The Height of Imperialism
1800-1914
Ch. 21
Colonial Rule in Southeast Asia
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The Scramble for Territories
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Imperialism  The extension of a nation’s
power over other lands
Europeans had set up colonies and trading
posts in North America, South America, and
Africa
The New Imperialism set up in the late
sixteenth century was established to create
direct control over vast territories
Motives for Imperialism
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1. Capitalist states were looking for both
markets and raw materials for their industries
2. Gain advantage over rivaling European
nations
3. National Prestige
4. Social Darwinism & Racism (Only the fit are
victorious)
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Racist beliefs led to the use of military force
Colonial Take Over
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Great Britain
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1819 G.B. sent Sir
Thomas Stamford
Raffles to found a new
colony on a small
island now called
Singapore
Burma would be
colonized next to
protect its possessions
in India
France
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France had missionaries in
Vietnam and they nervously
watched the British advance into
Burma
The French refused to leave and
the country was divided (North &
South)
French finally succeeded in
making the Vietnamese set up a
PROTECTORATE
Protectorate  Political unit that
depends on another government
for its protection
1880s France extended rule into
Cambodia, Annam, Tonkin, and
Laos
United States
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1898  During the Spanish-American War, the
US naval forces under Commodore George
Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay
President William McKinley decided to turn the
Philippines into an American colony
Emilio Aguinaldo fought for resistance and
fought the US in bloody warfare but ultimately
lost
Colonial Regimes

Indirect & Direct Rule
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Direct Rule
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Colonial government in which local elites are removed from
power and replaced by a new set of officials
Indirect Rule
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Local rulers were allowed to keep their authority and status
in a new colonial setting
This made access to the region’s natural resources easier
Cheaper because fewer officials had to be trained and it did
not affect the culture as much
Colonial Economies
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Colonial powers did not want their
colonists to develop their own industries
Stressed exports of raw materials
Plantation owners kept wages at poverty
level to increase profits
Resistance to Colonial Rule
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Most resented the Western powers
controlling them
Peasant revolts were common
Early resistance movements failed
Empire Building in Africa
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West Africa
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Europeans wanted Africa’s
raw materials, especially
those of West Africa
By late 1800’s, slave trade
ended, other trade became
very important
1874  Great Britain
annexed the west coastal
states as the first British
colony of the Gold Coast
Most of Africa was taken by
Europeans between 18801914
North Africa
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Egyptians break from the
Ottoman Empire in 1805
Muhammad Ali seized
power and established a
separate Egyptian state
Modernized: Army,
Schools, Industry, Ships
for trade
Britain takes an active
interest in the Suez canal
and makes Egypt a
protectorate in 1914
South Africa
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Boers occupied South Africa
Boer Wars break out
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1899-1902 Fierce guerrilla warfare broke
out and angered the British. The British
captured about 120,000 Boer women and
children and placed them into detainment
camps
British eventually win and the Boers are
forced to sign a treaty
British Rule in India
Sepoy Mutiny
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Sepoys – hired Indian soldiers to protect the
British East India Company’s interests in the
region
Growing distrust, the Sepoys revolt and this
becomes their first war of Independence
Rumor that the British were greasing bullets
with cow fat (Hindu religion)
The English government took direct control of
the company
Colonial Rule
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The British government ruled India directly
through a British official known as a viceroy 
governor who ruled as a representative of a
monarch
Benefits of British Rule
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1. Brought order among Indians
2. New school system set up
3. Railroads, telegraphs, and postal services were set
up in India
Colonial Rule
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Costs of British Rule
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Destroyed local industries (British gained
enormous amounts of wealth)
Zamindars (Tax collectors) became corrupt
Made farmers grow cotton (Food shortage)
Indian Nationalist Movement
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The first Indian nationalists were upper
class and English-educated
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Most wanted reform NOT revolution
1885 Indian National Congress was formed
and called for a share of governing powers
Religious differences created a Muslim league
as well
Mohandas Gandhi became the symbol for
Independence in India (Pacifist)