IMPERIALISM:
Aim: Did imperialism leave a legacy of
ruins in the Afro-Asian world, or did it
leave behind lasting benefits in the
areas that it controlled?
Vocabulary: Imperialism, colony, sphere of influence, sepoys,
Boxers
Imperialism - definition
• Mother Country controls colonies using
Industrial Revolution technology
• -more intrusive than colonialism
• -1839-1914 - happens after Opium War
1839 (Britain defeats China) so Europe is
clearly most powerful part of the world and
ends with start of WWI
Imperializing Countries – much
1) Great Britain –of the world
- largest Empire in history (The Sun Never Sets on
the British Empire)
- represented greater than 25% of British GDP
- India “Jewel in the British Crown – Egypt and
“Suez Canal” late 1800s easy access to India
2) Germany – unified 1871
-Most industrialized nation-state
-Brand new unified Nation-state wants “respect”
Other Imperializing powers
USA – Western Hemisphere (Latin America)
-Monroe Doctrine (1823) – Europe stay out of Western
Hemisphere
-Mexican-American War and Manifest Destiny
-Roosevelt Corollary (1904) – “Big Stick” policy – USA uses
military to “help” Western Hemisphere brethren
France – Indochine (Southeast Asia)
-Had lost Seven Years War (1756-1763)
-Northwest Africa (Algeria)
Russia and Japan – competing for East Asia
-Russo-Japanese War (1904) – Japan wins
Imperialized areas
• China – Spheres of Influence
-large, rich area with markets (people) and resources
-Opium Wars (1839)
-Unequal Treaties
• India (South Asia) – British domination (by mid 1800s)
-large, rich area with markets (people) and resources
-decline of Mughal Empire
-British East India Company, later controlled by British
Government
• Sub-Saharan Africa – “Scramble for Africa”
-last place imperialized (after 1880s)
-Divided up among European to avoid a World War
Steps in Imperialism
1) Mother Country industrializes
2) Mother Country continues to control a
colony or takes over a new colony in an
“intense” manner (ex: puppet government)
3) Colony rebels unsuccessfully (often
numerous times)
4) Nationalist movement emerges for the
colony
5) Independence granted to colony
THE NEW IMPERIALISM
Q: What were the motives of imperialism in
the 19th century?
European motivation
(The New Imperialism)
• Economic competition
-self sufficiency (so
Continental System
useless)
-need for new markets
(customers)
-Investing surplus
capital
• Nationalism (status)
• European racism
• Missionary impulse
• White Man’s Burden
VIEWPOINTS
Concerning Imperialism
The White Man’s Burden
Rudyard Kipling, The White Man's Burden, 1899
Take up the White Man's burden-Send 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 wild-Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Chicago Chronicle, 1900
"Can the Missionary Reach This Old Savage?"
Minneapolis Journal (March 23, 1901). The missionary
demands a retraction from Mark Twain of the parts of
"To the Person Sitting in Darkness" that criticized missionary
activities in China following suppression of the Boxer Rebellion.
Devilfish in Egyptian Waters
China Imperialism
• Large country, many resources
• Was considered on par with Europeans in
power up until losing Opium War
• Dominant power in East Asia from 600CE1839CE
Q: WHY DID CHINA REMAIN ISOLATED FROM THE WEST
UNTIL THE 19TH CENTURY?
Qian Long: powerful Qing Emperor
Letter to George III, 1793
Swaying the wide world, I have but one aim in view, namely, to maintain
a perfect governance and to fulfill the duties of the State: strange and costly objects
do not interest me. If I have commanded that the tribute offerings sent by you, O King,
are to be accepted, this was solely in consideration for the spirit which prompted you
to dispatch them from afar. Our dynasty's majestic virtue has penetrated unto every
country under Heaven, and Kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute by
land and sea. As your Ambassador can see for himself, we possess all things. I set no
value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country's
manufactures.
Qian Long [Ch'ien Lung], (r. 1735-1795)
Commissioner Lin: Cause of
Opium War
Letter to Queen Victoria, 1839
But, during the commercial intercourse
which has existed so long, among the
numerous foreign merchants… have
seduced our Chinese people, and caused
every province of the land to overflow with
that poison. These then know merely to
advantage themselves, they care not
about injuring others!
