Imperialism Flashcards
Describe what Imperialism is.
When a powerful country takes over a less powerful country and dominates their politics, economics, and social life.
Explain the economic reasons for Europeans to want colonies
- They would take resources to use for industrializing without paying for them
- Colonies were used as a market to sell the goods Europeans produced in factories
- Control of trade routes which allows your ships to resupply and you can charge other countries to use your stops
Explain the social reasons Europeans gave for wanting colonies.
- Europeans felt that it was their responsibility to help “civilize” the native peoples
- Spread European culture, which included things like sanitation, healthcare, education, technology
- Spread Christianity
What is the white man’s burden?
- Europeans felt that it was their responsibility to help “civilize” the native peoples
- Helped to justify all the negative things the Europeans were doing in the colonies
What does The White Man’s burden say about how Europeans view themselves?
Made them feel like they were actually helping the people in the colonies by giving them “culture and civilization” and not just stealing their resources
What does The White Man’s burden say about how Europeans view the native people in colony?
They viewed the natives as almost child-like, and not able to look after themselves.
What is indirect rule?
Europeans allowed Indian princes to remain in power, as long they paid the Europeans taxes
How indirect rule work in India?
Indian princes got to remain alive and be rich and powerful if they agreed to do what the English wanted them to do. The English wouldn’t really have to do much, but still gain a lot of money.
In Shooting an Elephant, who was represented by the narrator?
England, or other Europeans nations that were colonizing
In Shooting an Elephant, what was represented by the elephant?
Imperialism
In Shooting an Elephant, who was represented by the coolie?
All the native people living under colonial rule
In Shooting an Elephant, how was imperialism bad for the Europeans as well?
It forced the Europeans to act in a way that was bad. They had to be cruel in order to maintain control, which isn’t how they would choose to be otherwise.
What were the positive effects of imperialism on India?
- Large railroad network and paved roads
- Linked India to the industrialized world
- Better health, education, and technology
What were the negative effects of imperialism on India?
-Use of cash crop plantation led to starvation
-Didn’t get value of resources
Were not allowed to learn how to govern
-Lost independence and were treated like children
What is a cash crop?
A crop that is grown to sell for money, not for eating
What are some examples of cash crops?
Spices, tea, cotton, opium, tobacco, rubber, chocolate, coffee, etc.
What problems did the Europeans have trying to take over Africa before the Industrial Revolution?
- Rough terrain including deserts, mountains, jungles and no maps
- Rivers were too rough to navigate
- Equal weapons (muskets) which Africans got from trading slaves
- Malaria, other diseases killed Europeans
What were the solutions to these problems that the Industrial Revolution changed?
- Railroads allowed the Europeans to move troops and supplies in and around Africa quickly
- Steamboats could against the current and allowed the Europeans to move troops and supplies in and around Africa quickly and safely on water
- The Maxim Gun was the first true machine gun which the Europeans used against the African people
- Anti-Malaria drug called Quinine was introduced to Europeans in Africa. Made malaria survivable, and lessened the symptoms
Who was David Livingston?
First European to explore much of the interior of Africa. He come out with stories about the resources and people who lived there, which gave Europeans their first glimpses of the inner parts of Africa.
What was trying to accomplish?
He wanted to end the last parts of the slave trade by finding a river that cut all the way through, which would bring trade and “civilization”
What effect did he have on Africa?
He gave the Europeans the reason to invade Africa “to stop slavery,” but really they just were looking for a reasons to take over.
What was the purpose of the Berlin Conference?
To make sure there weren’t any European vs. European wars over African land
Who was invited to the conferences? Who was left out- why?
Africa, because they were not considered important
What was the main thing the Europeans cared about when dividing up Africa?
What resources they could get
What was the main thing the Europeans cared about when dividing up Africa?
What resources they could get
What did they ignore while dividing up Africa?
Ethnic and cultural boundaries
What is direct rule?
Europeans operated all government positions and controlled all decisions
What were the positive effects of imperialism in Africa?
- The Europeans did pay for some roads, railroads, and modern healthcare.
- Tribal fighting did mostly stop while the Europeans were there.
What were the negative effects of Imperialism in Africa?
- Many Africans were killed through rebellions against the Europeans, diseases, and on plantations and mines
- Africans lost all the value of the resources of their continent
- Created decades of conflict because the national borders did not align with tribal borders, which leads to modern day civil wars
Explain one long term effect of Imperialism still seen in Africa today.
They are poorer because they never got the value of all their resources, they still have a lot of wars as the ethnic groups separate from each other.
What was one effect from Imperialism on European countries?
They became far wealthier than the rest of the world
How was Imperialism viewed different by the colonizer and the colonized?
- Europeans viewed it as helping the natives
- The natives viewed it as an invasion and a theft of all their resources
