Imperialism and the Response to it

Part one:China and Japan

Part two:India

Imperialism

• Definition: The policy of extending one country’s rule over many lands.– This rose up out of the nationalism that

spread across Europe as a result of Napoleon’s conquests.

• “My country is the greatest”• Nations began to compete to see who was the

greatest– How? Whoever had the strongest military, economy and

controlled the most land (wealth) was the greatest.» Hence, Imperialism

Imperialism

• How did the country’s being imperialized respond?– Four examples:

• China• Japan• India• Africa

Imperialism

• Enduring Understanding: Western countries colonized large areas of Africa and Asia, leading to major political and cultural changes.

Imperialism

• China’s Response: – Opium War: 1839-1842

• Trade inspired war between Britain and China.• Seen as the beginning of European imperial

policies towards China.• Trade with China was one way: China did not

import much from Europe.– British thought Opium might be a good import for China.– Britain would use trade to get a foothold into countries.

• Chinese govt attempted to end this trade.– Chinese leaders knew opium was not a good thing for

their citizens.

The Opium War 1839-1842

• British began to bring opium into China in the early 19th century.

• By 1729 the Chinese emperor prohibited the sale of the product.

• British ship brought it in secretly– 1730---15 tons– 1773---75 tons

• 1799 Chinese emperor renewed ban– “Opium is harmful, poisonous and undermines our

good customs and morality”

The Opium War 1839-1842

• Ban had little effect:– By 1820’s: 900 tons entered China– By 1838: 1400 tons

• Emperor appointed a strict commissioner to prevent opium trade in Canton

• Britain and China relationship deteriorated

Imperialism• Events Leading to Opium War:

– 1. Two British sailors murdered a Chinese man.• British tried them under their own law.• China wanted to also try them.

– 2. Differences over opium led to Chinese Official Destroyed British Opium

– British were kicked out of China.• Result: War. British used Hong Kong as a base.

– British won the war.• British technology far superior to China’s due to China’s isolation.• Treaty of Nanjing ended war.

– British gained control of Hong Kong

– It committed China to free trade including opium.– Ports were open to all traders.

– Victory for British meant the opening of China to trade, land and British influence.

Imperialism

A Chinese ship is destroyed by the Nemesis

Imperialism

• Summarize:– China did not want British influence in their

country.– Britain wanted influence in China for trade,

land, wealth (imperial motives)– China’s attempt to ward off British imperialism

failed.

Imperialism China

• Essential Questions: China– 1. What factors motivated Europeans to

colonize areas in Asia and Africa?– 2. How did Britain attempt to get itself into

China? What was the result?

Imperialism• Japan’s Response:

– Meiji Restoration: 1866-1869• A chain of events that led to a change in Japan’s political

and social structure.

• 1868 Tokugawa Shogunate lost its power, and the emperor, Mutsuhito, was restored to supreme position. He ruled Japan directly.

• Emperor took name Meiji, “enlightened rule”.

• Emperor Mutsuhito wanted to modernize Japan. He sent officials to Europe and US.

• Before the Meiji took over, the nation was weak militarily, agricultural and had little technology, and was controlled by 100’s of feudal lords.

Imperialism

• Meiji Restoration:– When the Meiji period ended in 1912 with the

death of the emperor, significant changes:• Centralized government• A constitution with an elected parliament• Well developed transport and communication

system.• Educated population with no feudalism.• A growing industrial center with latest technology• Powerful army and navy

Imperialism

• Summarizing:– Japan’s response to imperialism was to adopt

many western ideals: democracy, capitalism and strong, modern military and industry.

– Japan did not keep western ideas out, it embraced them.

• Students were sent to Europe and the United States to study modern science and technology, while foreign experts were hired to help establish factories and educational institutions.

– It became equal with western powers.

Imperialism: Japan

• Essential Questions: Japan– 1. How was Japan’s response to imperialism

different from China’s?– 2. What changes were made in Japan by the

Meiji?

Imperialism

• India’s Response:– By the middle of the nineteenth century, the British

had come to believe they were a chosen race; chosen to distribute the benefits of western civilization to the backward areas of the globe. That the inhabitants of such areas often didn’t want these benefits and certainly not the accompanying British control of their lives was immaterial to Britain’s sense of a mission. Native opposition frequently required military force to be brought against it and few years passed without the British Army being involved, somewhere in the empire, in a continual series of border skirmishes and punitive expeditions.

Imperialism• India’s Response:

– Indian Mutiny:• Also known as the Sepoy Rebellion. Sepoys were Indian soldiers

serving in the army of the East India Company.• 1857–58, revolt that began with Indian soldiers from the British East

India Company• Became a widespread uprising against British rule in India. It is also

known as the Sepoy Rebellion, Sepoys being the native soldiers.

Imperialism

• Sepoy Rebellion: Began with a rumor that cartridges used with the British Enfield rifle were greased with pig or cow fat. Such cartridges needed to be ripped open using the soldier’s teeth before loading. – Indian soldiers saw this as a forced way to get

them to convert to Christianity

Imperialism

• Indian Mutiny:– Rebellions against British colonial rule of India.– Other Causes of Rebellion:

• British Political expansion in India.• Harsh land policies (cash crops): If a landowner did not have

a male heir, the land became property of the British East India Company.

• Rapid introduction of European civilization: outlawing of certain customs: child marriage and suttee.

• Heavy tax burden. • Indian soldiers not happy with pay.

– Feared forced conversion to Christianity

– All of these threatened traditional Indian Civ.