Unequal Treaty - TREATY OF
NANKING (1842) –after First
Opium War
• (Article 6)“…the Emperor of China agrees
to pay the sum of 12,000,000 of dollars, on
account of the expenses incurred”
• (Article 3)”His Majesty the Emperor of
China cedes to Her Majesty the Queen of
Great Britain, the Island of Hong-Kong, to
be possessed in perpetuity by Her
Britannic Majesty…”
Spheres of Influence –
European Powers share China
USA involvement in China
• China is too big and potentially too rich of
a colony for just one power to control it
• Open Door Policy 1899 – any power can
imperialize anywhere in China in a
peaceful manner – ends Sphere of
Influence
• USA has industrialized and new
imperializing power
• No country willing to give up their Sphere
of Influence so this is new policy
THE BOXER REBELLION (1900) –
rebellion by “Boxers” who oppose
foreign presence
Fei Ch'i-hao (A Chinese Christian)
Empress Dowager Tsu Hsi
in 1900:
“Late in July a proclamation of
the Governor was posted in
the city in which occurred the
words, "Exterminate
foreigners, kill devils." Native
Christians must leave the
church or pay the penalty with
their lives. Li Yij and I talked
long and earnestly over plans
for saving the lives of our
beloved missionaries.”
Empress first supports this revolt
as an opportunity to rid China
of foreigners but once rebellion
fails she opposes it to stay in
power
India
• Controlled by British
• British East India company mid1700s-mid
1800s (private company with own army)
• Weakening Mughal Empire and Hindu
Kingdoms are played off against each
other
• Initial British males integrated in society Bibighars (mistresses) until mid 1800s
• Robert Clive takes over Calcutta
Q: How were the people of India affected British imperialism?
THE SEPOY MUTINY (1857) –
An engraving titled "Sepoy Indian troops dividing the
spoils after their mutiny against British rule" gives a
contemporary view of events from the British perspective
Sepoy – Indian troop who fought for British
Triggered by rumor about bullets dipped in cow and pig fat
British Government takes over
• After Sepoy Rebellion
• Too much wealth associated to be in
hands of “private” company
• Queen Victoria crowned the “Empress of
India” in 1881
Berlin Conference of 1884-1885
• 14 European nations lay down rules for
division of Africa
• Rest of continent divided with little thought
of linguistic and cultural concerns
• No Africans represented
• By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia
remained free of European control
Sub-Saharan Africa
• “Scramble for Africa”
• Interior of area unexplored until Dr.
Livingston in mid-1800s
• Potential Resources
• Late 1800s all powers want piece of Africa
AFRICA 1914
Q: HOW DID AFRICANS RESPOND TO EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM?
Resistance in Africa
• Initial Khoisan group
die of disease in
1700s
• Shaka applied
sophisticated tactics
and organization to
Zulu (Bantu speakers)
resistance – but
eventually technology
(machine gun)
defeats them,
The Boer War 1899-1902
English vs Dutch Farmers
• Why was South Africa
considered valuable
by both the Afrikaners
and the English?
• Similar technology
• Deadly war for both
sides so costly British
victory
Japan
Q: HOW WAS THE JAPANESE RESPONSE TO WESTERN IMPERIALISM
IN THE 19TH CENTURY DIFFERENT FROM THE CHINESE?
• Meiji Restoration 1868-1914
• Japan industrializes in under 50 years
• Emphasis on Western culture: language,
architecture, military technology to replace
traditional Samurai culture
• Japan historically Adopt/Adapt/Adept and
this is another example (see Buddhism
and social status in classical Japan)
COMMODORE MATTHEW
PERRY – battleship in Edo – opens
Japan to USA
“…the President entertains
the most friendly feelings
toward Japan…With the
Americans, as indeed
with all Christian people,
it is considered a sacred
duty to receive with
kindness, and to protect
all, of whatever nation,
who may be cast upon
their shores…”
July 7, 1853
TOWNSEND HARRIS (1856) –
first USA Ambassador to Japan
• "May it please your Majesty: In presenting my letters of
credence from the President of the United States, I am
directed to express to your Majesty the sincere wishes of
the President for your health and happiness and for the
prosperity of your dominions. I consider it a great honor
that I have been selected to fill the high and important
place of Plenipotentiary of the United States at the court
of your Majesty, and as my earnest wishes are to unite
the two countries more closely in the ties of enduring
friendship, my constant exertions shall be directed to the
attainment of that happy end."
The Western Influence
In Japan
In the Meiji period Japanese cabinet makers made ,
for a short period also furniture for the export to the
West in a Western style but with traditional Japanese
and Chinese style carvings.
G. YOKOUCHI
Many watercolors during the Meiji and Taisho were
Done in a Western technique. Western art teachers
Taught in Japan, including English Watercolorist
Charles Wirgman.
painting on silk
Meiji period - late 19th century
http://udel.edu/~orzada/intro19thC.htm