nineteenth century imperialism: asia

Nineteenth Century Imperialism: Asia

• At this time Great Britain had free reign in India

• Why was GB interested in India?• Natural resources• New markets• Human resources; 300 million

India: Jewel in the Crown

• The British aggravated Indian society, especially in regards to the caste system & differences in religion



• The British encouraged upper class Indians to get an education, yet they still treated them as if they were 2nd rate citizens

• “Europeans only”


• “It is the consciousness of the inherent superiority of the European which has won for us India. However well educated and clever a native may be, and however brave he may prove himself, I believe that no rank we can bestow on him would cause him to be considered an equal of the British officer.”

» --Lord Kitchener


• Sepoy Rebellion (1856): • Sepoys:• Indian

soldiers that served under British officers


• Cultural Conflict:• The rifle cartridges being used

by the Sepoys were made of animal fat

• To use the cartridges the soldiers had to bite off both ends – OUTRAGE!


• The rifle in question was the 1857 Enfield (a muzzle-loading black powder rifle)

• The newly-introduced Enfield rifle required a soldier to bite off the end of the cartridge containing the bullet, and pour the powder down the barrel of the rifle. The bullet was then put in and rammed home. The greased paper around the bullet made it easier for the bullet to be rammed down the barrel, and also created a seal around the bullet which helped prevent "windage," or gas escaping around the bullet during its short trip down the barrel during firing.

• As a result:• The Sepoys rebelled

against the British • Country-wide

slaughter of British citizens • British retaliation



• Aftermath of Sepoy Rebellion:

• Act for the Better Government of India


• Act for the Better Government of India:

• India was placed under the direct control of the British government

• Queen Victoria of England was given title “Empress of India”


• Indian Nationalism:• Eventually many Indians began

to receive British educations• Heavily influenced by the ideas

of democracy, nationalism & socialism


• Led many Indians to believe that the British were acting hypocritically

• Indian National Congress:• An organization that was

focused on the goal of gaining Indian independence

China: Another Jewel


• High demand for tea & silk in Great Britain at this time

• China’s looking pretty good…

• The Chinese DO NOT want to trade with GB, nor do they want manufactured goods from GB

• Restrict trade with the British• Only allowed to use one Chinese

port



• During the 18th & 19th centuries the British were determined to find a product that the Chinese would buy in large quantities


• Product?• OPIUM• Great Britain

floods China with opium from India

1835 – 12 million Chinese addicted

• Chinese officials attempted to stop the opium trade

• Great Britain refused to stop!• Results in The Opium War• GB crushed Chinese forces



• NANKING TREATY OF 1842:• The Chinese were forced to:• Open new ports • Legalize the opium trade• Give Hong Kong to GB• Accept extraterritoriality

• Extraterritoriality: • British citizens living in China

were not subject to Chinese laws or courts


• Other countries were interested in trading with China as well

• The US encouraged the adoption of the Open Door Policy



• Open Door Policy:• All countries were given equal

access to trade in all regions of China

• Led to increasing unrest among the Chinese

Japan: A Unique Story

Japan: Victim• Japan closed to European

influence since 1600s• Commodore Perry sent to Japan

by U.S. President to demand trade rights

• Gives ultimatum – will return in 1 year

Japan: Victim• Japan forced to sign Treaty of

Kanagawa• US gets open trade with Japan• Japanese are angry shogun gave

in to foreigner’s demands

Japan: Aggressor• Shogun replaced

by a young emperor, Mutsuhito

• Japan decides to modernize to save culture! (Meiji Era)

• By 1890, Japan was the strongest military power in Asia

Japan: Aggressor• Wanted to expand their empire

in order to protect their security, meet economic needs & promote nationalism

• Japan beat China & Russia!• Takes Taiwan, Pescadores

Islands, Manchuria & Korea

Japan: Aggressor• 1910 Japan officially controlled

Korea• Banned teaching of Korean• Koreans forced to take Japanese

names• Farmers forced off lands;

businesses handed over to Japanese

• Tensions caused by the competition for colonies was one of the underlying causes of World War I

What does this Mean?

nineteenth century imperialism: asia

Documents