Chapter 21
1
Who?
• European Nations
2
What?
• The Policy of extending the rule or
authority of an Empire or nation
over foreign countries.
3
When?
• 19th Century
• 1880’s
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Where?
• Southeast Asia
• Africa
• India
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Why?
• Economics
• Markets
• Raw material
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Why?
• Political power.
• Make their country “Great”.
• National prestige.
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Why?
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•
•
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Social Darwinism.
Based on the Theory of evolution.
Survival of the fittest.
The more superior nations would
survive.
• Racial Superiority.
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Why?
• Moral responsibility.
• It was their duty to civilize the
uncivilized.
• “The white man’s burden”
• Christianity, Democracy & Capitalism
9
Prior to the 1880’s what was West Africa
best known for?
• Slave trade
• It had been abolished by most countries
by 1890’s (US & GB 1808)
• Interest increased in other forms of
trade I.e. – peanuts, timber, hides,
palm oils
• This interest led to increased tensions
10
In North Africa who began to modernize
Egypt?
• Muhammad Ali
• Army, Schools, Industry
• As Egypt became economically
important Europeans desired to
build a canal to connect the
Mediterranean and Red Seas
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Suez Canal
• 1854 – French
entrepreneur
Ferdinand de
Lesseps built the
Suez Canal
(1869)
12
Why were the British interested in this
Canal in Northern Africa?
• Lifeline to India
• Italy’s attempt to colonize in Africa was
a disaster (Ethiopia 1896)
• Italy would try again (1911) – seized
Tripoli (Libya)
13
Who stirred up all the interest in Central
Africa?
• David Livingstone explored C. Africa in
1841 (30)
• Henry Stanley – NY Herald sent him to
find Livingstone
• Stanley told the British settle there
• The Brits refused
• He turned to King Leopold II of Belgium
• Leopold’s interest aroused concern from
the other European countries
14
Why was Britain so interested in
East Africa?
• Most of this area laid unclaimed
• Would connect their British Empire in
Africa
• Germany was setting up colonies here
• Berlin Conference (1884 – 85)
• Officially recognize claims in E. Africa
• What was significant about the Berlin
Conference?
• Claims over E. Africa were settled
without African delegates present
15
Who originally settled South Africa?
• The Dutch
• Taken over by the Brits after the
Napoleonic Wars
• Sick of British rule the Boers moved
north
• Set up two independent republics
• Believed in White superiority & forced
many of the locals into reservations
• Zulu – a powerful local tribe
• British finally defeated the Zulu
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Who founded diamond & gold companies in
South Africa?
•
•
•
•
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Cecil Rhodes
Rhodesia
Planned to overthrow the Boer govt.
Led to the Boer War (1899 – 1902)
1910 British created the Union of South
Africa
• Only whites could vote (attempt to
appease the Boers)
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Africa was almost totally colonized by
what year?
•
•
•
•
•
•
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•
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By 1914
Name the two remaining free states?
Liberia & Ethiopia
Any resistance was squashed by superior
European military might
The Brits used Indirect rule
Least effort & least expensive
All decisions were made by the mother country
Local rulers just enforced these decisions
This divided the people
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Colonial Rule in Africa
• Other European countries used direct rule.
• Wanted to assimilate their subjects into their
European culture
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Rise of African nationalism
• Resentment grew from the new class of
educated Africans
• They liked western ideas
• Recognized the difference in theory and
practice in colonial policies
• I.e. democracy, equality, political freedoms
• Loss of jobs, basic jobs, lower pay,
segregation, “boy”
• Led to Africans organizing political parties to
end foreign rule
20
Sepoy mutiny
• The mutiny of the Sepoy began on May 10, 1857,
when Indian soldiers who had been placed in irons
for refusing to accept new ammo cartridges.
• Why did they refuse to accept the new cartridges?
• The cartridges were greased with beef & pork fat.
• Incensed by this move their comrades revolted and
freed them. In their escape they viciously killed
several British soldiers and this was to set the tone
for some savage scenes, especially for the next six
months.
21
Why were the British able to crush the
rebellion?
• The Indians weren’t united (Hindus / Muslims)
• Outcome
• The administration of India was transferred
from the East India Co. to the British crown.
22
Colonial Rule
• British official known as a viceroy ruled
India directly
• Benefits
•
•
•
•
•
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Brought order & stability
Efficient govt.
New schools
Railroads
Telegraphs
Postal service
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Colonial Rule
• Cost of British rule
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•
•
•
•
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Destroyed local industries (British goods)
Put thousands out of work (textiles)
Damaged the Indian textile industry
Taxes – peasants were being overtaxed (corrupt
collectors)
Farmers were encouraged to switch to cash crops
Led to starvation of millions (30)
Best jobs & housing went to the British
Indians were never considered equals to the British
Disrespect for Indian culture
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The Taj Mahal – was built by the emperor Shah Jahan in
memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died at the age of
39 after giving birth to her 14th child.
A chip off the old Taj Mahal!
The place to have weddings!
25
Indian Nationalist movement
• Was led by the educated upper
class Indians
• Tried reforms (Too Slow)
• Formed the Indian National
Congress (INC) (1885)
• Goal was Indian independence
• Muslims formed the Muslim League
26
Mohandas Gandhi (Mahatma – great soul)
• Helped free the Indian people from
British rule through nonviolent
resistance, and is honored by his people
as the father of the Indian Nation
27
Mohandas Gandhi
• Gandhi studied law in London
• Did legal work in South Africa
• When he attempted to claim his
rights as a British subject he was
abused, and soon saw that all
Indians suffered similar treatment
28
Mohandas Gandhi
• Promoted nonviolence and civil
disobedience as the most appropriate
methods for obtaining political and social
goals
• Gandhi was arrested many times by the
British for his activities in South Africa
and India
• He believed it was honorable to go to jail
for a just cause
• Altogether he spent seven years in prison
for his political activities
29
India was granted independence in 1947
(Pakistan & India)
30
Mohandas Gandhi
• Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India
where Hindus and Muslims lived together in
peace
• Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed
• He began a fast with the purpose of stopping
the bloodshed
• after 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to
stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast
• Twelve days later he was assassinated by a
Hindu fanatic who opposed his program of
tolerance for all creeds and religion
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