Unit 6 Overview (APWH)
6.0 Overview of Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization
If you remember nothing else:
Industrialized countries in Europe, plus the US and Japan, controlled more territory overseas than ever before. This
was good for investors in imperialist countries and bad for workers in the areas that they conquered.
Contextualizing the Unit
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Britain, France, the British and Dutch East India Companies, Portugal, and Spain all began this period with colonial
possessions in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
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Industrial developments, such as mass-produced goods, steamships, railroads, and more effective firearms, allowed
states with them to expand their power
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British abolition of the slave trade in 1807 contributed to the resurgence in indentured servitude.
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Charles Darwin’s publication of the Origin of Species in 1859 contributed to justifications for imperialism later in the
1800s.
Main Events
💡 STUDY TIP: You will never be asked specifically to identify a date. However, knowing the order of events will help
immensely with cause and effect. For this reason, we have identified the most important dates to know 👇.
1780-1782 – Tupac Amaru II rebellion
1839-1842 – First Opium War
1857 – Great Rebellion in India aka Indian Mutiny aka Sepoy Mutiny
1859 – Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species
1868 – Kimberley Diamond Strike, South Africa
1869 – Suez Canal opens
1884 – Berlin Conference divides most of Africa between European states
1894-1895 – First Sino-Japanese War
1898 – Spanish-American War
1901 – White Australia Policy begins
Major Trends
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European, American, and Japanese states expanded overseas
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Racist justifications for this imperialism encouraged more expansion
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Indigenous people fought back
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New states formed
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Armed resistance
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Religion united some resistors
State power contributed to more globalized capitalist systems that benefited businesses from imperialist centers and
impoverished labors in colonized areas
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Before 1800, European countries were not more powerful than advanced societies in Asia and did not control
any territory in Africa outside of armed trading posts on the coast.
o
China and India deindustrialized, as factory-made goods from Europe and the US replaced their manufactured
goods
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European imperialists forced colonized people in Africa to produce and sell industrial products at
disadvantageous prices
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Rubber
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Palm oil
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Diamonds and gold
Economic imperialism: Imperialist governments interfered in the economies of other countries to allow businesses to
profit💸
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British investments in the Suez Canal and the Port of Buenos Aires
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American investments in Hawaiian sugar cane
Settler colonialism: Imperialist settlers took land from indigenous people.
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Euro Americans in the United States
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British in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa
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French in Algeria
Migration: New transportation technology and larger empires led to massive movements of people 🚶♀️
Key Concepts
AP World History: Modern Units 5 and 6 both cover the years c. 1750 CE - c. 1900 CE. This time period contains four Key
Concepts. Imperialism and Migration are the most important in Unit 6. Industrialization is a key element of context.
1. Industrialization changed the production and consumption of goods, and this had profound effects on the global
economy, social organization, and culture.
2. Imperialism: Industrial states expanded or created overseas empires, established new colonies and transoceanic
relationships.
3. Revolutions: An intense period of revolutions and rebellions against existing authorities began in the middle of the
1700s. Some of these revolutions produced new nation-states around the world.
4. Migration: Global migration patterns change dramatically as many more people migrated across larger distances than
previously occurred.
Key Questions
💡 STUDY TIP: Use the following essential questions to guide your review of this entire unit. Keep in mind, these are not
meant to be practice essay questions. Each question was written to help you summarize the key concept.
1. How did racist ideas result from and contribute to imperialism?
Because of their advanced technology, many Europeans believe they were the best and the brightest
2. How did the global balance of power shift in the 1800s?
The creation in 1871 and rise of the Prussian-led German Empire (excluding Austria) as a dominant nation (Prussia had
quickly defeated both Austria and France in wars) restructured the European balance of power.
3. How did indigenous people respond to and influence Imperialism?
Indigenous elites cooperated with imperialists in exchange for authority and opportunities for profit.
4. How did environmental factors affect the global economy in the 1800s?
The Industrial Revolution impacted the environment. The world saw a major increase in population, which, along with
an increase in living standards, led to the depletion of natural resources.
5. How did global capitalism provide advantages to some and disadvantages to others in the 1800s?
It brought huge numbers of people out of the countryside and into big cities to work in factories.
6. Why did millions of people migrate in the years from 1750 to 1900?
The world population grew and transportation methods advanced.
7. How did economic factors contribute to patterns of migration in the years from 1750 to 1900?
Most of the studies indicate that migration is primarily motivated by economic factors. In developing countries, low
agricultural income, agricultural unemployment and underemployment are considered basic factors pushing the
migrants towards developed area with greater job opportunities.