Imperialism in Southeast Asia
and the Pacific Islands
Jae Lee, Jungwook Park, Jenny Choi
World History G
January 15, 2009
Why Imperialism Started in Southeast
Asia and the Pacific Islands
• Demand for Asian products drive Western
imperialists to seek possession of Southeast
Asian lands.
Colonial Impact of Imperialism
• Modernization mainly helps European
businesses
• Education, health, sanitation improve
• Millions migrate to Southeast Asia to work in
mines, plantations
• Colonialism leads to racial and religious
clashes.
How European Countries Decided to
Extend Influence
• Europeans want to control all aspects of their colonies:
– Influence political, social lives of people
– Shape economies to benefit Europe
– Want people to adopt European customs
• Forms of control
–
–
–
–
Colony-governed by a foreign power
Protectorate-governs itself, but under outside control
Sphere of influence-outside power controls investment, trading
Economic imperialism-private business interests assert control
• Methods of Management
– Direct control
• Paternalism-Europeans provide for local people, but grant no rights
• Assimilation-adaptation of local people to ruling culture.
– Indirect Control
• Limited self-rule for local governments
• Legislative body includes colonial, local officials.
Imperialist America
•During the late 19th century, the United States was on the verge of
being an imperialistic country.
•After the Spanish-American War, the United States signed the
Treaty of Paris in 1898 which allowed them to take control of the
countries from Spain. These countries included Guam, Puerto Rico,
Cuba, and the Philippines
•United States also gained control of Hawaii in 1898. Hawaii was the
last state the U.S. annexed.
America’s point of view
• In general, most
Americans in the U.S.
didn’t like the idea of
imperializing other
countries ever since
they gained
independence from
Britain in 1776.
• However, some of
them think U.S.
should fulfill its
destiny as world
power by colonizing
other countries,
much like how
Europeans did.
U.S. colonized Guam
•
•
•
Originally Guam was controlled by
Spain from 1668. The Chamorro
(indigenous people of Guam) had
greatly reduced their population due
to disease and rebellion against
Spaniards.
Inhabitants in Guam turned from
Chamorro to Spaniards as culture and
bloodline began to incorporate
Spanish language and customs.
The U.S. was about to declare
another war against Spain for control
of Guam in 1898. Unfortunately, the
Spanish governor, Juan Marina had
no knowledge about the declaration
of war and due to lack of Spanish
military in the country, Spain had no
choice but to surrender to the
already armed U.S. for Guam.
U.S. colonized Philippines
•
•
•
As U.S. was about to take control of the
Philippines, President McKinley stated that
the Filipinos must be Christianized and
educated once it’s taken over.
Filipino nationalists, however already their
grudge against Spain and they didn’t want to
be traded for one colonizer to another.
Filipinos also asserted that the U.S. promised
them independence after the SpanishAmerican War.
The U.S. however, responded that they’re
not necessarily taking over the country, but
rather teaching them to become
independent. American businesses, however
stated that they colonized the country to
become economically stronger by free trade.
U.S. controlled Hawaii
• Hawaii was the last state that the
U.S. annexed.
• For so long, U.S. and Hawaii
became trading partners for
sugar. By 1890, the U.S. business
leaders decided they should try
to annex Hawaii, because
Hawaiian sugar could be sold for
greater profits.
• By 1893, queen Liliuokalani
wanted to gain more political
power in Hawaii. American
businessmen, however, thwarted
her plans and led to her
abdication. By 1898, Hawaii was
annexed.
Imperialist Britain
• Compared to other European
countries, Britain has imperialized
most countries.
• During the 19th century, Britain
focused on imperializing
countries in Asia, particular China
and India. Britain also focused on
imperializing Australia.
• More British colonized other
countries, more it gained power.
However, Britain had to go
through rebellions from other
countries.
• So far, Britain had took control of
Malaysia, Singapore, parts of
India, and China.
British and India
•Britain took over India from the 1600s and it
started the British East India Company. The
British did everything from imposing taxes to
instituting reforms. Canals and railroads were
built and education was formed.
• Starting from the mid-19th century however,
the Indians resented British interference in
their customs as they were struck from
poverty and famine.
•The Sepoy Rebellion occurred in 1857, when
a rumor was heard that British soldiers
smeared their weapons with cow and pig fat.
This broke the taboo of Muslim and Hindu
beliefs. The rebellion turned out to be a
failure for the Indians due to lack of military
power they had.
•After the rebellion, the British became more
cautious, and many Indians remained bitter
and distrustful of their rulers.
India’s Pacifist Movement
•
One of India’s most well-known movements against the British Empire was passive
resistance, a pacifist movement where violent methods were not used. For
decades, people led by Mahatma Gandhi participated in boycotts, hunger strikes,
demonstrations and refused to cooperate with the British Empire. He was arrested
and imprisoned multiple times for his actions.
•
In economical boycotts, Gandhi encouraged people to buy traditional homespun
clothes, made by Indian craftsmen out of work due to British textile factories.
•
Britain responded violently to this movement, beating back protesters.
