Age of Imperialism

Part 3The British in Asia

The British East India Company Conquers a Sub-Continent For Profit!

1601-1757 The Company comes to dominate trade in India

The Mughal Emperor has a problem pirates! The Company offers the protection of its navy

In return The Company gets Tax Breaks and Land to build trading bases (Fortified Ports).

Result: Soon most people in India use the Company to transport things because they can save on taxes

But the Mughal Empire is weak and the local princes, or Nawabs and Rajas, are angered by the loss of taxes.

1750s Robert Clive leads The Company to Victory over the French

1756 The Nawab of Bengal seizes the British base Calcutta

1757 Clive defeats the Nawab and his French allies at Plassey

1765 The Company gains control of Bengal

The Company Runs India1757-1856 The British East India Company

gradually gets control of India The Company avoids gaining territory it

has to directly control, they don’t want to rule…they want Profits!

They interfere with local rulers only enough to ensure peace and their tax-free status.

India becomes a patchwork of Colonies, Protectorates and Spheres of Influence.

The Sepoy RebellionThe British used native troops called

Sepoys to rule IndiaIndians resent British efforts to impose

Christianity and British Customs 1857 Rumors that Bullet Cartridges are

greased with Beef or Pork fat spark a Mutiny by the Sepoys against British authority.

The Company puts down the rebellion

British try to buy Indian Loyalty1858 Parliament votes for the Queen’s

Government to take over the rule of India..Company Rule ends.

The British Government improves conditions by building railways, industry, irrigation telegraphs etc.

But continue to discriminate against IndiansFor Example they are forced to grow cotton

instead of wheat causing famine

The Domination of China

1842 The British win the First Opium War The “Treaty of Nanking” gives Britain Some territories (like Hong Kong) and grants it a Sphere of Influence

France, Russia Germany and even Japan gain similar spheres of Influence

The Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) Further weaken China

Chinese ReactionThe Chinese make several efforts to

“strengthen” their country in the 1800s including the “Hundred Days Of Reform”

All Fail.1894 Chinese lose a war with Japan1900 The “Boxer Rebellion” fails leaving the

young Emperor’s Mother Ci Xi weak.1911 Sun Yat-Sen leads a successful democratic

revolution against her and her son.