Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
Choose the best answer for each question and mark the corresponding letter on your scantron. 75 points.
1. In the past, European nations
have conquered other lands, made
them into colonies, and controlled
their economies
This statement describes a
situation that resulted from the
a. Industrialization of Europe
and the need for raw
materials
b. Desire of Europeans to
spread communism
throughout the world
c. European belief in human
rights for all people
d. Requests of developing
nations for modern
machines and technology
2. One factor that motivated
imperialism during the late 19th
and early 20th centuries was the
a. Development of closer
political ties with
European nations
b. Closing of China to all
foreign trade
c. Support of international
peacekeeping operations
d. Acquisition of new
markets and sources of
raw materials
3. In the 19th century, European
countries claimed that the
conquest of Africa would bring the
benefits of Western civilization to
that continent.
From the perspective of African
peoples, the effect was
a. Loss of political
independence
b. Fewer agricultural
products for foreign trade
c. New national boundaries
based on ethnic and
cultural similarities
d. Global appreciation for
African cultures and
encouragement of their
development
4. All of these factors contributed
to the weakening of the Ottoman
Empire except
a. A series of weak sultans
b. Corruption that led to
financial losses
c. Waves of disease
d. Increasing inflation
5. British control over South Africa,
French control over Indochina, and
Spanish control over Mexico are
examples of
a. Isolationism
b. Appeasement
c. Nonalignment
d. imperialism
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
6. “Compared to other peoples of
the world we have the greatest
(largest) population and our
civilization is four thousand years
old…Today we are the poorest and
weakest nation in the world and
occupy the lowest position in
international affairs. Other men are
the carving knife and serving dish,
we are the fish and the meat. As a
consequence…we are being
transformed everywhere into a
colony of the foreign powers.”
Which events formed the basis for
the ideas expressed in this early
1900s passage?
a. Opium War and Boxer
Rebellion
b. Mau Mau uprising and the
adoption of apartheid
c. Sepoy Mutiny and the Salt
March
d. Haitian Revolution and
Cortes’ march on Mexico
City
7. How did the political systems in
Africa change as a result of
European colonialism in the 19th
century?
a. Opportunities for self-rule
increased
b. Administrative units were
set up along ethnic lines
c. Traditional forms of tribal
authority were weakened
d. Administrative units
became smaller for better
control
8. What aspect of the Ottoman
Empire appealed to most world
powers?
a. Its access to the Atlantic
sea trade
b. Its growing population
c. Its strong military
defenses
d. Its advanced technological
development
9. One result of British colonialism
was that India
a. Adopted a parliamentary
system of government
b. Developed religious unity
c. Supported Western
foreign policies in the
United Nations
d. Created programs to
increase its population
10. The “Great Game” refers to
a. The debate that took
place at the Berlin
Conference
b. The contest between
Britain and Russia over
Muslim lands in Central
Asia
c. The Boer War over South
Africa
d. The military strategies
Russia used to protect
Afghanistan from Great
Britain
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
11. Which of the following best
reflects the ideas behind the
concept of the “White Man’s
Burden”?
a. Asians and Africans were
equal to Europeans
b. Asians and Africans would
be grateful for European
help
c. Most Europeans opposed
imperialism as a practice
d. Europeans felt a
responsibility to improve
the lives of Asians and
Africans
12. In the past, European nations
have conquered other lands, made
them into colonies and controlled
their economies. Which term refers
to the situation described in this
statement?
a. Socialism
b. Isolationism
c. Imperialism
d. Monotheism
13. During the 1840s, China signed
“unequal treaties” with Western
nations mainly because
a. China had won the Opium
War
b. Western nations had
superior military
technology
c. Leaders in China favored
expansion
d. China had requested
economic assistance from
the West
14. The leader of Egypt who began
reforms to modernize its military
and economy was
a. Isma’il
b. Nasir al-Din
c. Muhammad Ali
d. Selim II
15. Which of the following best
describes the reasons for
imperialism?
a. Living space was needed
for excess populations in
Europe
b. European leaders believed
imperialism was an
effective method of
reducing war
c. European nations would
benefit from some aspects
of the conquering nations’
culture
d. Imperialism would benefit
the economies of the
colonial powers
16. Throughout the 1800s, an
increased need for both raw
materials and new markets for
manufactured goods led various
European nations to pursue policies
of
a. Imperialism
b. Socialism
c. Isolationism
d. Communism
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
17. “The Ashanti and
Ijebu…strongly resisted missionary
incursion (interference)- for a time
at least…Both groups grudgingly
(reluctantly)accepted missionaries
and their schools only after military
defeat by imperial forces.”
