Imperialism Notes

Unit 5: global imperialism review sheet
Key Historical Events * Sepoy Mutiny (Rebellion) * The revolt of Indian soldiers in 1857 against certain practices that violated religious customs, also known as the Sepoy mutiny * Open door policy * It kept Chinese trade open to everyone on an equal basis * Boxer Rebellion * Secret society of Chinese nationalists attacked foreign settlements and murdered dozens of Christian missionaries; US troops participated in an international force to crush the rebellion of the Boxers; China was forced to pay a huge sum of indemnities * Opium Wars * A war between Great Britain and China that began in 1839 as a conflict over the opium trade and ended in 1842. The Chinese gave up Hong Kong to the British and they Chinese also opened 5 of their ports to foreign merchants. Lastly they also granted other commercial and diplomatic privileges in the treaty of Nanjing. * Berlin Conference * A meeting between European officials in which the distribution of Africa to Europe control was decided. Sought to bring an end to the scramble for Africa. * Boer War * Fought between 1899 and 1902 over the continued independence of the Boer republics. It resulted in British victory, but it began the process of decolonization in South America.
Causes of imperialism Political | Economical | Social | * Basis for trade and navy ships * Power and security of the global empire * Nationalism * Promotes national superiority * They belive they had the right to take the over | * Expand the markets all around the world * Place to invest their profits * Need natural resources to run their factories * Place for growing populations to settle down | * Desire to spread Christianity * Desire to share western civilization * Belief in social Darwinism * Increase European self-confidence |

Africa 1. Europeans were interested in Africa because Europeans saw Africa as a rich source of raw materials to use in industry and as a market for European products of industry. Also, it was felt that having a colonial empire at this time was part of being a European power, in order to be able to compete. Furthermore, some Europeans superior to Africans and felt that they were therefore justified in conquering what they thought were the "backward" peoples of Africa. 2. The Berlin conference was a meeting between European officials in which the distribution of Africa to Europe control was decided. Sought to bring an end to the scramble for Africa. African representatives were not present. 3. Africa was partitioned because the European nations 'invaded' and carved it up amongst themselves and Only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent. 4. Africans responded to imperialism by trying to rebel problem is they didn't have the same technology as Europe. Europeans had by that point invented a machine gun Africans had spears and shields. They did try and rebel but a ton of them died because of it. They were forced to either accept it or face death. 5. – Positives | Negatives | * Introduced new technologies * Improved transportation, * Introduced new and better education systems, * Introduced new crops | * Forced labor * Economic exploitation * Racist |

India 1. The British East India Company was a joint stock company that controlled most of India during the period of imperialism. This company controlled the political, social, and economic life in India for more than 200 years. 2. The Sepoy Mutiny Rebellion was a revolt of Indian soldiers in 1857 against certain practices that violated religious customs, also known as the Sepoy mutiny 3. The British responded by slaughtering many Indians and later took over the East India Company, which made the Indians be under the British crown.

4. Positives | Negatives | * Built roads and railroads * Westernized education system and legal procedures * Worked to end slavery * Reduced banditry * Missionaries worked to spread Christianity * Established a monetary system * Britain transformed Indian agriculture | * Decrease in wealth * Bad economy * Became dependent * Wide spread famine |

China 1. China resisted European presence in their country because they did not want to be taken over and lose their territory and influence 2. The British gained power because they used imperialism to influence them and the British now had control over the British east India company 3. The opium wars were between Great Britain and China that began in 1839 as a conflict over the opium trade and ended in 1842. The Chinese gave up Hong Kong to the British and they Chinese also opened 5 of their ports to foreign merchants. Lastly they also granted other commercial and diplomatic privileges in the treaty of Nanjing. 4. The Chinese responded to imperialism by Many Chinese citizens actually blamed the government for the problems that they faced. They reacted by starting riots and opposing the govt. Also they cut trades back.