World History 9
Study Guide
Quiz 25-4, 26-4, 27-1, 2
Laissez-faire
Thomas Edison
capitalism
Louis Pasteur
socialism
Alexander
Graham Bell
racism
paternalism
communism
Henry Ford
Karl Marx
Charles Darwin
Imperialism
Berlin Conference
colony
protectorate
Sphere of
Economic
assimilation
influence
imperialism
Terms:
Laissez-faire – a policy that let owners of industry set working conditions without government
interference
Capitalism – an economic system in which the factors of production are privately owned and money is
invested in business venture to make a profit
Socialism – the factors of production are owned by the public and operate for the welfare of all
Communism – an economic system in which all means of production are owned by the people,
private property does not exist and all goods and services are shared equally
Karl Marx – a German journalist who is most closely associated with communism
Thomas Edison – invented the light bulb and the phonograph and started a research laboratory in
Menlo Park, NJ
Louis Pasteur – developed the process of pasteurization to kill germs in liquids such as milk
Alexander Graham Bell – invented the telephone
Henry Ford – made cars that were affordable for most people through the use of standardized,
interchangeable parts and the assembly line
Charles Darwin – developed a theory that all forms of life evolved from earlier living forms
Imperialism – a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically,
economically, or socially
Berlin Conference – a meeting of 14 European countries to lay down rules for the division of Africa
but the African rulers were left out of the decisions
Racism – the belief that one group of people is superior to another based solely on race
Colony – a country or territory governed internally by a foreign power
Protectorate – a country or territory with its own internal government but under the control of an
outside power
Sphere of Influence – an area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading
privileges
Economic Imperialism – an independent but less-developed country controlled by private business
interests rather than other governments
Paternalism – govern people in a parental way by providing for their needs, but not giving them any
rights
Assimilation – idea that local population would adopt French culture and become like the French
What were the motivations for European imperialism?
 Competition for raw material
 National pride – viewed an empire as a measure of national greatness, each country wanted
as many colonies as possible
 Racism/Social Darwinism
o Europeans believed they were better than other people – racism (the belief that one
race is superior to others)
o Social Darwinism – was a social theory that applied Darwin’s survival of the fittest to
human society – those fittest for survival enjoyed wealth and success were considered
superior
 Religion – missionaries wanted to spread Christianity and “civilize” (westernize) people of
foreign lands
Why were the Europeans successful in colonizing Africa?
 Technological superiority – automatic machine guns vs outdated weapons
 Means to control their empire – invention of steam engine allowed them to establish bases of
control deep in Africa; railroads, cables, and steamships allowed close communication
between colony and controlling nation
 Drugs to prevent malaria
 Conditions within Africa; huge variety of languages and wars between ethnic groups over land,
water and trade rights and cultures discouraged unity
What were some positive and negative effects of colonial rule in Africa?
 Positive Effects
o Reduced local warfare
o Humanitarian efforts in some areas improved sanitation, hospitals, schools
o Lifespans in literacy rates improved
o Economic expansion of African goods became valued on international market
o Involved railroads, dams and telephone and telegraph lines
o Most of the positive benefits did not really affect African lives, but helped European
business interests
 Negative Effects
o Africans lost control of their land and independence
o New diseases such as smallpox were brought by the Europeans
o Thousands died resisting Europeans
o Famines resulting from change to cash crops as people are no longer growing food for
their families
o Breakdown of traditional African cultures
o Property taken
o Authority figures replaced
o Men left villages to work
o Undermined stable societies and caused identity problems
o Most harmful – division of African continent based on arbitrary boundaries
o Long-term rivals often united or kinship groups split in to different colonies
o Artificial boundaries combined or divided groups, creating problems that still
create problems for countries that evolved from former colonies