Chapter 27 – Section 1
Imperialists Divide Africa
Europeans make colonial claims in Africa, ignoring the claims of the tribes,
kingdoms, and city-states already there.
Africa Before Imperialism
 Europeans controlled only 10% of Africa – mostly on the coast
 Travel to the interior was impossible
 Africans controlled trade networks
Nations Compete for Overseas Empires
 Motives for Imperialism
o New markets and sources of raw materials
 The Industrial Revolution created a need for more raw
materials as goods were produced faster
 Countries also wanted new markets in which to sell products
o National Pride
 Nations viewed an empire as a sign of greatness
 Competition with other nations to get the most land
o Racism
 Europeans believed their race and culture were superior
 Social Darwinism – survival of fittest applied to society
 Since Europe was more developed than Africa, then it
must mean that Europeans are more “fit” or superior
 White Man’s Burden
 Belief that it was the duty of Europeans to educate and
uplift “backwards” people.
o Missionaries
 Wanted to Christianize “heathens”
 Wanted to civilize and westernize foreign peoples
 Forces Enabling Imperialism
o Technological Superiority
 Maxim Gun – first automatic machine gun – Europeans had
it, Africans did not
 Railroads and steamers – made travel easy. Europeans could
now establish bases of control
 Cables – made communication fast and easy
 Quinine – protected Europeans from malaria
 African diversity of language and culture prevented unity
The Scramble for Africa
The discovery of diamonds and gold lead to interest in colonization
o Berlin Conference
 Held to prevent European nations from fighting over Africa
 Divided land without regard to ethnic distribution
 No African leaders were in attendance
o Colonies are Shaped
 No European goods were bought, but raw materials were still
needed. Business developed around this need.
 Food crops are replaced by cash crop plantations
 Mineral resources were the greatest source of wealth
Three Groups Clash Over South Africa
 Zulus, British and Dutch settle in South Africa
o Dutch (Boers) move north to escape the British – Great Trek
 Boers clash with Zulus as they infringe on Zulu land
o Boer War starts when outsiders move in to find gold
 Boers blame British over a rebellion and start a war
o British win – take control of South Africa
Key Concepts:
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Desire for markets and raw materials spark African colonization
Motives also include racism, nationalism, and religious zeal
Forces enabling this includes technology, quinine, and African disunity
Berlin Conference seals Africa’s fate without their input
Chapter 27 – Section 4
British Imperialism In India
Britain takes control of the subcontinent upon decline of Mughal Dynasty
British Expand Control Over India
 East India Company Dominates
o Company is run with little interference from British gov’t
 Had its own army –led by British officers
 Staffed by Sepoys - Indian soldiers
 Brightest “Jewel in the Crown”
o Potential and Profit
 India was used to supply raw materials
 They were a potential market for British goods
 British restricted Indian economy
 Forced to export raw material
 Forced to buy British goods
 Competition with British manufactured goods was
prohibited
 India becomes profitable only after railroads are built
 Transports raw products from interior to ports and
finished goods from ports to interior
 Tea, indigo, coffee, cotton, jute and opium produced
Impact of Colonialism
o Positive Aspects
 Vast railroad network helped develop a modern economy
 Roads, telegraph, telephone, dams, irrigation, bridges and
canals helped modernize India
 Sanitation and health improvements
 Schools and colleges established
 Local warfare reduced
o Negative Aspects
 British held most economic and political power.
 Restricted Indian industries and economy
 Emphasis on cash crops results in loss of self-sufficiency for
villagers
 Famine due to loss of food crops to cash crops
 Traditional life was impacted by British presence
 Presence of missionaries
 Racist attitude of British
Indians Rebel
o Sepoy Rebellion
 Rifle cartridges were sealed with beef and pork fat
 Soldiers had to bite off the seals
o Sepoys were Hindus and Muslims
 Cows are sacred to Hindus (beef fat)
 Muslims don’t eat pork (pork fat)
o Sepoys refused to accept the new cartridges
 They were jailed
 Sepoys rebel and march to Delhi, more join
o Sepoys and British East India Company army fight fiercely
 Takes a year for British East India Company to regain control
of India
 British government takes direct control of India
Key Concepts:
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India used as a supplier of raw materials and market for goods
British regulate Indian industry and economy
Positive and negative aspects to British rule
Sepoy Mutiny increases distrust between the British and Indians
Chapter 28 – Section 1
China Responds to Pressure from the West
Economic pressure forces China to open to foreign trade
China Resists Foreign Influence
 China is self-sufficient with a favorable balance of trade
o Don’t want or need British goods
 British are determined to find something the Chinese will buy
o British smuggle opium into China
 Addictive narcotic drug
 Up to 12 million Chinese become addicted
 Opium Wars
o British refuse to stop trading opium
o Open clashes between British and Chinese result
 British steamships and cannons overpower the Chinese
o Treaty of Nanjing is signed - British get Hong Kong
Internal Problems Increase
 Large population – food shortages
 Corrupt Government
o Taiping Rebellion sought to correct this
 Efforts to modernize have mixed success
Other Nations Step In
 China’s weaknesses were noticed by the world
o China was repeatedly attacked
 Peace treaties gave foreigners increasing control
 “Spheres of Influence” were created
 Regions in which foreign nations controlled trade
 Open Door Policy allows all nations to trade with China
 China is not colonized, but is still controlled
Chinese Nationalism Grows
 Boxer Rebellion
o Chinese resented special privileges granted to foreigners
o Rebelling against foreign influence
 Though unsuccessful, it led to increased nationalism
Chapter 28 – Section 2
Japan Modernizes
Japanese Imperialism Grows
 Japanese attack China as they help the Korean king
o Japanese take over Manchuria
 Russo-Japanese War
o Japan and Russia fight over Manchuria
 Japan wins colonies
 Russia must stay out of Manchuria and Korea
 Korea Under Japanese Rule
o With Russia gone, Japan attacks Korea
 Imposes annexation – Japan now controls Korea
 Forbade public protest
 Shut down Korean papers, took over schools
 Made Koreans learn Japanese history
 Took land from Koreans – gave to Japanese settlers
 Encourages Japanese to start industry in Korea, but forbade
Koreans to do the same
Key Concepts:
 Foreign countries use Chinese weakness to establish “Spheres of Influence”
 Japan emerges as a strong nation and begins imperialism
 Japanese rule in Korea is imperialism at its worst