Imperialism

• Indian Mutiny– Revolt began on May 10, 1857.– Spread throughout N. India

• Cities such as Delhi were captured.

– Savageries were committed on both sides.– British realized the need to reform.

• By 1858, British East India Company abolished and rule was assumed by the British crown.

– Religious toleration, equal rights, etc.

Effects of Rebellion

• Mughal empire was officially abolished– Sent last emperor into exile

• Proclamation of 1858:– British assumed direct rule of India

• 1867: Queen Victoria becomes the Empress of India

Delhi 1911

Delhi became the capital of British India

The Delhi Durbar was held to celebrate the coronation of the King & Queen Means: “court of Delhi” 1911: was the first time

royals attended

Delhi Durbar

Imperial Crown Created for

coronation of George V Kept in the tower of

London

Imperialism

• Summarizing:– Indians resisted

European civilization being forced upon them.

– This rebellion marks the first stirrings of active Indian nationalism.

Imperialism: India

• Essential Questions: India– 1. Did Indians welcome British imperialism

or were they opposed to it? Prove your answer.

– 2. Why was India such an important colony to Britain?

Imperialism

• Essential Question: Why did European nations seek to colonize Africa?

• Today, we look at imperialism in Africa

Imperialism: Africa

• 1) Why colonize Africa?– A) Land:

• Agriculture– Cash crops: Crops grown for export not consumption

» Tobacco, coffee, cotton, palm oil

• Land provided power to European countries

– B) Resources• Raw materials: rubber, ivory, wood, oil• Minerals: gold, silver, copper, nickel, diamonds, coal

– C) Spread Christianity: Conversion– D) Scientific knowledge

Imperialism

• Therefore:• Most intense competition for colonies was in

Africa. • 1875: European nations controlled 10% Africa• 1900: European nations controlled 90% Africa.

– How?» New Medical knowledge: Cure malaria» Maxim Gun: early machine gun

Imperialism

Why did Europeans colonize Africa?Competed for land over the entire continent:

– French, Italians and British: North Africa– French and Germans: West Africa– Belgians and Germans: Central Africa– Portuguese, British, Germans: South Africa– Italians, British, Germans: East Africa

» Caused Big Problems

• Berlin Conference, 1885: Called to settle land disputes among European nations in Africa.

– Divided Africa among the competing European nations– No African groups were invited to attend

Imperialism

• Africa after the Berlin Conference

Great Britain

France

Germany

Italy

Portugal

Spain

Imperialism

• Exploration: “What do we own?”• European nations sent out explorers to find out

exactly what was in the land they now controlled: resources, peoples, flora and fauna etc.

– Mungo Park, Scottish: Explored Niger River.– Rene Caillie, French: First to cross Sahara, searched for

Timbuktu.– Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, British: source

of Nile River.– David Livingstone: British doctor, missionary. Explored

interior of Africa, treated ill and opened hospitals. Victoria Falls.

Imperialism– African response to Imperialism: Zulu Wars

• Zulu fought land takeover by Boer and British

– South Africa: Bitter power struggle developed among local African groups, Dutch settlers and British

• Zulu: African tribe that migrated into South Africa by early 1800’s. Great leader: Shaka

• Boers: Dutch settlers in South Africa. Settled Capetown in 1652. Used locals as slaves.

• British: won control of Cape Town from Boers in early 1800’s.

– Great Trek: Boers retreated north to get away from British.

Imperialism• BOER and ZULU clash over land

– 1850’s: Boers set up two independent republics on Zulu land: Orange Free State and the Transvaal.

– The two fought for years for control of the land.

– British helped Boers to defeat the Zulu, who were led by Shaka

Imperialism

Imperialism

• Southern Africa under Shaka and the Zulu

• The Mfecane: Zulu vs. other African tribes–Mfecane "the Crushing“. Events following the

rise to power of Shaka who created a militaristic kingdom. He conquered some tribes and forced other tribes to leave the area, opening the way for European settlement.

• Very bloody.

Imperialism

Shaka Zulu

Imperialism

– British Imperialistic need for South Africa– Discovery of Diamonds and Gold in South

Africa• Boer War, 1900: between British and Boers for

control of Boer territory and gold/diamonds.– British won.

– Cecil Rhodes:• British miner looking for gold and diamonds in South Africa• By 1889 he controlled 90% of the world’s diamond output.

Imperialism– Cecil Rhodes:

• British miner looking for gold and diamonds in South Africa

• By 1889 he controlled 90% of the world’s diamond output.

• Believer in British Imperialism

• Founder of Rhodesia, later (1895) named after him.

• Founder of De Beers diamond company

• Set up Rhodes Scholarship.

Cecil Rhodes

"I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race."

Imperialism

• British Control of South Africa– 1908: British create Union of South Africa

out of various colonies.• Granted self government• Only whites could vote. Majority of white

population: Boers. They controlled government.

• Established Apartheid: separation of races.– Blacks barred from voting– Blacks lived separately from whites– Ended in 1990.

Imperialism

• Summarization:– European nations desired land in Africa

• For its resources

– The Berlin Conference split up Africa amongst those European nations.

– Colonialism and mistreatment of the Africans followed.

– Groups like the Zulu fought against further European expansion.

Imperialism: Africa

• Essential Questions: Africa– 1. Why did European nations seek to

imperialize Africa?– 2. Give an example of African response to

imperialism.– 3. What exactly did the Berlin Conference

accomplish?

Africa: Colonization