-Edward Berman
A valid conclusion based on this
quotation would be that some
Africans
a. Opposed giving up their
religious and cultural
heritage
b. Returned to the worship of
their traditional gods after
the defeat of the
missionaries
c. Cooperated with the
missionaries for economic
gain
d. Feared that missionaries
would refuse to teach
their children
18. Africa was rich in natural
resources. For that reason, the
continent was very attractive to
European colonizers. How did the
colonizers view their mining of
natural resources in Africa?
a. It was their right to take
what they wanted.
b. It was a necessity for their
countries to survive.
c. It was a way to preserve
traditional African
economies.
d. It was a way to protect
Africans from the
Industrial Revolution.
19. Japan resisted modernization
for most of its history. What
motivated Japan to modernize
beginning in the 1800s?
a. The Japanese people
developed a previously
unknown desire for
Western goods.
b. China threatened to attack
Japan, so modern
weapons were required for
defense.
c. The Japanese leadership
feared that if it did not
modernize, it might be
controlled by Western
nations like China had
been.
d. Japanese military leaders
admired the design of
Commodore Perry’s fleet
of steamships.
20. Which of the following is a
major reason why European
nations colonized other nations?
a. Need for raw materials
b. Fear of Asian dominance
c. Surplus of manufactured
goods
d. Desire to learn about
other cultures
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
21. During the 18th and 19th
centuries, increased contact
between European and the
continents of Africa, Asia, and
South America resulted in
a. Closer cultural cooperation
between Europe and these
continents
b. The exploitation of the
labor and resources of
these continents
c. A return to the political
and economic systems of
feudal Europe
d. Preservation of the rights
of the indigenous people
22. In 19th-century China, the
Opium War resulted in
a. The control of Hong Kong
being returned to China
b. The removal of all British
naval forces from China
c. An increase in European
spheres of influence in
China
d. The rejection of Buddhism
by the Chinese people
23. In 1853, Commodore Matthew
Perry led a fleet of U.S. ships to
Japan. A major effect of this action
was that Japan
a. Experienced civil wars as
its people competed
against each other for
power
b. Changed to a feudal
system, in which a
powerful ruler distributed
land rights in exchange for
loyalty and military
support
c. Closed its borders to
almost all foreigners, and
those who were admitted
were kept from learning
about the country’s
customs.
d. Ended its isolation from
the world and began to
modernize by improving
its educational system and
technology
24. European colonial actions
sometimes resulted in tribal
conflict among native Africans.
Which colonial practice most
frequently resulted in such conflict?
a. Europeans created
artificial borders in Africa
b. Europeans let Africans
remain in power
c. Europeans converted
Africans to Christianity
d. Europeans spread
democracy in their
colonies.
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
25. How was European imperialism
in Africa different from European
imperialism in China?
a. Europeans established
formal colonies in Africa
b. Europeans generally
agreed on one another’s
land claims in Africa
c. Europeans meant only to
sell products in Africa, not
take raw materials.
d. Europeans accepted the
American Open Door
Policy for African trade.
26. During the nineteenth century,
European powers pursued a policy
of imperialism in many global
regions. One of these regions was
Africa. What was an important
effect of European imperialism in
Africa?
a. The exploitation of African
natural resources by
colonial powers
b. Improved working
conditions for the peoples
of Africa
c. African dependence on the
export of manufactured
goods
d. A belief in the superiority
of African culture
27. “Take up the White Man’s
burdenSend forth the best ye breed
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives’need;
To wait, in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wildYour new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.”
