Clash of Cultures“Imperialism”

The domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region

Where have we seen Imperialism so far in history?

Agrarian Economies Physical strength was the

highest value

Male Superiority was accepted as normal

Elite occupations were male oriented

Landowner became the ruler

Formal education was considered unimportant

Needed to be able to work with large animals

Created cultures based around strength

King, Warrior, Priest etc. .

Workers considered property. Two groups of people- the Rich and

the Poor

Knowledge a threat to the powerful.

Agrarian Economies #2 Land and Animals considered

more important than people

Economies based on bartering

Slavery was universal

Family identity very important

Different meant bad

Individuals did not have rightsThe Group is more important

Trade only with neighboring towns and countries.

Nations were small and weak.

No interaction between cultures- poor transportation

Industrial Cultures Highest Value is the need to

save time

The creation of the Middle Class

Individuals gaining rights

More education

New Technology making life easier.

Time is Money

Businessmen, not tied to farming for money

More groups able to vote (women, the poor etc.)

Needed education for work.

Mass Production and standardization making items cheaper

Competition for money, land, power, and religion

Increased competition = wars between nations

Increased Immigration= Increased Nationalism

Modern nations saw less developed nations as “inferior”

New colonies = new places for people to immigrate

Increased Nationalism= Increased competition

Agrarian v Industrial Nations Traditional Technology

Ideas based on traditions

Did not want to expand

Distrusted outsiders “Different is Bad”

New Technology

Ideas based on science, natural rights, and expanding knowledge

Needed to expand to increase power and ability to sell their products

Traded with outsiders

Agrarian v. Industrial Nations

Most of Africa India China Parts of South America

(Central America and Mexico had been already conquered by Spain- close enough to Europe in culture

that they were left alone.

Western Europe• England

• France

• Germany

• The Netherlands

Eastern Europe• Russia

The United States

Causes of Imperialism

• Economic Interests

• The more area you own the more money you make

• Political and Military Interests

• Nationalism demanded that nations conquer around the world

• Humanitarian Goals

• Many felt it their duty to spread the ways of Western Civilization

• Social Darwinism

• Many embraced the idea of racial superiority

Culture Battlegrounds

Battleground #1- Africa

African Background The West Coast of Africa had been conquered

in the 1400s by the Portuguese, who created slave markets. • By the 19th century, most European countries had

outlawed slavery.

South Africa had been settled by the Dutch (Boers) who grew agricultural products

Most of Africa was untouched by Europeans.

Why invade Africa?

Improve the lives of Africans Natural Resources

• Gold, Diamonds,

• Agricultural products

New places to immigrate from Europe Compete against other Industrial nations Africa was naturally weak- inferior technology, no

central leader. • “Social Darwinism”

• Survival of the fittest Nation or people

Who invaded?

• Religion- Missionaries spread religion

• Explorers claimed new territories

• Government- Politicians spread new government ideas• Colony

• Protectorate

• ”spheres of influence”

• Businessmen developed areas of trade

What parts of Africa? North Africa- controlled by the

Ottoman Empire-

Southern Africa- the Zulus fought against the Boers and the British colonizers.• British found Gold and Diamonds, and

fought the Boers for control.

That left the middle of Africa for conquering

Scramble for Africa

Belgium was first• Henry Stanley claimed the Congo for

King Leopold of Belgium Caused the other European nations

to claim territories for themselves

Berlin Conference 1884• Peacefully split Africa among

European nations

• No Africans were present at the meeting.

African winners

Liberia- created by the United States for former slaves

Ethiopia- King Menelik II modernized his country, fought the Italians and won.

Other tribes attempted to fight the Europeans but lost.

Egypt Seeks to Modernize Muhammad Ali – Governor of Egypt

(1805)• Known as the “Father of Modern

Egypt”

• Improved tax collection, reorganized the landholding system, and backed large irrigation projects

• Brought in western military experts to modernize Egypt’s army

• Dies in 1849 Successors build the Suez Canal

Battleground #2 India British could not conquer India like Africa

• Larger populations

• More organized governments

English East India Company• Opened up trading posts in major Indian cities

• Made deals with local leaders (indirect rule)

• Slowly spread their power throughout India through the 1800s

• Used their own private army of Indian soldiers (sepoys) to keep control

Sepoy Mutiny 1850’s

• E.E.I.C required Sepoys to work outside of India,

• Treated Indians as second class citizens

• Introduced a new gun with bullets coated with animal grease.

1857- Sepoys rebel against British• Killed English women and children living in India

• British sent in regular English troops

• Forced the British Government to take direct control of India.

Indian Nationalism

British introduce English technology, customs, education and language in India• Ram Mohun Roy- saw value in Western and

Indian ideas• Wanted to change Indian culture, remove old caste

systems

• Western taught Indians organized the Indian National Congress to fight the British.

Battleground #3 China

Chinese emperors controlled all of China• Europeans bought silk, tea and

porcelain with gold and silver

British merchants saw a way to get more Silk, Tea and Porcelain by selling Opium to the Chinese.

Opium War

The Chinese government outlawed the sale of Opium• Executed British Merchants

1839- British and Chinese fight over the sale of Opium• British had superior weapons and ships

• Force the Chinese to sign the Treaty of Nanking (1842)• Gained control of Hong Kong

• China had to open up country to trade.

Chinese reaction

Chinese rebelled against the weakened Chinese Emperor (Taiping Rebellion)• Chinese government attempted to modernize,

• Empress Ci Xi, kept to traditional values

Western Countries take advantage of the Chinese weakness- “spheres of Influence”• Anti-Western Rebellion- The Boxer Rebellion

• Tried to kill all Westerners.

Rebellions lead to Chinese Nationalism• Led by Sun Yat-Sen

• Three Goals- Nationalism, Democracy, and Livelihood

Battleground # 4 Japan Japan had a policy of isolation

• Kept to themselves from 1600 to 1853• This is also the time of the Shogun and

Samurai Japan was scared by the fact that Western

Powers carved up China• Japan were worried that they would be next

In 1853 the United States sailed for Japan• Led by Matthew Perry, landed in Tokyo Bay • Brought a letter from President Pierce

demanding that they open ports for diplomatic and commercial change

Japan realizes that it can not defeat the U.S.. so it gives in

• Japan signs the lopsided Treaty of Kanagawa

The Samurai revolt and appoint a new emperor

• This is known as the Meiji Restoration

• Samurai are sent to Western nations to learn the ways of Industrialized nations

• Their goal was to beat the West at their own game

• Their motto was, “A rich country, a strong military”

Reforms under the Meiji• Government

• Japan adopts the German form of government – Democracy with a ruler (emperor) having the final say

• Eliminated the special rights of the Samurai – all men were now able to be warriors in the military

• Economic• Japan moves to modernize and build industry• Capitalism

Results Japan begins to seek Imperialistic goals Japan easily defeats China in the Sino-Japanese war Japan defeats Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905

Battleground #5 Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Western nations fight over this area

French seize Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia• Rename it French Indochina

• Dutch take Indonesia

• British take Burma (modern day Myanmar), the city of Singapore and Malaya

• Siam (Thailand) survived European Imperialism

United States makes Samoa sign an unequal treaty

The United States annex Hawaii• Wanted to control the Sugar

industry there

The United States takes the Philippines under control after the Spanish-American War