The Age of Imperialism

Question 1

Were King Leopold II’s imperialistic intentions valid?

Answer 1

No, he did not perform his primary purpose, instead he exploited Africans for economic gain in Belgium.

Question 2

How did European technology advance imperialism?

Answer 2

It gave Europeans weapons and transportation.

Question 3

What was the purpose of the Berlin conference?

Answer 3

The purpose of the conference was to set laws for the division of Africa.

Question 4

How was the struggle for land in the Boer War different from other takeovers?

Answer 4

This war was between two European nations, which is unusual.

Question 5

Why did the Europeans control such a small portion of Africa in the 1800s?

Answer 5

They took control of such a small portion because they didn’t have much interest in Africa yet. They didn’t know about the gold in their soil yet.

Question 6

What were some of the internal factors that contributed to imperialism in Africa?

Answer 6

Some internal factors that contributed to imperialism were that the Africans wanted land from each other.

Question 7

Why did the Boers and the British fight over southern Africa?

Answer 7

The Boers and British fought because they found out about the gold in the soil.

Question 8

What can you infer about the European’s attitude toward Africans from the Berlin conference?

Answer 8

They saw themselves as culturally advanced and civilized.

Question 9

Why do you think Africans weren’t interested in buying European products?

Answer 9

They weren’t interested in buying their products because they believed that they were better.

Question 10

imperialism

Answer 10

a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially

Question 11

racism

Answer 11

the belief that one race is superior to others

Question 12

Social Darwinism

Answer 12

the application of Charles Darwin’s ideas about evolution and “survival of the fittest” to human societies - particularly as justification for imperialist expansion.

Question 13

Berlin Conference

Answer 13

a meeting in 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed upon rules for the European colonization of Africa.

Question 14

Shaka

Answer 14

founder of the Zulu Empire; he reorganized the army and introduced new fighting tactics; he subdued neighboring peoples, consolidating an empire that encompassed most of southern Africa.

Question 15

Boer

Answer 15

a Dutch colonist in South Africa.

Question 16

Boer War

Answer 16

a conflict, lasting from 1899-1902, in which the Boers and the British fought for control over territory in south Africa

Question 17

Were there differences between direct control and indirect control of the colonies in Africa?

Answer 17

Yes, direct control didn’t allow colonies to self-rule and maintain local rules, indirect control did.

Question 18

Which forms of imperialistic control did Britain use in Nigeria?

Answer 18

Colony, economic imperialism, and protectorate.

Question 19

Why do you think that Ethiopia was the only African country to resist European imperialism?

Answer 19

Ethiopia had a very strong leader, who built up arms and put European nations against each other.

Question 20

Why were African resistance movements, such as those carried out by the Ashanti, usually unsuccessful?

Answer 20

They were usually unsuccessful because the Europeans had better weapons.

Question 21

How did colonial rule cause a breakdown in traditional African culture?

Answer 21

Traditional authority was replaced, and society was undermined by contempt for traditional culture.

Question 22

How was the policy of paternalism like Social Darwinism?

Answer 22

It’s similar because the British thought the Africans were unfit to rule a country, and that only Europeans could.

Question 23

paternalism

Answer 23

a policy of treating subject people as if they were children, providing for their needs but not giving them rights.

Question 24

assimilation

Answer 24

a policy in which a nation forces or encourages a subject people to adopt its institutions and customs.

Question 25

Menelik II

Answer 25

emperor of Ethiopia after 1889; he gained Ethiopian independence from Italy in 1896.

Question 26

How did the Young Turks unite people against the Ottoman sultan and consolidate their power?

Answer 26

They encouraged the nationalists’ feelings so they would support a new state.

Question 27

How did the Crimean War help lead to the decline of the Ottoman Empire?

Answer 27

It led to the decline because it revealed the empire’s military weakness.

Question 28

What two effects did raising cotton have on Egyptian agriculture?

Answer 28

It brought Egyptians into the international market, and it reduced the production of crops.

Question 29

Why did al-Afghani set up a tobacco boycott?

Answer 29

Since he was upset at the Persian ruler selling a concession to the British, he set up a tobacco boycott.

Question 30

Why did Great Britain want to control the Suez Canal?

Answer 30

The Suez Canal was constructed in 1869 allowing faster sea transport to India, which increased Britain’s long-standing strategic interest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Question 31

Why did the Persian people oppose their ruler’s policy of selling concessions to Europe?

Answer 31

The Persians opposed the policy of selling business concessions to Europeans because they were against Western influence spreading in their country and foreigners gaining control over Persia’s resources.

Question 32

How were the reactions of African and Muslim rulers to imperialism similar? How were they different?

Answer 32

They both resisted European efforts to colonize. Muslims tried to modernize first, while many Africans did not and were forced to give up their lands.

Question 33

What does the quotation in the History in Depth feature suggest about Joseph Chamberlain’s view of British imperialism in Africa?

Answer 33

Joseph Chamberlain liked that Britain was taking over Egypt and therefore thought it would be best if he took over Africa too.

Question 34

geopolitics

Answer 34

a foreign policy based on a consideration of the strategic locations or products of other lands.

Question 35

Crimean War

Answer 35

a conflict, lasting from 1853-1856, in which the Ottoman Empire, with the aid of Britain and France, halted Russian expansion in the region of the Black Sea.

Question 36

Suez Canal

Answer 36

a human-made waterway, which was opened in 1869, connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 37

On which continents were Indian goods being traded?

Answer 37

Asia and Europe

Question 38

In what ways did the Sepoy Mutiny change the political climate of India?

Answer 38

A lot of India was under British rule and there was distrust between the Indians and the British.

Question 39

Why didn’t Indians unite against the British in the Sepoy Mutiny?

Answer 39

The Indians could not unite against the British due to weak leadership and serious splits between Hindus and Muslims.

Question 40

What form did British rule take under the Raj?

Answer 40

British power changed hands from the East India Company or private enterprise to the British government taking direct command of India by sending British troops into India.

Question 41

How did economic imperialism lead to India becoming a British colony?

Answer 41

The British East India Company had its own army but was unable to regain control during the Sepoy Mutiny. This opened the way for Britain to step in, seize control, and claim India as a colony.

Question 42

How did imperialism contribute to unity and growth of nationalism in India?

Answer 42

Hindus and Muslims united in hating British rule, all Indians resented job discrimination, lower pay, and condescension.

Question 43

sepoy

Answer 43

an Indian soldier serving under British command.

Question 44

“Jewel in the crown”

Answer 44

the British colony of India - so called because of its importance in the British Empire, both as a supplier of raw materials and as a market for British trade goods.

Question 45

Sepoy Mutiny

Answer 45

an 1857 rebellion of Hindu and Muslim soldiers against the British in India

Question 46

raj

Answer 46

the British-controlled portions of India in the years 1757-1947