Imperialism Flashcards
What century has been described as “The Age of Imperialism?”
The 19th Century
What is Imperialism?
The practice of extending the power of a nation, especially by acquiring the territory of another nation
What is colonisation?
The practice of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous peoples of an area
When did the foundation of European imperialism begin?
European Imperialism began in 1400, with advances in ship-building and navigation
Who were the earliest European imperial powers?
Spain and Portugal
What is an outpost?
A place that represents the authority of a far-away imperial country
What was the date/outcome of the Seven Year’s War?
The Seven Year’s War was fought by Imperialists between 1754-1763
It resulted in Britain emerging as a maritime power as well as gaining several nations and territories from France & Spain
How large was the Britsh Empire at its peak?
It covered 1/4 of the world’s surface and controlled 1/4 of its population
When was the American Revolution fought?
Between 1765-1783
What was the catlyst for the Age of Imperialism?
The Industrial Revolution
By 1914, what percentage of the world did Europe control?
84%
What was the Scrable for Africa and when did it occur?
The Scramble for Africa was when European powers raced to carve up Africa and divide it among themselves
It occurred between 1881-1914
What is mercantilism?
Mercantilism is an economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports and minimize the imports for an economy. It promotes imperialism, tariffs and subsidies on traded goods to achieve that goal.
Which nation did King Leopold and the Belgians brutally exploit?
The Belgian Congo
What percentage of Global Economic Output was Europe responsible for in 1800 and 1861?
1800 = 28%
1880 = 61%
What were the three main justifications given for Imperialism?
Nationalism, Social Darwinism & Christianity
What is nationalism?
identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
How was international standing measured during the Age of Imperialism?
By viewing the size of each nation’s armed forces and empire
What was Social Darwinism?
A perversion of the theory of natural selection presented by Charles Darwin in his 1859 work ‘On the Origin of Species’
Social Darwinists argued that the process of evolution had created ‘superior’ races (Europeans) and ‘inferior’ races (almost everyone else)
They argued European superiority justified the exploitation of ‘less civilised’ races
What was ‘The White Man’s Burden’?
‘The White Man’s Burden’ was a term coined by Rudyard Kipling in one of his poems, and later used by many imperialists
It argued that the Europeans had a duty to civilised the ‘savage races’ of the world
What were ‘missions’?
Missions were a group of people sent by a religious organisation to teach their religion to conquered peoples
What was the effect of the spread of Christianity?
This drive to destroy native cultures & beliefs and replace them with Christianity had a destructive effect on many indigenous populations
What have Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada been classified as?
Settler Colonies
What were ‘settler colonies’?
Settler colonies provided places to resettle the growing European population and people who had been forced off their agricultural land by urbanisation and industrialisation
When did the Zulu Wars take place?
1879-1896
During which battle of the Zulu Wars were the British temporarily defeated?
The Battle of Isandlwana (1879)
A Zulu army of 20,000 warriors wiped out a British army of 2000 men equipped with modern weapons
When did the Maori Wars take place?
1845-1875
What is the legacy of Imperialism?
It led directly to the first phase of globalisation
It made English the universal language of trade & communication
It brought the rapid spread of both Christianity and Capitalism
How can Imperialism be considered a cause of the First World War?
Imperialism led to militarism, as European powers needed armies and navies to protect and maintain their colonies
Why has the concept of modernity been described as ‘twenty-first century cultural imperialism’?
Modernity assumes the superiority off the Western, modern way of living, thinking and knowing
Why were Vietnam’s villages so close-knit?
Vietnam’s population was largely static, meaning that communities became very close and established
The community also depended on each other when facing the challenge of growing enough rice to pay government taxes
What were most Vietnamese people in 1750?
Rural Peasants
What is the Vietnamese word for village?
Xa
What is a Dinh?
A dinh was located in the centre of a village and housed the village’s deity, a guardian spirit that protected the village and its people
What is a ‘dynasitc emperor’?
A dynastic emperor is the supreme ruler of a nation.
They come from a hereditary line of emperors, and many subjects believe that they have been divinely appointed
What was the structure of pre-colonial Vietnamese government?
Dynastic Emperor
Royal Council
Senior Mandarins
Lower Ranked Mandarins
Chiefs & Councils
Before French invasion, what was Vietnam’s economy based on?
Vietnam’s economy was based on agriculture, and especially the cultivation of rice
What is a ‘cottage industry’?
A business or manufacturing activity carried on in people’s homes
Why was rice important to Vietnam’s economy?
Rice farming is incredibly labour intensive
Rice contains enough nutrients to sustain life
Rice can be stored for months or even years - this meant that it could be used as the basis of a tax
What were the three main religious beliefs in pre-colonial Vietnam?
Buddhism
Taoism
Confucianism
How did Confucianism influence Vietnamese society?
Respect and politeness, especially to elders, was highly valued
Schools were operated in the provinces and a National School was run in Hue to educate future government officials
The Vietnamese government selected its officials through an exam that was open to men and women, rich and poor alike
What was the capital of pre-colonial Vietnam?
Hue
Wich European nation first made contact with Vietnam?
Portugese first made contact with Vietnam in 1535
When did Catholic missionaries first arrive in Vietnam?
1615
Which Vietnamese Emperor banned Christianity in Vietnam, and when?
Emperor Minh Mang banned Christianity in Vietnam in 1825
When did the French invade Vietnam?
1858
What are the three reasons for the French colonisation of Vietnam?
Religious - to protect the Catholic missionaries
Strategic - to compete with Britain and other European nations in the region
Economc - to increase France’s economic wealth
What reason did the French give to the public for their invasion of Vietnam?
The idea of a ‘mission civilsatrice’ or civilising mission
What was the Treaty of Saigon?
Signed in 1862, the Treaty of Saigon gave the French control of the Cochinchina region of south Vietnam
By what year did France control all of Vietnam?
1884
What three areas did France divide Vietnam into?
Tonkin, Annam, Cochinchina
How did France govern Vietnam?
The French imported over 5000 bureaucrats to run Vietnam
What percentage of Vietnamese rubber plantations did the French own?
90%
Who owned the land during colonisation?
French Settlers and a minority of wealthy Vietnamese
What happened to education in Vietnam under French rule?
The French neglected education - only 10% of school-age children in Vietnam attended school
Literacy actually declined under French rule
What happened to taxes under French rule?
Taxes in Vietnam increased sharply, with the French government controlling prices and keeping a majority of the profits
What was the casualty rate of Indochinese soldiers in the First World War?
Over 50%
