IMPERIALISM

•  Define Imperialism •  List three reasons why a country would want to be imperialistic

• ***GET OUT HOME WORK = Textbook Reading Questions and Late DBQs

• If you were gone on Friday you need to get the reading and questions as well as the semester exam review!

Bell Ringer 1/3 & 1/4

Imperialism:

¨  The domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural/social life of another country

¨  Empire Building

Imperialism:

¨  1500 – 1800 ¨  Powers did not

penetrate into interior

¨  Not much influence on lives of people

¨  Ex: American Colonies

¨  1815 – 1914 (really to the 1960s) ¨  Nationalism produced strong, centrally

governed states ¨  Ind. Rev. increased country wealth and need

for resources ¨  Europe, America & Japan increased control

of the world’s land from 35% to 85% ¨  Demand more influence over econ/pol/soc

life ¨  Shape the economy to benefit Imperialist’s

interests ¨  Occurred mostly in Asia and Africa

¤  Why? Declining empires and local wars left many states vulnerable. In Africa, many states had been weakened by the legacy of the slave trade.

Old Imperialism New Imperialism

Types of Imperialism:

¨  Different techniques to gain control of colonies

1.  Colony: Direct and complete control

2.  Protectorate: Control of foreign affairs – indirect rule

3.  Sphere of Influence: Control trade

4.  Economic Imperialism: Economic power

1.) Nationalism: ¨  Feeling of intense pride

towards your county

¨  Nationalistic thought led to feeling of superiority

¨  Imperialists felt they had the right and the duty to take control of “uncivilized” and “weak” countries

¨  English poet Rudyard Kipling, “White Man’s Burden”. Poem explained why Westerners were superior to people from “primitive” people.

2.) Ethnocentrism

¨  Social Darwinist’s argued that it was natural for stronger nations to dominate weaker nations.

¨  Sense of racial superiority was widespread among Westerners.

¨  Created a sense that Western nations were entitled to conquer & colonize areas that appeared “backwards” or “primitive”

¨  Cecil Rhodes, British imperialist, “I contend that we are the finest race in the world, and the more of it we inhabit, the better.”

3.) Competition with other Countries

¨  Prestige/Nationalism ¨  Political Clout – remain #1 nation ¨  Fight to control key strategic areas

¤ Crown Jewel of India ¤ Hong Kong ¤ Australia ¤ Suez Canal ¤ Hawaii ¤ Naval Positions important then and important today “oil

choke points” – cannot get oil to Europe without the Suez Canal

4.) Missionaries/Religion

¨ Spread Christianity ¨ Educate “uncivilized”

populations

5.) New Technology

¨  Cure for Malaria/Medical Advances ¨  Made possible for Europeans and

Americans to press into tropical regions.

¨  Industrialization bestowed new weaponry of all types upon the armies and navies of the West:

-Ocean-going fleets -Modern rifles, machine guns and

rapid-fire artillery. Maxim Gun n  -Occasions were rare that native

populations could resist Western military forces.

6.) Coaling Stations

¨  Growing need of Western nations to maintain bases & coal/oil stations around the world for naval & civilian fleet ¤ Ships required repairs

and refueling stations at strategic locations globally.

Portsmouth Coaling Station

7.) Markets and Materials

¨  Demand from Ind. Rev. for raw materials ¨  Materials could be taken from less powerful nations ¨  New Markets for goods/ place to invest profits

Case Study: India

¨  British East India Company ¨  Est. trade in India – by 1800

controlled 3/5ths of India ¨  Employed Indian soldiers

called sepoys ¤ Sepoys forced to follow rules

against Muslim religion and revolted & crushed Brit. Army

¤ Tension cause British govt. to take control of India in 1858

Case Study: China

¨  Sphere of influence term for having exclusive trading rights in China and the east

¨  China & the East did not want the influence of W. & resisted imperialism

¨  Opium War: British merchants began trading opium with China in the 1700’s. When the Chinese tried to ban the import of the illegal drug, Britain overpowered them and established colonies in China.

¨  After the Opium War other European powers carved up the East with “Spheres of Influence”

¨  Boxer Rebellion – 1900 – Boxers (a Chinese group) attacked foreign communities in China. Japanese and Western armies crushed uprising. China forced to give more control to foreign powers.

Case Study: Africa (1880-1914)

¨  1850: Africa free of foreign rule ¨  1880-1914: European powers expand empire into interior of Africa ¨  Sometimes referred to as the Great Game or the Scramble for

Africa ¨  Colonization moved from gold & slaves to wanting territory

¨  Possible to take land because of weapons/European armies, medicine, better maps

¨  Frenzy for territory almost lead to war among European Nations ¨  Berlin Conference (1884-5)

¤  Laid down guidelines for African expansion and played a certain role in keeping the peace.

¤  European division of Africa w/ no regard for language, ethnic grouping, etc.

¤  By 1914 all of Africa was conquered except Ethiopia and Liberia.

Africa Cont…

Africa Cont…

¨  South Africa: Boer War (1899-1902) ¤ Zulu warriors continually fought Boers (Dutch Farmers) for

land in northern S. Africa ¤ British annexed Boer territory, Boers resisted. British won

and created Union of South Africa.