-Rudyard Kipling, “The
White Man’s Burden”
The phrase “White Man’s burden”
in this excerpt refers to the
a. Negative attitude of
Europeans toward peoples
of the non-Western world
b. Advantages Europeans
would gain by colonizing
Africa, Asia, and Latin
America
c. Positive role of the Roman
Catholic Church in Africa
and Asia
d. Challenges non-Europeans
faced when trading with
the Europeans
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
28. Which of the following
statements summarizes an EFFECT
of imperialism?
a. Colonial markets were
closed to manufactured
goods form the colonizing
power
b. Land was distributed
equally among the main
social classes
c. Colonial economies
became devoted to
manufacturing finished
goods for the colonizing
power
d. The wealth of the
colonizing powers often
increased at the expense
of their colonies
29. The borders that were
established for many African
nations during the late 1800’s were
based primarily on
a. Natural geographic
barriers
b. Easy access to natural
resources
c. Territorial claims of
colonial rulers
d. Cultural differences
between ethnic groups
30. The Crimean War was fought
between
a. Russia and Crimea
b. Russia and the Ottoman
Empire
c. Crimea and the Ottoman
Empire
d. Britain and Russia
31. An analysis of the RussoJapanese War and the Boer War
shows that one reason nations go
to war is to
a. Assist oppressed people
b. Spread religious beliefs
c. Satisfy imperialist goals
d. Honor provisions of a
treaty
32. Both the French and British
were interested in controlling Egypt
in the mid-19th century because
Egypt had
a. Control of the spice trade
b. An industrial-based
economy
c. Vital mineral resources
d. A strategic location
33. What was a major factor that
allowed imperialist powers to
dominate large parts of Asia and
Africa in the 19th and 20th
centuries?
a. Their technological and
military superiority
b. The desire of Asians and
Africans to convert to
Christianity
c. The willingness of
imperialists to respect
local traditions and
customs
d. The spread of nationalism
among native peoples in
colonial areas
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
34. Which of the following provides
evidence that imperialism left a
lasting impact on many colonial
territories?
a. Many African and Asian
nations are based on former
colonial boundaries
b. Many former colonies are still
ruled by European
governments
c. Local languages are often
used in many African and
Asian nations
d. Most African and Asian
nations use European
currencies
35. What was an important motive
behind the European desire to
obtain colonies in Africa in the late
1800s?
a. Africa’s valuable minerals
like gold and diamonds
b. Africa’s tea, silk, and
other luxury goods
c. Africa’s free labor for the
Americas
d. Africa’s advanced
manufacturing
technologies
36. An interest in or taking of land
for its strategic location or products
is called
a. Assimilation
b. Internationalism
c. The race for empire
d. Geopolitics
37. During the late 19th century,
the countries of Europe wanted
colonies so that
a. They could provide the
colonies with raw
materials
b. They could get
manufactured goods from
the colonies
c. They could become a
market for products from
the colonies
d. They could get raw
materials from the
colonies
38. A political cause of imperialism
was that the European countries
believed that
a. Colonies would provide
them with markets for
their raw materials
b. Colonies were important
for their defense by
adding territories
c. Colonies would help them
become more friendly with
other European countries
d. Colonies would provide
them with more
manufactured goods
39. During the late 19th century the
European countries obtained
colonies in
a. Africa, the Middle East,
and the Far East
b. Africa, South America,
and the Far East
c. The Middle East, The Far
East, and South America
d. Africa, North America, and
the Middle East
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
40. Which is an accurate statement
about the partitioning of Africa by
European imperialist nations during
the 1800s?
a. New nations were based
on old tribal boundaries
b. The cultural and ethnic
diversity of the African
people was disregarded
c. The continent was divided
equally among the colonial
powers
d. African unity was
encouraged
43. Which of the following was an
indirect impact of imperialism?
a. All castes of people in
India prospered under
British rule
b. Japan became a more
modern country
c. China entered a period of
tranquility
d. Modern technology was
introduced into Persia
41. Which European country in the
late 19th century controlled so
many colonies around the world
that it was said “the sun never set”
on its flag?
a. France
b. Germany
c. Great Britain
d. Italy
42. Which was not a cost of British
rule in India?
