New Imperialism
“New” Imperialism (a.k.a. NeoImperialism)
• Imperialism occurs when a strong
nation takes over a weaker nation
or region and dominates its
economic, political, and/or
cultural life.
Imperialism
“The Sun Never Sets on the British
Empire”
Industrial Revolution transformed the West
in two ways:
1. Science
2. Technology
Causes
1. Economic Interests
• I.R.  need for Natural Resources – rubber,
petroleum, manganese, palm oil
• New Markets - to sell factory goods
2. Political & Military
• Bases – to resupply steam powered ships and
naval vessels with coal; colonies needed for
nat’l security
• Nationalism –no one wants to be left behind
Causes
3.Humanitarianism
• Missionaries, doctors: see it as their duty to
spread the blessings of Western Civilization
(medicine, law, Christianity, & culture)
4.Social Darwinism
• “Survival of the Fittest”
• European races were superior to all races 
Conquest and destruction of weaker races will
improve the human species.
Western Advantages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Strong Economies
Well Organized Govt’s
Powerful Armies
Superior Technology (Maxim Gun)
Medical Knowledge (ie. Quinine)
Resistance?
•Peasant revolts: unorganized, unsuccessful
•Educated Middle Class protests  nationalism
•Most don’t start to demand national
independence until 1930s
Types of Rule
1. Colonies
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Direct Rule – officials sent to rule (French)
Indirect Rule – local leaders ruled (British)
2. Protectorates
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Local rulers expected to follow the advice of
European Advisors (cheaper)
In exchange they are “protected” by the “mother
country”
•
No need for large army
African Imperialism
Early Contact in Africa
1. Explorers – Goal was to reach the
interior of Africa using the Niger,
Nile, and Congo Rivers.
2. Missionaries – spread Christianity,
build schools and medical clinics
3. Dr. Livingstone – most famous,
created a detailed travel of Africa
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
Berlin Conference
• Meeting of European nations in 1884-5.
• European country could not claim power without
setting up a government office  prevent disputes
• Legalized the “Scramble for Africa”
• Who was not invited?
*In ~ 30 years, Europe carved new borders and
territories with complete disregard of original
citizens.
The Congo
• King Leopold of Belgium -1860’s
- attains control of the Congo.
(Ivory & Rubber)
• Eventually had to turn the
Congo over to the government
due to brutalization of workers.
Berlin Conference =
Recognized Belgium’s
claim to the Congo, but
allows free trade on the
Congo River
Congo Under King Leopold II
• 200 ethnic groups
• Size = France + Spain +
Germany + Italy + Britain
– 76 x larger than Belgium
• 20 years of control:
population plummets
from ~ 20 million  10
million
Examples of African Resistance
• Nehanda – female ruler of the Shona Tribe, gathered
an army and fought the British. Captured and
Executed.
• Menelik II – Ruler who modernized Ethiopia
– Built modern roads and bridges, schools;
imported weapons.
– Defeated an invading Italian army in 1896 to
remain independent.
• Elite Class – African upper class emerged, Western
educated, who supported independence.
Africa, 1876
Africa,
1914
Africa,
2015
1. How did imperialism
affect the current
borders in Africa?
2. Consider some of the
problems that exist in
Africa today. Why might
these borders be
responsible for some of
these problems?
Legacy of Imperialism
1. Political Instability
2. Mono-Economies
-Lack of food, resources; poverty
3. Lack of $$  Debt
4. Ethnic Conflicts/Boundary
Disputes/Resource Disputes
5. “Brain Drain”
Imperialism in Southwest Asia
What countries make up this
region?
Label the
following:
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Turkey
Egypt
Suez Canal
Iran
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Iraq
Jordan
Israel
Syria
Muslim World
3 Major Muslim Empires
– Safavids (Iran/Persia)
– Ottomans (Middle East)
• Mughuls (India)
20th century: All in decline, central
governments lose control
Iran
• Founding of oil in early
1900’s
• Iranian govt. persuaded to
allow special economic rights
to foreign powers
• Sphere of Influence
–Russian in the North
Egypt
Muhammad Ali
“Father of Modern
Egypt”
Dynasty 1805-1914
Egypt
• Introduce modern political and economic reform
• Hired military experts to train military
Suez Canal (1869)
• 100 mile waterway connecting Med. and Red Sea
• Egypt ran out of money to finish project
• Britain buys shares of the Canal
• Became lifeline to India
• Egypt becomes a protectorate of England.
Suez Canal
• At first, only a few
ships would travel
through the canal
per day
• Travel time:
approx. 40 hours.
• Today: about 14
hours.
