The Age of Imperialism1875-1914

Nationalism and Imperialism

Along with the need of raw materials and the search for new markets, Europeans were so proud of their countries and way of life that they felt compelled to spread their ideas.

Reasons for Imperialism

• European countries needed raw materials to supply their industries.

• Prestige was associated with owning many or large territories.

• Missionaries wanted to spread Christianity.

• New markets were needed for European products.

Britain’s Lead is Challenged

• Up until the late 1800’s Britain was the most powerful nation in the world.

• Germany and the United States begin to challenge Britain for economic power.

• Countries begin to tax imported British goods to protect their own industries.

• Britain has few sources of raw materials and desperately needs them for production.

Rivalries

• Competition among the European nations for territories was strong.

• Just as Britain saw the advantages of colonies, so did other European countries.

• Almost every European country competed for colonies as did Japan and the U.S.

European Superiority

• Europeans believed that the new technology developed during the Industrial Revolution proved their superiority.

• They would be able to successfully manage colonies from far away by railroads, telegraph cables, and steamers.

• Europeans also believed that their religion and morals were the right way to live and felt a strong sense of duty to show others “the right way.”

Imperialism in Africa

• Competition for colonies in Africa was so fierce that European countries feared war.

• A meeting in Berlin in 1884 was called to settle land disputes. (No African rulers were invited)

• European countries agreed that any European country could claim land by sending in troops to occupy that area.

• Border lines were drawn without regard to the native cultures.

European Countries in Africa1913

The following countries all had colonies in Africaduring the 1900’s.• Britain• France• Germany• Italy• Portugal• Belgium• Spain

Africa became a Continent of Colonies

By the 1900s only two countries remained free from colonial rule; the rest of Africa had been carved into colonial territories.

1. Liberia – A country set up by former U.S. slaves with American support.

2. Ethiopia – Benefited from its mountainous geography, strategic position between three major colonial powers and its own strong leader.

How did Europeans rule the colonies?

• Most of the interior of Africa was ruled by Europeans indirectly. They allowed African rulers to retain their positions but dictated their actions.

• Other areas such as Algeria, South Africa, Kenya and Rhodesia had high populations of Europeans so any positions of authority were held by Europeans.

• Basically, Africans had become second class citizens within their own lands taking orders and following rules set by the Europeans.

What was expected of the Africans?

• Africans were expected to work in the mines and plantations owned by the Europeans.– At first Africans were physically forced or threatened

with weapons to work. Later Europeans enforced taxes that could only be paid in money and not goods or services. This forced many Africans to work against their will.

Did Europe benefit from Africa?

• Yes- Although Europeans did not find the market for their products or favorable climates conducive to European-style farming, they did find a wealth of mineral resources.

• Europeans also replaced local food crops with cash crops that could be easily grown in the area.

• They were also able to introduce Christianity to many natives.

Why was South Africa important?

• South Africa had long been important to the British because of the Cape of Good Hope located at the tip of South Africa. This cape was used as a docking site for ships going to the Indian Ocean.

• The discovery of diamonds made this area even more important because it meant instant wealth. A fierce battle between the Dutch Boers and the British ensued and the British eventually gained control over the area.

Imperialism in South Asia• Britain found in India what it did not in

Africa.– A supplier of raw material for European factories

– A large market for British goods

– A large workforce for factories built in India.

British Control in India

• The British East Indian Company set up trading posts in India in the 1600’s.

• Due to the collapsing power of the Mughal Dynasty, the British East Indian Company was able to gain control of India by 1757.

• Even though the company was under the control of the British Crown, the company was free to govern India as it saw fit. It even had its own army.

• The British Crown did not intervene until it had to suppress an uprising called the Sepoy Rebellion.

What was the Sepoy Rebellion?• The Sepoy Rebellion or mutiny occurred when

sepoys (Indian soldiers) were told that British- made cartridges were sealed in beef and pork fat. The problem was that the sepoys were either Hindu or Muslim. To the Hindu the cow is scared and Muslims are forbidden to eat pork. To ingest pork or cow fat went against their religious beliefs. The Sepoys were outraged and felt that they had been tricked into sinning.

Rule after the Sepoy Rebellion

• After the rebellion the British Crown took control of India.

• Britain begin to change the look of India making it more like Britain. They built bridges, dams, canals, and public buildings.

• They also built telegraph lines, railroads and an irrigation system that made millions of acres of land useful for farming.

Who funded and labored on the European projects?

• Indian labor and tax money went into most of the development of India.

• After the improvements were made more of the British people came to India.

• Europeans established certain rules that made Indians second class citizens in their own country.

Discrimination in India• Indians were not able to hold high

positions of authority• They were not allowed to live in the same areas as

Europeans.• They were not paid the same as Europeans.

The mistreatment of Indians would eventually fuel the movement toward independence. The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League were two initial steps. The movement would finally succeed with the leadership of Ghandi.

Imperialism in China• China was a self-sufficient country which meant it

did not need to trade with other countries. It had little interest in European goods which it considered inferior.

• European merchants smuggled opium into China and created a demand.

• The Opium War was fought to try and end the British control of the substance but China was defeated.

• The Treaty of Nanking was signed which allowed Britain to establish spheres on influence in China.

Spheres of Influence

Foreign Influence

• Because of many unequal treaties like the Treaty of Nanking, China was losing control of its country.

• Other nations were quick to take advantage of this opportunity and established their own spheres of influence

• China lost land to Russia, Japan, Germany and Britain.

The Open-Door- Policy

• Americans saw what was happening in China and feared they would lose their trading opportunities in China.

• The Open-Door Policy was established tried to enforce an “open-door” or the freedom to trade and sell to China for all merchants of all nations.

• This prevented China from being colonized but its fate lay in hands of other nations.

Chinese Nationalism• Many Chinese citizens also felt like second class

citizens in their own country.• Most of their major cities were

controlled by outsiders.• Nationalist groups such as

the Boxers begin to form and protest foreign occupancy.

Japan’s Isolationism

• Like China, Japan had practiced isolationism for a long time. It was for the most part self-sufficient and had no need for European goods.

• Matthew Perry wanted to end Japan’s isolationism and entered Japan’s Tokyo Harbor with an impressive fleet.

• Japanese generals realizing their disadvantage gave into Perry’s demands which allowed the U. S. to trade with Japan.

Japan’s Modernization

• Japan feared complete domination by foreigners unless changes were made.

• Japan began to industrialize and modernize its country.

• The Japanese studied the ways of the Westerners and adopted the best ones.

• Soon they had railroads and coal mines as well as many factories.

• Japan was smart with its finances and stayed clear of debt. Money needed to support growth was earned by silk production.

Imperialism in the Western Hemisphere

• Latin America was not safe from imperialism.• A demand for Latin American goods begin to grow

to keep up with demands. Latin American countries borrowed money from American and European banks to fund enterprises.

• They were unable to repay their debts and many of the lending nations begin to take over the industries in Latin America.

• They also begin to influence the countries politically.

Latin America

The construction of the Panama Canal which linked the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean made growing interest in the

Pacific Islands a reality.

The Pacific Islands

• Many of the Pacific Islands were rich in resources and had military advantages.

• The U.S. was so interested in Hawaii that it became a territory in 1898. Later on, the U.S. acquired the Philippines and Guam as a result of the Spanish- American War.