / Treaty of Nanjing

Internal Problems Increase

Poverty and political corruption create problems for China in the mid-1800s

Taiping Rebellion Should China modernize or

remain committed to traditional values?

Outside Influence

Western nations and Japan gain spheres of influence in China

U.S. promotes Open Door policy to assure trading rights for all nations and to protect China from colonization

Chinese Nationalism

Boxer Rebellion Attack on

foreigners After rebellion is

crushed by foreign troops, Chinese government realizes change is necessary

Opium War and Boxer Rebellion

What do they have in common?

Resentment of foreigners contributed to both conflicts!

European Imperialism of China—A Review…

Explain the significance of the

following…Opium WarTreaty of NanjingExtraterritorial rightsTaiping RebellionSphere of influenceOpen Door PolicyBoxer Rebellion

Japan Previously a very

isolated society; no contact with industrialized world

1854—opens to trade, grants foreigners permission to trade at treaty ports, extends extraterritorial rights to such individuals

Beginning of Meiji Era

Meiji Era Period of

modernization and change (Last samurai)

Adopt Western values in government, military structure, education, industrialization, etc.

In what ways does the emperor appear more western in the picture?

Japanese Imperialism

Defeats China in Sino-Japanese War

Defeats Russia in Russo-Japanese War, claiming Manchuria and Korea

What advantages did Japan have?

A Comparison/Contrast—China versus Japan

Objective: Create a list of similarities and differences that breaks down how each country responded to the

pressures of imperialism. Do so with a partner and submit

when complete.