1850 - 1914

The Age of Imperialism

What is Imperialism?

The takeover of a country or territory by a stronger nation with the intent of dominating the political, economic and social life of the people.

Imperialism was a legacy of the Industrial Revolution

European nations needed new sources of raw materials and new markets for their products.

Reasons for Imperialism

Racism People of these nations believed they were better than the people of

the countries they colonized, because of their superior technological advances.

Social Darwinism A social theory of the time “survival of the fittest”

It came from the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin.

Non-Europeans were considered to be on a lower scale of cultural and physical development. Evidenced by their lack of technological developments.

Nationalism and Economics Competition amongst European nations .

Forces of Imperialism

Interests The British East India Company took control of India in the

late 1700’s

1860 – Dr. David Livingston travelled to Africa’s interior.

Reporter Henry Stanley sent back news of Africa’s rich interior.

These encounters led to treaties between Belgium and local chiefs in the Congo River Valley.

Inventions Maxim Gun

Steam Ships

Railroads

Cure for Malaria (quinine)

Africa Before Imperialism

Hundreds of Ethnic and linguistic groups scattered across the Continent

Political divisions were based on ethnic or tribal lines.

Some Africans converted to Islam or Christianity.

Europeans had contact with Africa but controlled very little area. (mostly along the coasts)

Scramble for Africa

A process of invasion, attack, occupation, and annexation of African territory by European powers.

Berlin Conference (1884-1885)

A meeting of rival European Nations

to set the rules for the division of Africa

No African ruler attended these meetings

Imperial Rule

Indirect Control

Local leaders rule under the guidance of a colonial governor.

Common practice in most British colonies

The U.S. also practiced indirect control over its colonies.

Direct Control

France and other European nations preferred this practice.

Viewed Africans as children unable to handle leadership.

Paternalism

Governing in a fatherly way

Assimilation

Absorb the local population into ruling culture.

Resistance to Imperial Rule

India

SepoyRebellion

Indian Nationalism

Africa

Ethiopia and Menelik II

Legacies of European Imperialism

Positives

Improved sanitation

Introduced new technologies

Negatives

Africans lost control of their lands

New diseases (smallpox)

Breakdown of traditional culture

Loss of homes and property

Artificial boundaries that combined groups of different ethnic, religious or linguistic background.

Division of kinship groups across colonies

1800 - 1904

American Imperialism and Global Transformation

The Monroe Doctrine

The U.S. promised to help defend countries in the Americas from European conquest.

President James Monroe

“ the American continents … are henceforth not to be considered a subject for future colonization by European powers”

The Spanish American War Hawaii

1898 American joined Cuba in their fight for Independence from Spain.

Acquired Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam

Filipinos rejected American rule.

America upgraded the infrastructure but exploited the Filipino’s economically.

Hawaii had prosperous sugar plantations that were owned by Americans.

In 1893 Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown.

Wealthy planter Stanford B. Dole became President of Hawaii

In 1898 the Republic of Hawaii was annexed by the United States

U.S. Acquires the Pacific Islands

United States and Latin America

After the Spanish-American

War the U.S. controlled

Cuba by indirect rule.

The U.S. extended its influence on American trading with the construction of the Panama Canal. Supported Panamanian Independence from Colombia

Panama gave the U.S the 10mile wide zone to build the canal a sign of gratitude.

The canal was opened to ships from all nations but the U.S. controlled the toll-gate.

Roosevelt Corollary

Theodore Roosevelt

U.S is “an international police power” in the western hemisphere.

The U.S. used this many times to justify intervention in Latin American countries with troops occupying some areas for many years

China

China made more from export of tea than they spent on imports.

To offset the imbalance the British introduce Opium a habit forming narcotic.

Opium War The Chinese could not with stand

the more advanced British Navy.

Treaty of Nanjing gave the British control of Hong Kong.

Chinese Nationalism The loss of power encouraged the

people to demand more reforms.

Boxer Rebellion When the Qing officials failed to

respond the peasant rebelled.

Japan Modernizes

For years Japan was shut off from the rest of the world.

Treaty of Kanagawa

In 1854 under threat from the U.S. Navy Japanese leaders opened the country to trade with foreign nations.

The Meiji Era

Overthrow of the shogun

Emperor Mutsuhito encouraged a sense of Nationalism

Sent statesmen to Europe and America to study

Adopted American system of universal public education

Modernized their military