Imperialism

Imperialism Topics Africa India China Japan

“Imperialism is a Glorious Pursuit”

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

Definition

Motives—Why? Economic Political Religious Exploratory Ideological

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.

Key Themes

Warm-Up Directions Complete the handout—The

Scramble for Africa Label the following countries

on attached map—Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast

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“All great nations in the fullness of their strength have desired to set their mark upon barbarian lands…and those who fail to participate in this great rivalry will play a pitiable [pathetic] role in time to come.”

Africa Before Imperialism Many ethnic groups but few

Europeans rule in Africa African armies and traders kept

Europeans out Rivers were impassable, making

it difficult to get inland

Competition Europeans learn

about Africa from explorers

Greed, nationalism, racism, and philanthropy 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

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

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

What 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?

Reflection Questions

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?

African Imperialism—A Review…

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 ManagementIndirect Control Direct Control

Leadership

Self-Rule

Goal

Governmental Style

Examples

Colonial ManagementIndirect Control Direct Control

Leadership 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

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

Impact of Colonial Rule

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?

White Man’s Burden Analysis Groups of three (3) Complete three

tasks as a group and submit…Poem analysis /

explanationPoem recreationPolitical cartoon

British Imperialism in India

British Control The East India

Company seizes control of most of India

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

Review—British Imperialism in India

Imagine that you and a partner have been asked to tell the story of British imperialism

in India to someone younger than you. Using your notes

and homework outline, record a two-paragraph

explanation that accurately describes this development, but does so in a clear and

concise fashion.

Use the following terms in your explanation…

East India Company “Jewel in the Crown” Sepoy Mutiny Indian National

Congress Muslim League

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 InfluenceWestern 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!

Read and analyze Lin Zexu’s Letter to Queen Victoria

Assume the identity of Queen Victoria of Britain; write a reply letter to Lin Zexu in which you justify the actions of the British in the opium trade and resulting wars

Record your response on the back of the paper; minimum two paragraphs in length

Letter to Queen Victoria Analysis

European Imperialism of China—A Review…

Explain the significance of the following…

Opium War Treaty of Nanjing Extraterritorial rights Taiping Rebellion Sphere of influence Open Door Policy Boxer 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

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

Japanese Imperialism Defeats China in Sino-

Japanese War Defeats Russia in

Russo-Japanese War, claiming Manchuria and Korea

Reaction to Western influence vastly different than that of China

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.

A Comparison/Contrast—China versus Japan

Where would you take a foreign visitor?

Read the primary source excerpt—The Autobiography of Yukichi Fukuzawa

What are Fukuzawa’s impressions of the United States?

Create a list of 10 places—both local and national—that you would take a foreign visitor to help him/her learn about life in the United States today

Justify each selection!