Imperialism in Asia

India: Background

• 1600s: Britain set up the East India Trading Company

• Mughal Empire is collapsing, and so is its control over foreign influences

• Mughal Muslims and Hindus do not get along

• By 1757, the East India Trading Company is the biggest power in India

• Britain’s goals:– Make money– Improve India (make it

more profitable, fix the infrastructure)

– Westernize India

The British Make Social Changes in India

• End slavery• End caste system• Improve the status of women• Outlaw Sati

– Hindu custom where a widow jumps on her husband’s funeral fire

Sepoy Rebellion• Caused by resentment towards

British interference in India– Soldiers (Sepoys) forced to serve

anywhere in India OR overseas– Widows can remarry– New rifles

• 1857-there was a rumor that the British coated their bullets with beef and pork fat

• The Sepoys rebelled• Rebellion failed within a year

because the Indians couldn’t unite.

Results of the Sepoy Rebellion

• Led to Britain cracking down harder on India (more taxes, rules, and hatred)

• Also led to the rise of nationalism– Creation of the first

Indian Nationalist political party in the mid-1800s

Raja Ram Mohun Roy Bahadoor

What’s going on in the rest of Asia?

• Lands primarily owned by France and the Dutch East India Company

• The Dutch– Hold 3,000 miles worth of

Indonesia– Other European nations

want the goodies from the islands

• France– Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia

China

• China is the Imperialistic nation’s dream state

• Historically, China has resisted influence– Prided itself on being

“self-sufficient”• Had a favorable balance

of trade– Meaning?

• Europe’s goal: to find a product that China would want

• OPIUM

• Opium War: Fought between China and Great Britain– China lost, and had to give

up Hong Kong

http://opioids.com/images/opium-smoker.html

Problem Time in China

• Population skyrockets but the supply of food doesn’t follow– Flooding, government

corruption leads to less food production

• Opium addictions increased

• China tried to reform, but its weak government couldn’t fix the problems

Europe steps in• Europe took advantage of

a weak China and attacked at every opportunity

• The treaties following each fight gave the European nations powers in China

• Sphere of Influence: a region in which a foreign nation controls trade and investment

Think…

• Do you think Europe had the right to get involved in China’s problems? Why or Why not?

• Do you think this was a good thing for China? Why or why not?

Boxer Rebellion• Chinese are upset with the

foreign interference• Peasants and

Workers=Boxers• 1900: Boxers rebelled,

marching on the capital screaming “Death to foreign devils”

• Soldiers from 8 other countries banded together to defeat the Boxers

Results• China remained

resistant to the European ways, but they did open up enough to welcome in reform for the nation

• For example: NO FOOTBINDING

Footbinding

Japan

• 1600s-early 1800s: the Japanese remained isolationist and enjoyed peace and prosperity

• Early 1800s: Europeans tried to convince Japanese to open up to trade

Treaty of Kanagwa

• Signed in 1854, this treaty opened up two Japanese ports to the United States

• The U.S. brings Western Ideas to Japan– Strong central

government– Strong navy– schools

Japan becomes an Imperialistic Power

• Using the western ideas, Japan makes itself a strong nation

• Takes over:– Korea– Taiwan– Manchuria

Effects of Imperialism• Increased tensions among

European nations as they competed for dominance overseas led to increased tensions at home

• Spread of European social, political, and economic ideas around the world.

Bumper Stickers• Working in pairs, you will

develop a bumper sticker that displays the ideas of Imperialism in Asia OR Africa from the point of view of the colony or the Imperialistic power. You should include a slogan/motto, and any illustrations you feel appropriate. You will also write a paragraph explaining your bumper sticker on the BACK.