Reduced trip
from London,
England to
Bombay,
India by
5,150 miles
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
• Pashas – local rulers
• Revolts throughout empire
– Eastern Europe
– North Africa
– Egypt claims independence
• Westernization, nationalism = key reasons for
uprising
Young Turks
• 1908 – Overthrow of the sultan
• Goal was to reform in order to save the
empire
• Armenian Genocide
• Muslim Turks distrusted Armenian Christians
• Aprox 1-1.5 million killed
• Still a highly sensitive topic today
British Rule in India
• British East India
Company
– British trading company
that ruled India’s political &
military affairs
– Controlled 3/5 of India by
early 1800s
– Took advantage of India’s
cultural differences, making
it difficult for Indians to
unite against British
Sepoy Rebellion
• Sepoys = Indian soldiers hired by British East
India Company
• Growing distrust of the British leads to
revolt
– Sepoys went on rampage, killing men, women,
and children
– Rivalries between Hindus & Muslims make it
difficult for Indians to work together
– Britain crushes the rebellion, burns down
villages, slaughters thousands
India Becomes a Colony
• 1876: India becomes British colony, the
“brightest jewel”
• Direct rule using viceroys, British officials
• 3,500 officials ruled approx. 300 million
people
Imperialism in India
Pros & Cons of British Rule
Positives
• Introduced advances such
as roads, railroads, and
the telegraph to India
• Brought order and
stability
• New school system
• Efficient gov’t
• Reduced crime rate
Negatives
• Convert to Christianity
• Disrespect towards India’s
cultural heritage
• Selling of British industrial
goods destroyed local
industries
• Increased population 
starvation: between 1800
Rise of Indian Nationalism
• British rule leads to new class of western-educated
Indians  push for an end to imperial rule
• Indian National Congress: professionals and business
leaders who used peaceful protest, support western
modernization
• Muslim League: Muslims & Hindus worked together
at first, but Muslims feared persecution from Hindus
& wanted a separate nation
Mohandas “ Mahatma” Gandhi
• Returned to India after
encouraging nonviolent civil
disobedience in S. Africa
• Became the leader of India’s
independence movement
– Continued to encourage
nonviolent resistance
– Britain grants India
independence in 1947
• Against partition of India
into 2 states: India &
Pakistan
Imperialism in Asia
China & Japan
Chinese Trade
• Before 1800’s: China
had strict limits on
foreign trade
– Britain can only
trade at Canton
– China experienced a
trade surplus
– Europe experienced
a trade deficit
The Opium Wars
• British merchants traded opium (grown in India) for
Chinese tea
– Addictive  Demand grows dramatically
– Chinese govt outlawed opium, but Britain refused to stop
• 1839: Chinese warships attacked British merchant
ships
– The Chinese were no match for British
• The battle ended with the Treaty of Nanjing (1842)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtb39KjoTUs
The Tai Ping Rebellion
• 1850-1864: due to poverty, peasants revolt
against the Qing Dynasty
- Approx. 20-30 million deaths
• Christian influenced leaders pushed for:
- Community ownership of property & land,
equal rights for men & women, an end to foot
binding and an end to the dynasty
• Rebellion defeated by the dynasty &
European aid (debt!)
Imperialism Attacks Chinese
Tradition
• Western missionary ideas
challenged Confucian thought
• Empress CiXi arose and supported
Confucian ideas
• China started a “selfstrengthening” movement
- Take Western ideas of science &
technology but use or incorporate
them on their own terms
- Chinese have limited progress
• Overall resistance to Imperialism
Sino-Japanese War
• Japan vs. ChinaModernization vs.
Traditionalism
• Japan wins - receives the
island of Taiwan and the
Liaodong Peninsula
– Europeans take advantage
of defeat & start carving up
China
Open Door Policy
• China must trade equally
with everyone.
*China has no input
• Chinese reformers blame
more conservative leaders
for the loss & attempt to
modernize
– 100 Days of Reform: new laws
that modernize, streamline the
gov’t, & encourage new
industry
Boxer Rebellion
• Began in 1899 as an underground society that was antiWesternization
– Goal was to drive out foreign ideas & people in China
• Organized attacks throughout China that were put
down by Western Powers & Japan
• China was forced to Westernize but the gov’t had
continued problems
• Sun Yat-Sen: first president of the Chinese Republic
(1912)
Opening Japan
• Prior to 1853, Japan practiced seclusion
• Matthew Perry: US Commodore in Navy
– Sailed American ships into Tokyo Bay with a
letter from the US President
– Treaty of Kanagawa: agreement
between US & Japan, opened 2 ports to
American ships but NOT for trade
• A series of unequal treaties occurred after
the next few years that brought discontent
to Japan
Meiji Restoration
“A rich country, strong military”
• Japan takes it upon itself to modernize 
Westernization
1. Political- Create a strong, central government
– Separated the legislature & executive branches
– All citizens equal in the law
– The Samurais lost their special privileges (represent the
traditional Japan)
– Homogenous society
• Led to a sense of identity based off of common culture & language
Meiji Restoration (contd.)
2. Economic- Set up a banking system,
railroads, ports, telegraph, & postal system
– By 1890’s the Japanese economy was booming 
becoming an industrial powerhouse
3. Social- Legal distinction between classes
ended
– Schools & universities are set up to teach modern
technology
Japanese Success
• These reforms allowed Japan to become the
strongest power in Asia
- Defeat China in the Sino-Japanese Wars
- Defeat Russia to control Korea & the port of
Manchuria
• Japan defeats a European power & will be the
only major Asian power in WWII