Demonstrators who marched to salt depots to speak out against British monopoly
over the business were arrested. In response to these violent actions, though, the
movement grew ever stronger, gathering more people and becoming more
organized and unified.
India’s Revolutionaries
•
Chandrashekar Azad, and his successor Bhagat Singh, chose more violent means,
such as assasinations and setting up a bomb in legislative assembly. They gained
popular support.
•
There were also various riots throughout during the Britain’s rule. Ultimately, the
British Empire was not forced out: it merely responded to the pressure.
Britain and Asia
•
•
•
•
•
•
Britain’s imperial rival was the Dutch.
To compete with Dutch, the British
established a trading base that would help
their ships to travel India and China.
By doing this, they found out that Singapore
and Malaysia had essential resources like tin
and rubber.
British gained colonies in Malaysia and
Singapore became a busy port for resources.
Britain ordered the Chinese in Singapore to
move to Malaysia. Chinese eventually
became successful business workers but the
indigenous people of Malaysia became
minorities.
Currently, conflicts between native Malays
and Chinese residents remain unsolved.
British and China
•
•
•
•
China was the country that gone through
most rebellions against Britain. Britain
viewed China as a perfect place for trade.
From the late 1840s, Chinese government
became concerned about overpopulation,
thanks to Britain for colonizing.
The Taiping Rebellion occurred when Chinese
people went against the Qing dynasty. The
rebellion caused more problems for Chinese
as they slowly lost power.
Despite the failure of the Boxer Rebellion,
Chinese nationalism had grown and the
Chinese believed they can gain more ability
to resist foreign influence particularly British.
Imperialist France
• Took over Indochina on the
Southeast Asian mainland.
• Have been active in
Southeast Asia since the
17th century.
• Helped the Nguyen dynasty
rise to power in Vietnam.
• French Control in Indochina
• French control Vietnam,
Laos, Cambodia
• Directly controlled French
Indochina
• Exported rice, which
angered the Vietnamese.
Vietnam Controlled France
•
During the 1840s, during the rule of
an anti-Christian Vietnamese emperor,
seven French missionaries were killed
in Vietnam.
– This caused Napoleon III to order the
French army to invade southern
Vietnam.
•
Using direct colonial management,
the French filled all the important
positions in the government
bureaucracy.
– They did not encourage local industry.
– Four times as much land was devoted
to rice production.
• Peasant rice consumption was
decreased because much of the rice
was exported.
• Because of this reduction, anger drove
the Vietnamese to stage resistance
against the French.
Vietnam Resistance
•
Vietnam was at first occupied by France, then Japanese; receiving supplies from
the Soviet Union and United States, Vietnamese soon became masters of guerilla
warfare.
•
Vietminh, Vietnamese Revolutionary League created by communist Ho Chi Minh,
gained control of the country when the Japanese withdrew. However, America and
Britain had planned to divide Vietnam into two halves, one under Chinese and one
under Britain. French also attempted to reestablish their rule.
•
Vietminh faced the French army, gaining upper hand later in the war. The
organization soon grew to NLF (National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam)
with aid of Ho Chi Minh, being made up of diverse groups of people. Later on, they
battled against Americans.
Unsuccessful African Rebellion Against
France
• African Resistance
• Unsuccessful
Movements
– Algeria actively resists
French for almost 50
years
– Samori Touré fights
French in West Africa
for 16 years.
Negative and Positive Effects of Africa
• Negative effects
– Africans lose land and
independence.
– Traditional cultures break
down
– Division of Africa creates
problems that continue today.
• Positive effects
– Colonialism reduces local
fighting
– Sanitation improves; hospitals
and schools created
– Technology brings economic
growth.
Dutch Imperialism in Southeast Asia
• Established control over most of the 3,000-mile-long chain of Indonesian Islands
• Dutch East India Company, (chartered in 1602), actively sought lands in Southeast
Asia.
– Seized Malacca from Portuguese
– Fought British and Javanese for control of Java.
• Discovery of oil and tin on the islands and the desire for more rubber plantations prompted
the Dutch to gradually expand their control over Sumatra, part of Borneo, Celebes, the
Moluccas, and Bali.
– Dutch eventually ruled the whole island chain of Indonesia, then called the Dutch East Indies.
Dutch Expanded Their Control
• Dutch colonies, called Dutch East Indies,
include Indonesia.
• Settle Indonesia, establish rigid social class
system.
Bibliography
• "Imperialism in Southeast Asia." Imperialism
in Southeast Asia. 13 Jan. 2009
<http://www.brighteyes.com/World%20Histor
y/Chapter11/Text/CM6_362-365.pdf>.
• "Age of Imperialism." Age of Imperialism. 13
Jan. 2009
<www.heardhigh.com/world_history
Bibliography for Pictures
• http://www.casahistoria.net/images/indochina%20conquest%
20map.gif
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5
6/Vietnam_Expand1.gif/360px-Vietnam_Expand1.gif
• http://ratmmjess.tripod.com/rinaldini.jpg
• http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cfford/342colonialafrica.gif
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d1/Evolu
tion_of_the_Dutch_East_Indies.png/250pxEvolution_of_the_Dutch_East_Indies.png
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