Imperialism
Imperialism Vocabulary
 Imperialism – direct or indirect control of one nation by
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another nation.
Colony – direct control by the imperial nation
Protectorate – protected by the imperial nation’s military
Sphere of Influence – imperial power was the only one
that could trade in the region
Social Darwinism – idea that the stronger nations
should survive while the weaker should be conquered.
Sepoy – hired Indian soldier
Berlin Conference – meeting of leaders from 14
European nations who divided the continent of Africa to
control
Boers – Dutch people living in South Africa
Imperialism Vocabulary
 Open Door Policy – proposed by the United States to
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allow any country to trade with China
Meiji Restoration – name given to the modernization of
Japan by the Emperor.
Monroe Doctrine – President James Monroe issued a
warning in 1823 warning Europeans not to build any new
colonies in the Americas.
Roosevelt Corollary – US is a police force in the Western
Hemisphere (the Americas).
Yellow journalism – greatly exaggerated newspaper
stories which ultimately led to the War of 1898 (SpanishAmerican War)
Great White Fleet – name given to the U.S. Naval fleet
by President Theodore Roosevelt
Motives
 Needed markets to sell the goods made in their
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factories
Needed the cheap raw materials for their factories
Establish military posts
Benefit smaller countries with European ideas
Social Darwinism – idea of “survival of the fittest”;
the strongest nations should survive while the
weaker nations should be conquered
Pros
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• Ended local warfare
• Set up schools, hospitals,
farming, industry, and
transportation.
• Encouraged human rights. •
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Cons
Others felt that the imperial
country had a duty to spread
their government, culture and
religion. (Rudyard Kiplings “The
White Man’s Burden”)
Kept native people from moving
upward in society.
Imperial country thought
themselves superior.
Destroyed local businesses
European Nations in Asia
 England
Singapore (1819), New
Zealand (mid-1800’s),
Australia (1770), Burma,
India (1600) – East India
Company
“The sun never sets on the
British Empire.”
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 France
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Vietnam, Cambodia
(1884): French IndoChina
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Siam (Thailand): The
only Southeast Asian
country to remain
independent
Also known as the First
War of Independence
• East India Company begins trading
in India (1600), set up forts for
protection. Steadily built a trading
empire in India.
• Sepoys were hired Indian soldiers
for the East India Company.
• Didn’t like the British, felt they were
fighting against their own people
and that the British were trying to
convert them to Christianity.
• 1857, rumors that bullets were
greased with cow and pig fat.
(Muslims can’t touch pigs, Hindus
believe animals are sacred).
• Rebellion began, was put down by
the British military in 1858.
• British take control of India from
the East India Company.
• Viceroy was sent to rule.
• India was called the “jewel of the
crown” in the British Empire.
• To ease anger in India, the British
built schools, universities, railroads,
telegraph lines, paved roads, and
irrigation canals.
• British told the Indians to grow
cotton (for the factories instead of
wheat)- leads to food shortages
that kill millions.
• The race for Africa began when Belgium claimed an area
around the Congo.
• Other Europeans joined the race to claim Africa.
• The Berlin Conference of 1884-85:
• 14 European nations met to decide how Africa was going to be divided.
• No African representation
• Divided the continent with no regard to ethnic or language boundaries.
• Africa is easily dominated because the Europeans have
advanced weaponry, and the Africans are not working
together.
Africa After the Berlin Conference
 France: Algeria, Tunisia, part of
Africa
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(Northern
Africa)
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(gold,
diamonds,
hides, palm
oil, ivory,
rubber)
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Morocco
Spain: part of Morocco
England: Egypt
Italy: Tripoli
Free: Liberia and Ethiopia
North Africa becomes important in
World War II. This is where much
of the early fighting in WW2 is
centered!
 Europe needs a faster route to
Egypt and the
Suez Canal
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trade with Asia
French and Egyptians split the
cost of the canal (52% vs 48%)
Opened in 1869
Egyptians need money – sell their
part to the British
The British navy kicks out the
French
Britain makes Egypt a
protectorate
• British take Dutch port of Cape
Town.
• The Dutch settlers (Boers or
Afrikaners) moved inland onto
Zulu land.
• Zulu King Shaka defeated the
Boers in 1816.
• Zulu King Cetshwayo stood up
to the British in 1879, fought
for 6 months (Zulu War).
• British won, annexed in 1887.
• China had been isolationist since the era of colonization.
• The British were determined to open trade with China, so
they began to trade the drug opium.
• The Chinese government outlawed the sale of Opium and the
British protested.
• There are two separate wars (1839-1842), (1856-1860).
The Chinese lose. They are forced to trade with the British,
and they lose the city of Hong Kong to the British.
China
• China started secret societies
to kick out Europeans (tired of
Europeans trying to spread
Christianity)
• The Society of the Harmonious
Fists (Boxers) attacked
foreigners in 1900.
• Britain, France, Germany,
Russia, Japan and U.S. sent
troops to stop the rebellion.