European
Colonialism
Imperialism – A policy in which a strong
nation seeks to dominate other
countries politically, economically and
socially
Capitalism – Economic system in which the
means of production are privately
owned and operated for profit
Nationalism – The belief that people should
be loyal mainly to their nation – that is,
to the people with whom they share a
culture and a history, rather than to a
king or ruler.
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Empire Building
Economics
Political and Military
Interests
Power and Authority
Nineteenth Century –
1800s
British Dominance called the Victorian Era
after Queen Victoria
who ruled for 64 years
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1880 – Most of
Africa consisted of
independent
states
1914 – With the
exception of
Ethiopia and
Liberia, all of
Africa was
controlled by
Europeans
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One of the major reasons for bad relations amongst
the nations of Europe in the years before 1914 was
that they were engaged in a struggle to obtain
overseas colonies.
Although this happened in several areas of the world,
the most dramatic changes took place in Africa. Many
nations took part in what became known as the
“Scramble for Africa”.
The following pages will show the territory gained by
each nation, and will explain why the race to gain
colonies played a part in the build-up of international
tensions which eventually resulted in World War One.
This map shows Africa
in 1914 and shows how
much land the major
nations had taken over.
There is so much detail
that it is a little difficult
to see exactly what has
happened.
To get a better idea of
how much of Africa was
controlled by each
European power, click
on any of the links
below.
BRITAIN
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
BELGIUM
NEXT
PAGE
British Colonies
Britain had managed
to get some of the
most valuable land in
Africa.
The most important
gain was Egypt
because of the Suez
Canal.
This provided a much
quicker and safer
route to India – the
“Jewel in the Crown”
of the British Empire.
EGYPT
NIGERIA
SUDAN
BRITISH
EAST
AFRICA
RHODESIA
BECHUANALAND
SOUTH AFRICA
France had also built
up a large colonial
empire, mostly in the
north west of Africa.
This had caused
problems and there
had been serious
arguments over
colonies such as
Morocco and Tunis.
Arguments over
colonies caused bad
feeling between
Britain and France.
ALGERIA
MOROCCO TUNIS
FRENCH WEST
AFRICA
FRENCH
EQUATORIAL
AFRICA
MADAGASCAR
Germany did not enter
the race for colonies
until very late and, as a
result, much of the
land gained was not
very valuable.
Despite this, Kaiser
William II was
determined that
Germany should have a
major empire.
KAMERUN
GERMAN
EAST
AFRICA
GERMAN SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
Italian Colonies
Italy did gain a few
colonies but also had
its failures.
It tried to take over
Tunis but was beaten
to it by France.
It tried to take over
Abyssinia but failed.
TUNIS
LYBIA
ERITRE
A
ABYSSINIA
ITALIAN
SOMALILAND
Belgian Colonies
Even tiny Belgium
had an African colony
– the Belgian Congo.
This was one of the
reasons that Kaiser
William II of
Germany decided
that his country must
also have colonies.
BELGIAN
CONGO
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British East India company
controlled much of India using
sepoys.
Sepoys – Native Hindu or Muslim
mercenary private police
The Sepoy Rebellion allowed
British soldiers to invade and
control all of India
The British established control of
India and its neighbors by 1914.
Crops: opium poppies for sale in
China and cotton and tea for sale
in the rest of the British empire
Cotton textile making outlawed in
India
India was so profitable, it was
called the “Jewel in the Crown.”
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Because of repeated attempts at
invasion, China distrusted foreigners
and tried to remain isolationist.
They were unsuccessful.
Britain gained spheres of influence in
China through smuggling opium.
Resulted in Opium War and Boxer
Uprising.
You will need to complete & review
Opium Wars worksheet for your test.
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1838 Chinese instituted death penalty for native
traffickers of opium
March 1839 – new commissioner to control opium
trade – Lin Zexu
Lin imposed embargo on Britain unless they
permanently ended the trade trade
March 27, 1839 – British Superintendent of Trade –
Charles Elliot demanded all British subjects turn over
opium to him
Opium amounting to a year’s worth of trade was
given to Commissioner Lin
Trade resumed with Britain and no drugs were
smuggled
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Lin demanded British merchants to sign a bond
promising not to deal opium under penalty of death
Lin disposed of the opium – dissolving it in the ocean
Did not realize the impact of this action!
British merchants and government regarded this as
destruction of private property
Responded by sending warships, soldiers, and the
British India Army into China June 1840
Had superior military force – attacked coastal cities,
defeated Qing forces easily
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British took Canton and sailed up the
Yangtze River
Took Tax Barges, cut revenue of imperial
court of Beijing
1842 Qing sued for peace
Ended with Treaty of Nanjing, which gave
Hong Kong to the British
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Also known as Arrow War
Followed incident when Chinese bordered British
registered, Chinese owned ship – the Arrow
Crew was accused of piracy and smuggling
• Were arrested
British claimed ship was flying British flag and was
protected under the Treaty of Nanjing
War delayed by Taiping Rebellion and Indian Mutiny
British attacked Guangzhou one year later
Aided by allies of United States, Russia, and France
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The most important long lasting effect of Imperialism that
still exists today, long after Europeans were thrown out
Many Europeans followed a Divide and Conquer strategy
Befriended one group, tribe or religion over another and
gave them the best jobs,used them in the military,
educated them, etc.
So after Europeans left, what was left were two levels, the
privileged group who wanted to hold onto power and an
angry, resentful lower class.