Imperialism
Chapter 21
AP European History
Imperialism
The building of an empire
 “…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.” p 820

Motivations

“Dual Mandate”
– Civilizing
– Resources

Industrialization spurs imperialism
– Need for resources
– Need for markets to sell manufactured goods

Nationalism (empire=strength, power)
Types of Imperialism

Colonial Imperialism:
– “Old style” imperialism
– Common in the 16th and 17th centuries
– Complete takeover
– Colonial powers set up new governments
– Imposition of culture upon “natives”
– Migrations and settlement of people from the
mother country to the colony
Types of Imperialism

Political Imperialism:
– Use of diplomacy or military force to influence
internal affairs of a weaker nation
– The stronger nation doesn’t completely
control the weaker one, but has a great deal
of influence
Types of Imperialism

Economic Imperialism:
– Desire to control global trade and commerce
– The stronger nation attempts to control the
economy of the weaker nation so as to exploit
them for economic gain

Social-cultural Imperialism:
– Forcing (or encouraging…) a region to adopt
the language, customs, religion etc. of the
stronger nation
Imperialism and Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism and Racism would be
used to justify imperialism
– Herbert Spencer
– Houston Stewart Chamberlain
– “White Man’s Burden”
 Rudyard Kipling
“New Imperialism”

In the 1800’s, a new wave of imperialism
began
– Focus on Africa and Asia

Known as “Neo-Colonialism” or “New
Imperialism”
British Empire
“…the sun never sets on the
British Empire…”
The British Empire

Great Britain would create a huge empire
with colonies and protectorates all over
the world
– India (see notes in section on British Raj)
– Egypt (see notes in section on Africa)
– South Africa (see notes in section on Africa)
– Dominions in Canada, Australia, New Zealand
Scramble for Africa
Before the 1800’s, European contact was
largely limited to the coastal areas
 Europeans largely ignorant of the interior
areas of Africa

Scramble for Africa

South Africa was one of the areas affected
by imperialism.
– First settled by Dutch

1795: British seized Cape Town
 Discovered diamonds and gold
Scramble for Africa

Boer Wars (1880-1881 and 1899-1902)
– British fight the Boers (Dutch) for access to
resources
– British win; added all of South Africa to their
empire
 Africans work in gold and diamond mines
Scramble for Africa

South Africa allowed to Draft a
constitution
 Only white men could vote
– Africans had few rights
– System of legal segregation later developed
 Apartheid (1948-1994)
 (comparable to Jim Crow in the American South)
Scramble for Africa

Egypt had been part of the Ottoman
Empire since 1517
Scramble for Africa
Egypt begins to industrialize and
westernize
 1869: Suez Canal construction was
completed

– Egypt had to borrow money to pay for
construction
Scramble for Africa

Began to sell stock in the Suez Canal to
pay debts; Britain biggest investor
– By 1882, Britain controlled the canal and use
it to control Egypt
– Would remain somewhat tied to Britain until 1952
Scramble for Africa

1884: Berlin Conference
– Otto Von Bismarck hosted conference to
discuss Africa
 Agreed to rules for colonization of Africa
 Nations must notify each other of their claims
– “Effective Occupation” to avoid war among the rival
nations
Scramble for Africa

By 1914, nearly all of Africa was controlled by a
European power
– Except Ethiopia and Liberia

Impact of Colonization of Africa
– Europeans put into power positions
– Western culture spread
 Traditional African culture started to fall apart
 Islam also grew in popularity due to competition with Christianity
– Africans were forced to work to produce cash crops for
Europeans
– European boundaries did not follow traditional boundaries set up
by the people of Africa
 Rival tribal groups forced together, or communities split apart
Asia in an Age of Imperialism

Like Africa, Asia was also affected by
imperialism in the 1800’s.
– India fell to British rule
– China was broken into Spheres of Influence
– Japan became an imperial power
British Raj in India

By 18th Century, Mughal Empire in decline
– Conflict among Hindus and Muslims weakened
the empire

French and British slowly made their way
into dominant roles
– France and Britain fight, France defeated
– Britain becomes the dominant European force
in India
 British East India Company uses troops to conquer
Bengal (Bangladesh)
British Raj in India

