Imperialism in India
S. Gerhardt
Packet #17
Global II
Do Now:
Take your chart out from yesterday on
The Causes of Imperialism
Essential Main Ideas
Notes
British East India Company
 Britain’s economic interest in India began in the
1600s
 British East India Company established trading
posts at Bombay, Madras and Calcutta.
 The Mughal Empire was collapsing and the
British took advantage of this.
Jewel in the Crown
 India was the most valuable of all of the British
colonies.
 India was able to provide:
• Tea
• Indigo
• Coffee
• Cotton
• Opium
India’s Resoponse to Imperialism: Sepoy Rebellion
 Sepoy = Indian soldier
 Indians resented the British trying to impose
Christianity and European values on them.
 Sepoy’s rebelled against their British
commanders. After a year of rebelling the
British had suppressed the uprisings.
Impact of Colonialism
 See chart below
“During the 1700s, the Mogul [Mughal] Empire in India became weaker and weaker.
At the same time, the British and the French East India trading companies gained strength.
They competed for control of India.
The major aim of Britain’s East India Company was to profit from selling Indian cotton
cloth, silk, and sugar to other countries. Victory over France in the Seven Years’ War (1756 –
1763) left Britain the major power in India. (This was called the French and Indian War in
North America.) The portions of India not governed directly by Britain were ruled by Indian
princes. These local leaders eventually signed treaties that placed their states under British
protection.
With some restrictions placed on it by the British government, the East India Company
ruled India until 1857. The company built telegraph, railroad, and irrigation systems there. In
addition, it set up a postal service and a number of schools. The company also organized a
large army of Indian soldiers, called Sepoys, to defend its interests and India’s borders. The
Sepoys were commanded by British officers and were supported by units of the British Army.
Missionaries arrived to teach Hindus and Muslims about Christianity.” ~ Global History
(Courtesy of Ms. Napp)
Main Ideas:
1. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Questions for Comprehension:
1. __________________________________________________________________
Answer:
2. __________________________________________________________________
Answer:
3. __________________________________________________________________
Answer:
Effects of British Imperialism on India




Positive Effects
The British built the world’s third
largest railroad network in India
Railroads and telegraphs united the
subcontinent
The British developed a modern
road network and built dams and
irrigation canals
Sanitation and public health
improved




Negative Effects
The British restricted Indian-owned
industries such as cotton textiles
The British emphasis on cash crops
resulted in a loss of self-sufficiency
for many villagers
Famines increased as cash crops
reduced food production
Indians faced discrimination from
the British in their own land
Ultimately, the British wanted India’s resources for its factories. Indian resources were
exported to Great Britain and converted into manufactured goods that were sold throughout
the world. Of course, manufactured goods were more profitable than raw materials. As
such, India exported cheaper resources and was forced to import expensive manufactured
goods. By not allowing Indian industries to compete, the subcontinent experienced great
poverty. The Indian people suffered as India became an exporter of cash crops and an
importer of more expensive finished goods. (Courtesy of Ms. Napp)
Directions: After examining the chart above, do you believe the British occupation of
India was justified (acceptable). Take a position below and write your answer in
complete sentences.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
WRAP-UP & REVIEW:
Review your notes and write sentences using the letters provided below.
R
I
W
Wrap-Up & Review:
Document #1
The resolution of the All-African People’s Conference, held in Accra, Ghana in 1958,
“condemns colonialism and imperialism” based on these premises.
Whereas all African peoples . . . deplore the economic exploitation of African people by
Imperialist Countries, thus reducing Africans to poverty in the midst of plenty . . . Whereas
fundamental human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of
movement, freedom of worship, freedom to live a full and abundant life . . . are denied to
Africans through the activities of Imperialists.
What are the reasons this group condemned imperialism?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Document #2
This is an African proverb.
When the whites came to our country, we had the land and they had the Bible; now we
have the Bible and they have the land.
What does proverb imply about the negative effect of imperialism in Africa?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Document #3
This poem by David Diop is from an Anthology of West African Verse.
The White Man killed my father, My brother was strong.
My father was proud. His hand red with black blood
The White Man seduced my mother, The White Man turned to me;
My mother was beautiful. And in the Conqueror’s voice said,
The White Man burnt my brother “Boy! A chair, a napkin, a drink.”
Beneath the noonday sun
What negative aspects of imperialism does Diop present in this poem?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Document #4
Sekou Toure, and African nationalist, pointed out another negative aspect of imperialism.
Colonialism’s greatest misdeed was to have tried to strip us of our responsibility in
conducting our own affairs and convince us that our civilization was nothing less than
savagery, thus giving us complexes which led to our being branded as irresponsible and
lacking in self-confidence.
What criticism does Toure offer about imperialism?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Document #5
George H.T. Kimble, in a 1962 New York Times Magazine article, “Colonialism: the Good, the
Bad, the Lessons,” gives his point of view.
. . . they [the colonial powers] failed to provide the African with sufficient [preparation] . . .
None of the newly independent countries had enough skilled African administrators to run
their own . . . [or] enough African technicians to keep the public utilities working. . . . And
no country had an electorate that knew what independence was all about. . . . For all its
faults, colonial government provided security of person and property in lands that had
known little or either. . . . It was the colonial powers who were largely
responsible for the opening of the region to the lumberman, miner, planter, and other men
of means without whom its wealth would be continued to lie fallow [uncultivated].]
1.
What does this author cite as negative effects of imperialism?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. What does this author cite as positive effects if imperialism?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:
On the lines below write the introductory paragraph for this essay and ONE body
paragraph citing the NEGATIVE impact imperialism had on Africa.
**Don’t forget to: **
1. Cite your document
2. Summarize the document in YOUR OWN WORDS!
3. Provide OUTSIDE information on the topic
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________