World History & Geography
Chapter 21
The Height of
Imperialism
Imperialism : the extension of (or
addition to) a nation’s power over
other lands / countries.
•Imperialism before the 1900’s often
meant that the European countries
were setting up trading posts in other
countries. – After the 1900’s European
countries often had direct control over
vast areas of land their colonies.
• One of the reasons that these
European countries were taking control
of these countries was for economic
reasons.
Chapter 21 - Section 1:
Colonial Rule in Southeast Asia
The BIG Idea:
Through the new imperialism,
Westerners controlled vast territories,
exploited native populations, and
opened markets for European products
• The first and primary reason that
Western (European) countries looked
to control other countries was because
of the economic motive.
• Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin
America had many natural resources.
• Southeast Asia offered Coffee, Tea &
Spices.
• Africa had Peanuts, Hides & Palm Oil.
• To send these natural resources back
to the Imperial Country, plantations
would be set up in the colonies, and
native people would work for low
wages.
• The Imperial Powers did not want
their colonies to develop enough
wealth to start their own industries, so
they also kept taxes very high on the
colonies the controlled.
• But in addition to shipping Natural
Resources out of the countries they
controlled, the European Colonial
Powers sent finished products back to
their colonies to sell, which made more
profits for companies in Europe.
• Brining out natural resources and
shipping back finished products to sell
gave Europeans a good trade balance
Other motives for Imperialism
•First was “Social Darwinism” which taught
people that in the struggle between nations,
the “fit” nations are those that are victorious
over other countries. Social Darwinists
believed that one country controlling another
country was natural.
• Social Darwinist Ideas were often pointed to
by Racists who believed that particular races
are superior.
Other motives for Imperialism
• Religious reasons also motivated Europeans
to colonize other countries. The believed
Europeans had a responsibility to bring
civilization and religion to what they thought
were “primitive” people.
• This concept became known as the “White
Man’s Burden” meaning that the white
Europeans had a moral obligation to do these
things for the less fortunate of the world.
Ways of Governing Colonies
• Colonies could be governed in two ways:
• Under indirect rule local rulers were
allowed to keep their status, but they were
now taking orders from the imperial power.
• Indirect rule was cheaper, because the
imperial power did not have to send as
many government officials.
Ways of Governing Colonies
• In countries were the local rulers were not
open to becoming part of a European
countries empire, the European needed to
have direct rule over the colony, and European
officials replaced the local leaders.
• In Vietnam, the French used direct rule in the
south, but used indirect rule to control
northern Vietnam.
Resistance to Colonial Rule
• Many people who were being ruled by a
Imperial Power were not happy with their
situation.
• At first, it was often the ruling class that was
already there resisted being ruled from afar,
but later the peasants and the middle classes
became involved in resistance movements
against the Imperial Powers.
Positives & Negatives of Imperialism
• Your text book describes many of the ways
that Imperial control hurt the colony:
• Natural resources were exploited, taxes
were raised, wages were kept low, and the
natural identity of the country was often
lost.
• Your book points to improved
infrastructure, such as railroads, as a
positive for the colony.
Chapter 21 - Section 2:
Empire Building in Africa
The BIG
Virtually all of Africa was under
European Rule by 1900.
Western & Northern Africa
• The Colonization of Africa was a very short
process. Great Britain annexed land on what
became the Gold Coast and Nigeria in 1874.
• France did not want its rival to be the only
power in Africa, and by 1900 most of west
Africa was under French control.
• Germany also moved quickly to gain
control Togo, Cameroon and other area
further south in Africa.
Egypt
• Egypt had been part of the
Ottoman Empire, but after the
Ottoman power weakened,
the Egyptians looked for their
independence.
• An officer of the Ottoman
army name Muhammad Ali
took power in 1805 and
established Egypt as its own
country.
( which one is he? )
Egypt
• Under Ali, Egypt was brought into the
modern world. Ali modernized the army, set
up a public school system and helped
created industries like sugar refining and
ship building.
• Now that Egypt was becoming an
economic power, European countries like
France and Great Britain began to notice
what was going on in Egypt.
Egypt
• Many Europeans were also interested in
Egypt because they wanted to build a canal
east of Cairo to connect the Mediterranean
Sea and the Red Sea.
Egypt
• French Businessmen built the Suez Canal
between 1854 – 1869.
• The British saw that Canal as a quick way
to get to India, where they were also in
control, so they bought Egypt’s share of the
canal in 1875.
• In 1881 an Egyptian army revolt against
the British was put down and Great Britain
was in complete control of Egypt by 1914.
Central and East Africa
• Central Africa was the next area of Africa
that Europeans colonized. Explorers stirred
up interest in the jungles of these areas.
• David Livingstone was one of these
explorers. He was sent to Africa as a
medical missionary, but also so that he
could find a river route into Central Africa to
open the area up to European Business &
Christianity.
Central and East Africa
• Livingstone became famous in Europe,
and around the world as he continued to
send back writings and maps of Africa.
• Livingstone was so famous that when he
disappeared, and American newspaper sent
a young journalist named Henry Stanley to
track him down.
• When Stanley found Livingstone, his first
words were: “Mr. Livingstone, I presume?”
Central and East Africa
South Africa
• South Africa had actually been colonized
by the Dutch since the late 1600’s. The
Original White Dutch Settlers were known
as the Boers (or Afrikaners) and were still
there when the British took the area in the
early 1800s.
• At this point more and more British
settlers were coming to what they called
“Cape Colony” in South Africa.
South Africa
• In the 1830s the Boers, became upset
with the British Rule, and moved away
from the coast and further into the
country and started their own
republics.
• The Boers believed that white
superiority was ordained by God. The
only jobs for non-Europeans in their
society were for servants and laborers.
South Africa
• Eventually war broke out between the
British and the Boers over the fact that
some of the British wanted to take more of
the Boer’s land.
• The British won the Boer War in 1902, and
created an independent Union of South
Africa in 1910. As a way to keep the Boers
happy, the British agreed that only the
wealthiest Africans would be able to vote.
Effects of Imperialism on Africa
• By 1914, Great Britain, France,
Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and
Portugal had divided up Africa.
• The only two free states left in Africa
were Ethiopia and Liberia, which had
been created as a homeland for the
formerly enslaved persons of the
United States.
Effects of Imperialism on Africa
• Most African colonies were ruled by
Indirect Rule, as a way to save money.
The British for example, let the existing
political elites stay in power if they
accepted orders and let the British
make all the decisions.
• This meant that the young and
talented did not have any opportunities
to be part of government.
Effects of Imperialism on Africa
• The policy of keeping the old African
elite in power also meant that the
British were playing favorites with
which groups they wanted to be in
power, and this lead to tensions
between tribes, many of which are still
being dealt with today in Africa, long
after the Europeans have left.