The Age of The Age of Imperialism:Imperialism:

Key Vocabulary TermsKey Vocabulary Terms

ImperialismImperialism

Control by a strong nation over a Control by a strong nation over a weaker nation, usually for economic weaker nation, usually for economic reasons.reasons.

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Use of Charles Use of Charles Darwin’s ideas about Darwin’s ideas about evolution to explain evolution to explain human societies.human societies.

““survival of the survival of the fittest”- fittest”- only the only the strongest species strongest species (nations) will survive.(nations) will survive.

Stronger nations will Stronger nations will dominate weaker dominate weaker nationsnations

Berlin Conference (1884-1885)Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

Meeting at which Meeting at which Europeans agreed on Europeans agreed on rules for dividing and rules for dividing and colonizing Africa.colonizing Africa.

ResultResult: nations : nations agreed that any nation agreed that any nation could take any region could take any region of Africa as long as of Africa as long as they told the other they told the other countries what they countries what they were doing.were doing.

““Scramble for Africa”Scramble for Africa” Period starting in Period starting in

the 1880s when the 1880s when European countries European countries competed for new competed for new land claims on the land claims on the African continent.African continent.

By 1914, only 2 By 1914, only 2 countries remained countries remained independent from independent from European control European control (Liberia and (Liberia and Ethiopia)Ethiopia)

AssimilationAssimilation

Absorbing colonized Absorbing colonized people into the people into the culture of the culture of the imperialist nation.imperialist nation.

When imperialist When imperialist nations force their nations force their dominant culture, dominant culture, language, and language, and religion on the religion on the weaker native weaker native population.population.

Boer WarBoer War

Bloody war Bloody war fought between fought between the Dutch and the Dutch and the British for the British for control of South control of South Africa in the late Africa in the late 1800’s. Great 1800’s. Great Britain won.Britain won.

Suez CanalSuez Canal

Human-made waterway connecting Human-made waterway connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas.the Red and Mediterranean Seas.

Crimean WarCrimean War Conflict in Conflict in

which the which the Ottoman Ottoman Empire, Britain, Empire, Britain, and France and France halted Russian halted Russian expansion near expansion near the Black Sea.the Black Sea.

““Jewel in the Crown”Jewel in the Crown”

Term referring to India as the most Term referring to India as the most valuable of all British colonies. valuable of all British colonies.

Sepoy MutanySepoy Mutany

Uprising of Indian soldiers against Uprising of Indian soldiers against the British in 1857. The Sepoys lost.the British in 1857. The Sepoys lost.

Opium War (1839-1842)Opium War (1839-1842)

War between Britain and China over War between Britain and China over the Opium trade.the Opium trade.

Extraterritorial RightsExtraterritorial Rights

Rights of foreign residents to follow Rights of foreign residents to follow the laws of their own government the laws of their own government rather than those of the host country.rather than those of the host country.

Sphere of InfluenceSphere of Influence

Area in which a foreign nation Area in which a foreign nation controls trade and investment.controls trade and investment.

Open Door PolicyOpen Door Policy

Policy proposed by the United States Policy proposed by the United States giving all nations equal opportunities giving all nations equal opportunities to trade in China.to trade in China.

Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion

Rebellion aimed at ending foreign Rebellion aimed at ending foreign influence in China.influence in China.