IMPERIALISM
World History
Imperialism

“When a strong nation seeks to dominate
other countries or territories”
Control
over:
Economy
Politics
Society (social issues)
Africa in the early 1800’s

Hundreds of ethnic groups and over 1,000
languages
 Traditional
beliefs and religions
 Society: Large empires to small villages


Difficult environment with wild rivers and jungles
Africans were experts at trading rare natural
resources (gold-salt Sahara; Swahili East Coast
trade)
Scramble for Africa


Main Idea: Europeans established
colonies by ignoring the claims of African
ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states.
Why it matters now: African nations
continue to feel the effects of the
colonization more than 100 years later.

Scramble for Africa
European countries
grabbed colonies
south of the Sahara
local populations
were enslaved,
exploited, and
sometimes
exterminated.
Video:
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid
/9057CC88-0EDE-43C4-98DC-2B720A85BA1B
How it all began…



“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
David Livingstone, a Scottish
missionary, traveled to promote
Christianity in Africa and
DISAPPEARED!
An American journalist, Henry
Stanley was hired to find him
and did!
Made headlines and helped
bring Africa’s undiscovered
wealth to the attention of the
world.

Stanley continued to explore on
behalf of Belgium
Motives behind Imperialism

1.
Belief in European Superiority (racism!):
non-Europeans were considered to be a
“lesser race”
No
scientific and technological progress
Social Darwinism- humans/societies who were
fittest for survival enjoyed wealth and success
Thus, Europeans had a “obligation” to better
these “lesser races”.
An example….
I contend that we [Britons] are the first race in the world,
and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the
human race. … It is our duty to seize every opportunity of
acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea
steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means
more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most
human, most honorable race the world possesses.
— Cecil Rhodes, Confession of Faith, 1887
1 – Is Cecil Rhodes in favor of or opposed to imperialism,
and what rationale (reason) does he give for his stance?
2 – What one idea does Rhodes think Great Britain should
be focused on?
Motives behind Imperialism

2. Economic Competition—need
for natural resources and new
markets to feed the expanding
Industrial Revolution
 Rubber,
Ivory, lumber, etc.
 Forced Africans to grow cash crops;
causes food shortages.

3. Missionary Spirit—a divine duty
spread Christianity to those still
practicing indigenous beliefs
Motives behind Imperialism

4. Nationalism- to gain
power and prestige for
their country, Europeans
sought to acquire
colonies.
 Famous political cartoon of Cecil Rhodes.
Factors that made Imperialism successful
1.
2.
3.
4.
Steam engines on boats and trains—Europeans can
travel throughout the continent.
Telegraph—Europeans could communicate with
homeland
Use of quinine helped protect Europeans from malaria
Advanced weaponry=European military dominance
over Africans
Maxim Gun—first automatic machine gun
Factors that made Imperialism successful
5.
6.
Diversity of languages &
cultures discouraged
African unity
History of conflict between
tribes
Europeans take advantage
of these vulnerabilities
Berlin Conference (1884-85)
Berlin Conference (1884-85)



14 European countries meet and decide that each
must publically claim land in order to control it
No African ruler was invited
Created tensions among Africans that would
EXPLODE once these countries gained
independence in the 20th century
Resistance to Imperialism

Africans fight colonization

Zulu nation’s highly centralized state nearly
defeats English army

Ethiopia defeats Italy and remains free.
Systems of Imperial Control



COLONY: A COUNTRY OR TERRITORY GOVERNED BY A
FOREIGN POWER (EX: THE BRITISH IN INDIA)
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: A REGION IN A FOREIGN
COUNTRY WHERE ANOTHER NATION CLAIMS
EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RIGHTS (EX. = BRITISH IN AREAS
OF CHINA)
ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM: A COUNTRY CONTROLLED
BY A PRIVATE BUSINESS FOR ECONOMIC GAIN (EX:
BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY)
British Imperialism in India


Seeking spices and profit, England establishes
trading posts in India in the 1600’s.
British East India Company is allowed to increase
territory and govern the entire colony.
India becomes the “Jewel of the Crown”—the most
valuable of all colonies
 serves
crucial role as supplier of raw materials and
market for British goods
Sepoy Mutiny (1857)

Sepoy soldiers (Indians) –BEIC army led by British officers.

Sepoy rebel against the British


Cartridges of new rifles were greased with beef and pork fat.
(ends must be bitten off to be used)
Muslims and Hindus refuse to use them

BEIC handled situation badly, but still won.

British gov’t takes over rule in 1858 from BEIC

This is a turning point in Indian history
Legacy of British rule in India

Positive:
 Infrastructure
like
railroads, roads, dams,
bridges
 Schools and hospitals
 Made country safer

Negative:
 India lost political and
economic power
 Famine: British pushed
cash crops, not food
 Racism: Indians treated
as 2nd class citizens
Asia in Isolation



Since the Great Wall, China and Japan practiced a
policy of isolationism (policy avoiding political
and military involvement with other countries)
China was self-sufficient; they needed nothing from
the outside world
Unable to trade traditional goods, the British
introduced Opium (a highly addictive drug) to
Chinese markets.
 By
1835, 12 million Chinese are addicted
Opium War (1839)


Chinese Emperor is concerned/angry that the
addictions have harmed his subjects
 British keep selling Opium, leading to war.
British win, leading to Treaty of Nanjing
 British
gain island of Hong Kong
 Foreigners gain freedom from Chinese law in
spheres of influence.
Taiping Rebellion 1850’s-1864



Chinese population growth exceeds food supply
causing famine (leads to increase in opium
addiction)
A peasant begins a rebellion (million-man army)
They control SE China.
British, French, and Chinese Emperor’s troops put
down rebellion at great cost (20 million dead
Chinese)
 Why?
Foreign Influence



China realizes it needs to Westernize, but it is
unsuccessful.
Foreign powers take advantage of internal conflict
and force China into accepting unequal trade
policies
Open Door Policy (1899): U.S. proposal that China
be open to trading by all countries and would not
be colonized
 weakens
idea of “spheres of influence”
Boxer Rebellion (1900)




Ordinary Chinese feel humiliated
Push for reforms leads to a secret society (Society
of Righteous & Harmonious Fists)
Starts wide-spread revolt against Empress and all
foreigners; defeated by a multi-national force
Chinese nationalism surges after Boxer Rebellion
and carries on into early 1900’s