1840 - 1910
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Originally France interested in Egypt for
strategic location (Red Sea), but Napoleon
failed
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Egypt interested in modernizing like
Europe, so figured they need to trade
like Europe
1869 - Decided to build manmade
waterway that cut through Suez,
connecting Red Sea to Mediterranean
 SUEZ CANAL
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Time Saved: 2
weeks
Miles Saved: 4,000
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Had to borrow $$ from France ($450 million!),
but found they could not pay back the debt
Britain jumped on the chance to oversee
financial control of the canal  by 1882 British
occupied Egypt
Canal was “Lifeline of the British Empire” b/c
allowed quicker access to its colonies in Asia and
Africa
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China proud of their culture
& many work opportunities 
very self-sufficient
Not interested in gadgets
West was offering;
only in agriculture  did not want to trade w/
Europeans
But Europeans wanted access to Chinese goods
& resources (especially tea)

Britain determined to find something Chinese
wanted to trade…OPIUM!
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Habit-forming drug; Chinese doctors used it for pain
relief for centuries
By 1835, 12 million Chinese addicted & rising
Qing Emperor asked Britain to stop, but refused 
led to OPIUM WAR (1839-1842)
British victory, gained island of Hong Kong
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Results of Opium War:
1. China divided into spheres of
influence
2. Increase in Western trade & influence
in Asia
3. Britain gains island of Hong Kong
4. Taiping Rebellion  revolt of the
people against the emperor
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Due to Opium addiction, China no longer
productive & people hungry
Europeans taking advantage of China’s
growing problems
Had to declare “Open Door Policy” to keep
from being divided up & colonized like Africa
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Poor peasants/workers resented foreign influence
 formed secret organization, Society of
Harmonious Fists (aka Boxers)
Wanted to get rid of Qing Dynasty, started BOXER
REBELLION
Rebellion failed, but nationalism rose; started to
travel West to examine government structures
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1600s, Japan was isolated (“closed door”)
1853 - US Commodore
Matthew Perry took ships/
weapons to Japan & demand
they open trade  signed
Treaty of Kanagawa &
opened 2 ports to all
Japanese angry & overthrew Tokugawa Shogun
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New MEIJI ERA rules (“Enlightened”)
Figured if you can’t beat ‘em,
join ‘em  adopted
European modern ways
Knew wouldn’t be taken over now, so decided to
become imperialists too

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Established colonies in China
Now Japan & Russia major powers in Asia

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Both Russia & Japan
want Manchuria for
natural resources 
RUSSO-JAPANESE
WAR (Japan victory)
Japan went after Korea
& won  established a
protectorate &
annexation (direct
rule)
FORMS OF IMPERIAL
MANAGEMENT
&
UNITED STATES TERRITORIES
& HAWAII
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Direct Rule:
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Foreign officials brought in to
rule
No self-rule
Goal: assimilation
European style government
COLONY
Examples:
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French colonies
German colonies
Portuguese Colonies
Indirect Rule:
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Local government officials rule
Limited self-rule
Goal: develop future leaders
European style government,
but some local rules
COLONY or PROTECTORATE
Examples:
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British colonies
U.S. colonies on Pacific Islands
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Protectorate:
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Country or territory
with its own internal
government, but under
control of an outside
power
Example:
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Britain over the Niger
River delta
Sphere of Influence
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Area in which an
outside power claims
exclusive investment or
trading privileges
Example:
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U.S. over Liberia
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U.S. acquired Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, & Guam as
trading territories
1790s: U.S. interested in Hawaii  port on the way to
China and East India
1820s: U.S. sugar plantations took over Hawaii  75% of
Hawaii’s wealth
U.S. wanted to annex (to bring in) Hawaii so sugar could be
sold for greater profit

Queen Liliuokalani wanted to rid Hawaii of American sugar planters &
take more power  1893 was removed from power
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1894: Sanford Dole named new president of Republic of Hawaii
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1898: Republic of Hawaii annexed by U.S. (50th state)