The Age of European Imperialism
Definition
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Imperialism –
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“the process by which one state, with superior
military strength and more advanced technology,
imposes its control over the land, resources, and
population of a less-developed region.”
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Simply put, the building of an empire.
E.M.P.I.R.E
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E = Exploration
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Map new territories
Locate native people
Identify natural resources
M = Militarism
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Build up defenses
Protect global interests
E.M.P.I.R.E
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P = Politics
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Control another govt.
More resources than others
I = Ideology
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Make others like Europeans
“White Man’s Burden”
E.M.P.I.R.E
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R = Religion
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Convert natives to their beliefs
The native religion is wrong
E = Economics
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Increase supply and demand
Make MONEY
Scramble for Africa
Scramble for Africa
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Before the 1800s, European contact was largely
limited to the coastal areas.
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Europeans were largely ignorant of the interior
locations within Africa.
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They were content to let African rulers and
merchants represent European interests.
Scramble for Africa
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Slave trading declared to be an illegal practice—
1808, United States and Great Britain.
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Europe increased their interest in other forms of
trade, particularly natural resources.
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Europeans began to seek a more permanent
influence in Africa.
Scramble for Africa
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Growing tensions
between Europeans and
African governments.
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South Africa a notable
target of imperialism.
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This area first settled by
the Dutch.
Scramble for Africa
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In 1795, the British seized the Dutch occupied
CAPE TOWN and local surrounding areas.
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Discovery of diamonds and gold by the British.
Scramble for Africa
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Boer Wars (1880-1881 and 1899-1902).
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British fight the Boers (Dutch) to obtain resources.
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Guerilla resistance from Boers = British respond
with crop burning and detention camps.
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Victory for the British results in an addition of the
entire South African region to their empire.
Scramble for Africa
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South Africa was allowed to draft a constitution.
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Only white men could vote—concession to the Boers.
African people had very few rights.
System of legal segregation.
Apartheid (1948-1994).
System comparable to the Jim Crow South in the
United States.
Scramble for Africa
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Egypt part of the Ottoman Empire since 1517.
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Becomes increasingly industrialized over time—
modern army, public schools, businesses.
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1869 – Suez Canal construction was finished.
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Connected the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
Scramble for Africa
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Egypt borrowed money to
construct the canal.
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Stock sold to investors to
pay off debt—Britain was
the biggest.
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1882 – Britain controlled
the Suez Canal and Egypt.
Scramble for Africa
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Otto von Bismarck – “All this colonial business is a
sham, but we need it for elections.”
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Germany and Britain would become colonial rivals.
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1884 – Berlin Conference to settle conflicts.
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Agreement on rules for colonization
Nations must notify each other (Effective Occupation)
NO AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVES WERE INVITED
Scramble for Africa
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By 1914, nearly all of Africa was controlled by
European powers—Ethiopia and Liberia, exceptions.
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Impact on Africa included –
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Europeans placed into positions of power
Western culture was spread
Traditional African culture was shattered
Africans forced to work for the benefit of Europeans
Original African boundaries not honored (conflict)
British Rule in India
Objective:
Students will examine the impact of
British rule in India and how the cultural
practices of the Indian people were
disrupted throughout the region.
British Rule in India
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Over the course of the eighteenth century, British
influence in India had increased.
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British East India Company given power to become
involved in India’s political and military affairs.
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Sepoys, Indian soldiers, assigned the role of
protecting company interests.
British Rule in India
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1857 – Sepoy Mutiny
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Revolt against the British
East India Company
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1858 – Britain declares
India a royal colony and
Queen Victoria gains
power.
British Rule in India
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British government ruled directly through an official
known as a viceroy—governor who ruled as a
representative of a monarch.
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Staff of 3,500 officials were responsible for around
300 million people.
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This was the largest colonial population in the
world.
British Rule in India
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Benefits of British Rule:
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Order and Stability
Efficient Government
School Systems
Railroads
Postal Service
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Costs of British Rule:
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Elite Economy
Damaged Local Industry
Increased Taxes
Loss of individual land
Food shortage
Starvation
Indians considered
unequal
British Rule in India
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Although Britain had a firm hold on India, many
individuals dreamed of independence.
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Middle class and well-educated citizens would be
the first to take action.
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1885: Indian National Congress (INC) was formed.
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Call for greater Indian involvement in government.
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Wanted to create a path toward independence.
British Rule in India
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Mohandas Gandhi
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Studied law in London
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Assisted in South Africa
against racial exploitation
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Nonviolent Resistance
East Asia Under Challenge
East Asia Under Challenge
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China was isolated
throughout much of its
history.
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As industrialized nations
in Europe became more
powerful, they were able
to push China around.
East Asia Under Challenge
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European trading was limited to a small outlet,
known as Canton.
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The British did not like this arrangement and
wanted change.
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Opium—a highly addictive drug—was a major
product the British imported into China.
East Asia Under Challenge
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The Chinese government
bans Opium on moral
grounds.
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Once again, the British
were not pleased.
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Result = Opium Wars
East Asia Under Challenge
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Two separate wars, both British victories.
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China forced to give in to western influences.
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The island of Hong Kong now British territory.
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Marked beginning of Western influence in China.
East Asia Under Challenge
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Open Door Policy – proposed by John Hay to ensure
equal access to the Chinese market for all nations.
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Basically, served as
picking the pockets
of the Chinese.
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It did calm down the
imperialist frenzy.
East Asia Under Challenge
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The Society of Harmonious
Fists (AKA: The Boxers)
organized a rebellion.
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Goal was to drive Europe
and Japan out of China.
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Guerilla tactics used to
murder Christians.
East Asia Under Challenge
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The rebellion was eventually put down by the major
powers—British, French, Germans, Americans, etc.
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China had to sign the Boxer Protocol.
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Forced to apologize and take the blame. This
included paying back lost money to the other
European nations.
Rise of Modern Japan
Rise of Modern Japan
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Japan had traditionally avoided foreign influence.
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They even had restricted their own citizens from
traveling abroad.
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Their long-held isolation prevented them from
adopting new techniques over time.
Rise of Modern Japan
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United States was the
first foreign power to
succeed with Japan.
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Matthew Perry
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Arrived by steamship—
new to Japan.
Rise of Modern Japan
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Japan slowly opened itself up to foreign influence.
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Treaties were signed with Europeans, granting
access to Japanese markets.
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Opposition to foreign influence and ultimately act
against the shogunate—commonly known as the
Meiji Restoration.
Rise of Modern Japan
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Widespread changes to
modernize Japan.
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1870s – Industrial Revolution.
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New Emperor = New Laws.
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Restricted voting rights.
Rise of Modern Japan
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Implementation of a modern military.
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Private industry, corporations, land ownership all
were economic changes.
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Higher emphasis on the importance of education.
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All helped bring more power to the Japanese state.
Rise of Modern Japan
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Equal footing with other
European powers.
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Wanted to expand
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1895 – War with China
to acquire Korea and
Taiwan.
Rise of Modern Japan
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1904 – Russo-Japanese War.
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Victory for Japan to gain access to Manchuria.
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Also establishes a sphere of influence for Japan.
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War solidifies Japan’s place as a new world power.