a. Destroyed local industries
b. Degraded even elite Indian
citizens
c. Shipped food from
Burma, causing
livestock to starve
d. Started producing cotton,
which led to food
shortages
44. The Chinese leader is holding
up his arms because
a. He wants to stop the
colonizing process
b. He wants to appear
important
c. He wants quiet so the
leaders can work
d. He wants to ensure the
process is not stopped
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
45. After 1880, European nations
sought colonies in Africa primarily
because the Europeans were
a. In need of land for their
surplus populations
b. Competing for raw
materials and markets
c. Determined to bring
Christianity to the Muslim
world
d. Interested in completing
their geographic
knowledge of the world
46. The Age of Imperialism refers
to
a. The colonization of Europe
b. The late 19th and early
20th centuries
c. The early colonization of
North America
d. The effect of naval forces
in the early 1900s
47. Imperialism affected almost
the entire continent of
a. Africa
b. Europe
c. Australia
d. North America
48. The Sepoy Mutiny in India, the
Boxer Rebellion in China, and the
Islamic Revolution in Iran were
similar in that they
a. Restored power to the
hereditary monarchies
b. Attempted to reject the
traditional cultures in
these countries
c. Resisted foreign influence
in these countries
d. Reestablished the power
of religious leaders
49. Two objectives of imperialism
were
a. Missionary work and trade
b. To maintain the area’s
culture and traditions
c. Trade and provide wellpaying jobs for the native
people
d. Stabilize the government
and maintain religious
practices
50. The Suez Canal connected
a. The Nile River with the
Red Sea
b. The Black Sea and the
Caspian Sea
c. Mediterranean Sea with
the Black Sea
d. The Red Sea and the
Mediterranean
51. In ____________ imperialism,
countries would be content to set
up a few trading posts in colonized
countries but did not control the
country completely.
a. New
b. New elite
c. Old school
d. Old
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
52. During the 18th and 19th
centuries, Europeans improved
roads and bridges and built
railroads in their colonies primarily
to
a. Provide jobs for the
colonists
b. Obtain raw materials
needed for
industrialization
c. Impress the colonists with
their technological
knowledge
d. Help missionaries spread
Christianity
53. A primary purpose for building
the Suez Canal was to
a. Encourage Jewish
settlement in nearby
Palestine
b. Increase trade between
the Middle East, Europe,
and Asia
c. Reduce the time needed
for travel between the
Atlantic Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea
d. Allow Indian merchants to
reach the east coast of
Africa
54. This individual led the call for
independence in India and stressed
non-violent resistance to British
rule.
a. Henry Stanley
b. Gandhi
c. Sepoy
d. Leopold II
55. “Yesterday, your ambassador
petitioned my ministers regarding
your trade with China…our Celestial
Empire possesses all things in
great abundance and lacks no
product within its own borders.
There is, therefore, no need to
import any product manufactured
by outside barbarians in exchange
for our own goods.”
-
Emperor Ch’ien Lung of China
to King George III of Britain,
1793
In the view of the Emperor, which
foreign policy action was in the
best interest of China in 1793?
a. Maintaining economic
isolation
b. Expanding foreign trade
c. Increasing international
interdependence
d. Developing into a colonial
power
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
“…you, Africa, suffered like a beast
Your ashes strewn to the wind that roams
the desert,
Your tyrants built the lustrous, magic
temples
To preserve your soul, preserve your
suffering.
Barbaric right of fist and the white right
To whip,
You had the right to die, you could also
weep.
- Patrice Lumumba,
“Dawn in the Heart of
Africa”
56. This African poem is discussing
the evils of
a. Imperialism
b. Communism
c. Nationalism
d. Regionalism
57. The results of the Opium War
(1839-1842) indicate that China
was
a. still a major military
power
b. not strong enough to
resist Western demands
c. rapidly building a modern
industrial economy
d. accepting Western nations
as equal trading partners
58. During the 19th century,
Europeans were able to divide
China into Spheres of Influence
mainly because the
a. Chinese were eager to
adopt western culture
b. Europeans had
technologically superior
military forces
c. Europeans were willing to
adopt Chinese customs
d. Chinese lacked raw
materials and resources
59. Persia’s granting concessions
to Western businesses there led to
a. The development of its oil
fields
b. Persian control of
Afghanistan
c. Economic treaties
between Persia and Great
Britain
d. The assassination of Nasir
al-Din
60. The Boxer Rebellion of 1900
was an attempt to remove
a. The British from India
b. The Europeans from South
Africa
c. The French from Algeria
d. The Europeans from China
61. Which was NOT a motivation
for new imperialism?
a. Economic motives
b. Expansion of
industrialization
c. Desire for political power
d. Sense of racial superiority
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
62. Which was NOT a form of
resistance to Western domination?
