Causes of Imperialism

Economic Motives The Industrial Revolution created an insatiable demand for raw materials and new markets.

Nationalism European nations wanted to demonstrate their power and prestige to the world.

Balance of Power European nations were forced to acquire new colonies to achieve a balance with their neighbors and competitors.

White Man's Burden The Europeans’ sense of superiority made them feel obligated to “civilize the heathen savages” they encountered.

AFRICA

Competition for colonies by European countries in Africa was intense.

By the late 1800, most of Africa was ruled by European countries

SUEZ CANAL

Connects Mediterranean and Red Seas.

Built by the French in 1869. Allowed ships to cut thousands of miles off the trip from Europe to India

Britain wanted control to get to India and Australia faster.

Bought up stock in the company and took over countries by the Red Sea.

Berlin ConferenceTo prevent fighting over Africa, representatives from Europe met to lay down rules for competition.

No African ruler attended.

Africa was divided into colonies by European countries

Only two countries remained independent – Ethiopia and Liberia.

GREAT BRITAIN

The largest empire the world had known:

100 times larger than Britain

¼ of the world’s land and population

INDIA

Under British control from the 1700s

The cornerstone of the British Empire, India provided raw materials (cotton), labor, and a market for goods to be sold.

The Good:

INDIA

United India under one authority/law

Made English official language for education

Outlawed suttee (widow suicide)

Improved medical, build railroad

Telegraph and irrigation

INDIA

The Bad:Population increased while food production decreased, causing a decrease in the standard of living.

Discrimination in their own country

Indian hand-woven cloth wasn’t as cheap as British cloth –caused unemployment (the people turned to agriculture)

Sepoy RevoltWhy?

Indian soldiers were offended by the beef/pork fat used to seal bullets (Muslims forbidden to eat pork, Hindus forbidden to eat beef)

Results:

Rebelled against British leadership

British easily defeated the Indians

Indian Nationalism

By the early 1900s, many Indians were calling for self-government.

India becomes independent in 1947.

CHINA

Manchu Dynasty in control

Chinese merchants produced what China needed – Chinese considered European products inferior

Europeans allowed to trade at only one port

Britain smuggled opium (habit-forming narcotic) into China

The Chinese became addicted, needing more and more.

This weakened the Chinese government, leading to the Opium Wars (China vs. Britain)

OPIUM WARS

Opium War (1839)

Fought mostly at sea.

Britain won and legalized opium (humiliating for Chinese)

Treaty of Nanjing

Opened many ports to Great Britain

Gave lease of Hong Kong until 1997

Extraterritoriality allowed the British to be subject only under British law and courts

Humiliated the Chinese

China

Divided country into regions where foreigners would control the economic interest

OPEN DOOR POLICY

United States feared being left out and proposed a policy that would allow competition on equal terms.

This policy kept China from being carved up into colonies like Africa

BOXER REBELLION

The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (nicknamed Boxers by English)

Chinese who opposed westerners

Destroyed railroads, burned bridges, and killed Europeans

Although this rebellion failed, it was a clear message that the Chinese wanted to get rid of foreigners

JAPANCommodore Matthew Perry (U.S.) forced Japan to open ports for trade

Treaty of Kanagawa Opened Japanese ports to U.S. and gave extraterritorial rights to Americans

Japan Westernized (Meiji Restoration)

oJapan became the first industrialized nation in Asia

oStudied western powers and adopted only what they thought good for Japan

oMilitary strengthened (army based on German model, navy based on Britain model)

oCompulsory education implemented, wiping out illiteracy

oGovernment made new loans

oJudicial system based on the west

Japan Became Imperialistic

Lacked raw materials and food

Won trading rights in Korea from China

War with Russia in 1905 over Manchuria (rich in resources)

Aggression shocked west – demanded respect

LATIN AMERICASuccess of Am. and Fr. Revolutions, the Enlightenment, and nationalism led much of Latin America to demand independence

Napoleon’s conquest of Spain led Spanish colonies to rebel:

Argentina and Chile win independence under Jose San Martín

Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Peru win independence under Simon Bolivar

Brazil gains independence from Portugal - 1822

Central American countries declare independence – 1823

1823 President James Monroe issues the Monroe Doctrine saying the U.S. would not allow the Americas to be divided into colonies

PANAMA CANALU.S. encouraged Panama to revolt against Colombia.

Panama won – leased U.S. land for a canal.

In 1914, the Panama Canal opened, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific.