European Imperialism
Imperialism
• Imperialism: the
political and economic
control of one area or
country by another.
• Past Examples:
– Persia
– Rome
– European Colonies in
15th – 18th Century
The Roman Empire
What are the benefits to
controlling the
government and economy
of another country?
European Imperialism
• European countries
created colonies all
over the world
• Some colonies were
lost when they
revolted, such as the
United States & South
America
• By the 19th century
Europe still had
colonies in India,
South Africa, and the
East Indies
What might be some
negative aspects of
controlling another
countries government and
economy?
The British “Raj” (Reign) in India
• During the 18th century Great
Britain took control of much of
India
• Reforms:
– Wiped out some old local
traditions and customs
– Built a railroad
– Spread Christianity
– Built schools and colleges
– English became official
language
• The Indians liked some of the
new changes, but resented the
changes to their customs and
beliefs
Britain tried to
modernize India. Why
did the Indians resent
the British efforts?
The Impact of British Rule on India
• Government:
– Unified India under one government
– Made English the official language
• Economic:
– built roads, railways, and telegraph
– Hurt local cottage industry from
British manufacturing
• Health:
–
–
–
–
built hospitals
Introduced new medicine
Provided famine relief
Resulted in a population explosion
• Social:
– Indian culture was seen as inferior to
British
– Indian workers provided cheap labor,
working long hours for little pay
Was the British
reign in India
good or bad?
Explain.
Other British Colonies
• Britain also has
colonies in:
–
–
–
–
–
–
South Africa
West Indies
Canada
New Zealand
Australia
Singapore
What might be some of the
problems with having
colonies all over the world?
The “New Imperialism”
• Imperialism was almost
gone in the 18th century
due to the loss of many of
the American colonies
•
A new imperialism
sprang up from 1880 to
1900. Almost every
corner of the earth was
claimed by a European
country
Describe the
picture
Causes of the “New Imperialism”
1. Industrial Revolution
Technologies
– Steamboat helped reach the
interior of Africa and Asia
– Telegraph made communication
across large distances possible
– Railroad made shipping of goods
and raw materials easier
– Medicine made exploring new
areas safer
– New military weapons helped to
control local people
Can you name
another time in
history when
technology has
promoted such a
movement?
Causes of the “New Imperialism”
2. Economic Motives:
– Industry needed raw materials
– Industry needed new markets
3. Political Motives:
– Demonstrates a nation’s power
– Hoped to preserve a balance of
power between European
countries
4. Social Motives:
– Social Darwinism: Belief that
some societies were superior to
others and should spread their
culture.
– Spread Christianity
Explain how this
picture relates to
Social Darwinism
The “Scramble for Africa”
• Between 1870 and 1890
most of Africa came under
the control of a European
country
• 1880 a revolt in Egypt
prompted Great Britain to
take over that country so it
could continue to use the
Suez Canal
• In 1884 the Berlin
Conference divided Africa
up among the European
countries
• By 1890 only Ethiopia and
Liberia were independent
Explain this picture
Major Imperial Powers
• France:
– Central Africa
– Northwest Africa above the Sahara
• Belgium:
– The Congo
• Great Britain:
– West Africa
– East African coast from Egypt to
South Africa
• Germany:
–
–
–
–
Tanganyika
Cameroon
Togo
Southwest Africa
Positive Effects of Imperialism in
Africa
• Health:
–
–
–
–
Medicine
Improved nutrition
Longer life spans
Population explosion
• Technology
– Modern transportation (steamboat &
railroad)
– Communications (telegraph and
telephone)
• Economics:
– Some Africans received an education
– Some received better jobs such as
administrators or in the army
Is the loss of the
control of your
government and
economy worth
the positive
outcomes of that
loss?
Negative Effects on Imperialism in
Africa
• Traditions:
– Led to an erosion of traditional
African values
– Destroyed existing social
relationships
• Culture
– African people were treated as
inferior
– Africans worked long hours for little
money in terrible conditions
• Politically:
– Africa was divided without thought
toward tribal, ethnic, and cultural
boundaries
– Led to continuing tribal conflicts
What might be some
of the effects to a
society that loses its
culture?
Explain the
meaning of
this political
cartoon.
European Powers and China
• Why Europe was
Interested in China:
– Large market for sales
– Valuable raw materials
– Produced the goods
Europeans wanted
• China lacked a strong
military. Europe
forced China to do
what it wanted.
The Opium Wars (1839-1842)
• Causes:
– Britain sold opium in China to get money
to buy tea
– China sentenced opium dealers to death
to try and stop this practice
– Britain declared war
• Britain easily won
• Results:
– Damaged the Chinese economy
– Created political instability in China
– Britain got new trade privileges giving
Britain economic control of some areas
(Spheres of Influence)
– Other European countries wanted their
own Sphere of Influence
– Chinese people revolted against the
Chinese rulers
British gunships pound
the Chinese coast
U.S. Involvement in China
• U.S. Open Door Policy: The U.S.
proposed equal trading rights
between all countries in 1899. They
wanted a part of the action.
• Boxer Rebellion:
– Chinese (Boxers) rebelled against
foreign influence
– Hundreds of foreigners were killed
– European forces put down the
rebellion
– The U.S. helped to stop the rebellion
with troops and ships stationed in
the Philippines, but also stopped
Europe from further dividing up
China.
What does the rebellion
show of how the Chinese
people felt about foreign
influence?
What was the U.S. main
purpose in China?
The Opening of Japan
• Japan closed itself off to foreigners in
1639.
• The U.S. sent a naval force to Japan
in 1853:
– Led by Mathew Perry
– Hoped to open Japanese ports
– Japan opened its ports, so they would
not be taken over like China
• Meiji Restoration (1868-1912):
– The nobles in Japan criticized the
decision to open its doors
– The Shogun fell and was replaced by
the Emperor – Emperor Meiji
– The Emperor tried to make Japan more
like the West.
– He sent scholars to learn western
technologies and customs
Mathew Perry
Compare and
contrast Western
influence on China
and Japan.
Latin America
• Spanish American War:
– Spain still held Puerto
Rico, Cuba, and a few
islands in the late 1800s.
– Cuba rebelled in 1898.
– In 1898 the USS Maine
mysteriously blew up in the
Havana harbor.
– US and Spain went to war.
– US won and received
influence over Puerto Rico,
Guam, and the Philippines.
Would you consider the
U.S. to be imperialistic
based on the events in
China, Japan, and the
Spanish American War.
Latin America
• Most of Latin America was
economically dependent on the
U.S. and Great Britain.
• Panama Canal:
– Shorter route between Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
– Area was owned by Columbia.
– President Theodore Roosevelt
encouraged Panamanian rebels
to declare independence in
1904.
– The U.S. protected the rebels.
– Took 10 years to build the canal
– Used the Monroe Doctrine as a
basis for protecting the canal.
Roosevelt said “Walk
softly and carry a big
stick.” How does this
statement relate to the
Panama Canal situation.