a. Resistance from ruling
class
b. Peasant revolts
c. Western educated natives
demand independence
d. Establishment of a
protectorate
63. What was the main purpose of
the Berlin Conference of 18841885?
a. to ensure that African
borders would be
based on culture and
language
b. to prevent fighting of
European nations
over the division of
Africa
c. to keep peace between
Africans and European
Leaders
d. to give African leaders a
chance to be heard by
the colonizers
64. The European policy of
paternalism reflected the belief
that Africans should be
a. separated into ethnic
groups
b. trained to function as
leaders
c. watched over and taken
care of
d. granted more rights and
freedoms
65. Which of the following was
used as a justification for
imperialism?
a. Genocide
b. Social Darwinism
c. Westernization
d. Nationalism
66. "Imperialism refers to an era
during the 19th century after the
Industrial Revolution when more
industrialized Western nations,
including those in Europe and the
United States, took control of other
non-industrialized nations, or
colonies, around the globe. The
primary motives of the Western
nations can be grouped as political,
economic, religious, ideological,
and exploratory. Generally,
Western nations took advantage of
the pre-existing authority of local
leaders (indirect rule) and/or
exerted control through coercion
and force (direct rule)."
http://www.education.ucsb.edu/netshare/ucsbpt3/afi
eld/teacher_projects/imperialism/indeximperialism.h
tml
According to the passage above,
what did imperialist nations have in
common in the 19th century
a. They were
industrialized
b. They were all European
c. They were political allies
d. They were all Catholic
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
67. The impact of imperialism is
uneven: Some poor nations have
enjoyed greater economic benefits
from contact with the rich than
have others. India, Brazil, and
other developing nations have
even begun to compete
economically with their former
colonial powers. Thus, it is prudent
to examine the economic impact of
imperialism on a case-by-case
basis. The political and
psychological effects of imperialism
are equally difficult to determine.
Imperialism has proven both
destructive and creative: For better
or worse, it has destroyed
traditional institutions and ways of
thinking and has replaced them
with the habits and mentality of
the Western world.
68. Which of the following is an
example of a positive effect of
imperialism on territories that were
under the control of Western
nations?
a. Wealth
b. Stable economies
c. Lasting stability
d. Roads
69. "To sum up the whole, the
British rule has been--morally, a
great blessing; politically, peace
and order on one hand, blunders
on the other; materially,
impoverishment . . . The natives
call the British system 'Sakar ki
Churi,' 'the knife of sugar.' That is
to say there is no oppression, it is
all smooth and sweet, but it is the
knife, notwithstanding."
http://www.encarta.msn.com
Which of the following statements
is true about the effects of
imperialism?
a. Imperialism boosted
the economies of all
poor nations
b. Imperialism destroyed
previously strong
economies
c. Imperialism eliminated
many religions
d. Imperialism destroyed
traditions and diversity
--Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Indian elected to the
British Parliament, in a speech during 1871 about the
impact of Great Britain on India
What does the quote above show
about the impact of imperialism on
territory that was controlled by
Great Britain?
a. Imperialism created
disorder and very
negative outcomes
b. Controlled territories
benefited materially
from Imperialism
c. The effects of
imperialism were very
positive
d. There were positive
effects as well as
negative effects
Multiple Choice Questions: Imperialism
70. This is the country in which
apartheid was practiced.
a. Egypt
b. India
c. South Africa
d. England
74.
71. The belief that it is the right of
the strong to take over the weak is
known as
a. Social Darwinism
b. Imperialism
c. Racism
d. Creationism
72. Which would be a characteristic
of DIRECT rule?
a. Local government officials
are used to rule
b. The goal is to develop
future leaders
c. Foreign officials are
brought in to rule
d. Local rules may be used in
government
73. A country or territory with its
own internal government but under
the control of an outside power is
a. a sphere of influence
b. a protectorate
c. a colony
d. economic imperialism
Which of the following is best
supported by the above political
cartoon?
a. Imperialism takes away
the rights of the people
being colonized
b. There are many positive
effects of imperialism
c. During the Age of
Imperialism, England
controlled many territories
d. During the Age of
Imperialism all of Africa
was controlled by England
75. Which group did NOT clash
over territory and resources in
South Africa?
a. Zulus
b. French
c. Boers (Dutch)
d. British