Over next 100 years, British slowly take over India
– British East India Company used sepoys to guard their
administrative buildings
 Sepoy: Indian troops who served the British

The Sepoy Mutiny (1857) spelled the end for Mughal rule
in India
– Sepoys revolted against the British East India Company, which
prompted the British government to get involved
– 1858: Britain declared India a royal colony and the last of the
Mughal rulers (Bahadur Shah II) was exiled

The monarch of Britain was officially recognized as the
ruler of India (Queen Victoria)
British Raj in India

Indian government was administered from
London
– Sent people to govern in the name of Britain
– Tried to preserve Indian traditions, but difficult

Indian Civil Service supplied members of the
bureaucracy
– Mostly British

Britain helped to industrialize and modernize
India
– Railroads, canals, urbanization, telegraph lines
British Raj in India
Although Britain had a firm hold on India,
many dreamed of independence
 Some middle class and educated Indians
formed the Indian National Congress
(1885)

– Call for greater Indian involvement in govt.
– Try to begin path toward independence

The British raj (British rule of India) would
last until 1947
Spheres of Influence in China
China isolated throughout much of its
history
 Up until 1830’s, Europeans restricted to
Canton for trade

– Strict limitations on outside influence

As European nations grew more powerful
through industrialization and weaponry,
they were increasingly able to push China
around
Spheres of Influence in China

Opium was a major product the British
imported into China
– Chinese government eventually banned the
substance due to its addictive and harmful
properties
– British government reacted negatively
– Resulted in war (Opium Wars)
 Two separate wars, both victories for Britain
 China forced to open up to western influences
Spheres of Influence in China

Foreign nations began to see China as
weak
– They too demanded increased access to China
– Europeans created “Spheres of Influence” in
China
 Invested money, built military bases, created
businesses, etc.

Open Door Policy: advocated by the
U.S.
– Called for equal access to Chinese markets
Spheres of Influence in China

The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists
(A.K.A. Boxers) organized a rebellion
– Goal to drive Europe and Japan out of China
– Used guerilla warfare tactics to murder Christian
missionaries and attack foreign embassies
The Boxer Rebellion was eventually put down
 China was forced to sign the Boxer Protocol

– China forced to apologize and pay European nations
for costs incurred during the rebellion
The Fate of China

Chinese culture started to alter due to
foreign influence
– 1901: foot binding abolished
– 1905: Civil Service examination system
abolished after 2,000 years of use

And, Chinese Dynastic rule came to an
end
– 1911-1912: uprising resulted in end of Qing
rule and establishment of a republic
Japan Builds an Empire

During 17-18th Centuries, Japan avoided
foreign influence
– Even restricted its own citizens from traveling
abroad
Japan developed a highly ethnocentric
society
 Downside, their isolation kept them from
adopting new technologies

Japan Builds an Empire

1853: U.S. sent Commodore Matthew Perry to
Japan to negotiate ties
– Arrived by steamship- unknown to Japan
– Japan quickly realized their inability to compete with
western powers
 Begins plans to industrialize and modernize
– Japan slowly opened itself up to foreign influence
 Signed treaties with Europeans granting them access to
Japanese markets

Japan emerges as a world power as result of
changes and Meiji Restoration
Japan Builds an Empire
Many grew resentful of foreign influence
and revolted against the shogunate
 Known as Meiji Restoration

– shogun was overthrown and power given to
the emperor

Began widespread changes to modernize
Japan
Japan Builds an Empire


By 1870’s, Japan had started its own Industrial
Revolution
Under the emperor a new bureaucracy was formed
– Even drafted a constitution and created an elected legislature
 However, voting rights were restricted



Transportation and communication systems implemented
Samurai class abolished and modern military organized
Economic transformation
– End of feudalism, industry implemented, private corporations

Increased emphasis on education
Japan Builds an Empire

Japan’s new power made them nearly equal with
the Europeans
– Able to negotiate trade on an equal footing with
Europeans

Began to turn its eyes to other nations in Asia
– 1895: war with China- gained control of Taiwan and
Korea
– 1904: Russo-Japanese War- defeated Russia and
gained access to Manchuria and established a sphere
of influence there
 This war helps to solidify Japan’s place as a world power