unit 6 (1750-1900) Flashcards
What was the end goal of imperialism
To acquire colonies and build an empire - raw materials, markets, and land
What did imperialism promise
To end class conflict
What did imperialism try to avoid
A revolution or redistribution of wealth
What were Europe’s attitudes toward imperialism
They loved it - colonies gave nations status and wealth, all classes cared about having and gaining colonies
What makes a colony a “Great Power”
One that was influential (had a lot of materials or land) and was of high urgency to acquire (had a lot of competition)
Why was imperialism appealing
It seemed politically and strategically necessary for further economic growth as well as being seen as socially necessary to civilize “lesser” societies
What are some outcomes and innovations of industrialization
overseas expansion, creating a world economy,
steam ships decreasing travel time between europe and africa as well as europe and the americas,
underwater telegraph made instant communication possible, the discovery of quinine prevented malaria and decreased death rates,
repeating rifles and machine guns gave Europe a military advantage
Why did Europeans believe that they were the better race
they had unlocked the secrets of nature (science), created a society of unprecedented wealth, and used this to create a sound and unsurpassed military power
“John Chinaman”
The image that China was reduced to - before it was looked up to for how society should run, not it had become weak
What was the European view of Africa
that africa was primitive or backwards
What was scientific racism
the “proof” that certain races were superior with “scientific” evidence (measuring heads to prove that europeans had larger heads and were therefore more intelligent)
how did europeans view race
that intelligence was determined by race; their race was “better” and therefore they were more intelligent
how did europeans “value” “weaker” races
they thought that it was their responsibility to civilize them
they spread christianity, made more stable governments, gave people jobs, educated people, brought health care, all while suppressing native culture
What was europe’s outlook on social darwinism
that european dominance would lead to the destruction of “unfit” races
what is social darwinism
the thought that certain races were weaker and “unfit” and that only the best races would survive - like darwin’s survival of the fittest idea
how did europeans intend to justify imperialism, war, and aggression with social darwinism
that it was natural so that “weaker” races would be weeded out and “stronger” ones could flourish
what was and when did the first wave of european conquest
the americas were conquered during the 16th century
what was and when did the second wave of european conquests happen
between 1750 and 1900 asia and africa was conquered
who was added to the mix during the second wave of conquests
germany, italy, belgium, united states, and japan, while spain and portugal only had minor role
how did europeans like to operate imperialism
through indirect command
this was often an economic penetration and occasional military intervention
this was because outright colonial rule was expensive, it was only used in areas that had a lot of competition
what were some environmental struggles in africa and asia that europe used to strengthen their control in those areas
Asia and parts of africa faced monsoon winds
africa had many droughts in the southern part in 1877, and there was a famine in ethiopia in the late 1880s
What made european colonies in africa and asia possible
military force and technology such as repeating rifles and machine guns
how did colonialism occur in india and indonesia
through interactions with trading companies who were able to exercise political and administrative control over large areas
What happened in india that helped europeans
european traders and local authorities formed many alliances
scramble for africa
the rapid invasion and colonization of africa
first europeans negotiated between themselves to split africa up then they violently invaded to establish control
which african states were harder to subdue
decentralized and rural ones
berlin conference of 1884
europeans divided africa, the rights of africa were disregarded
boer war
war between great britain and the boers (descendants of dutch traders) over south africa
great britain won and created the Union of South Africa
(Bates and Lord Grantham fought in this war, they met and this is how bates becomes his valet)
why were europeans and Americans interested in oceania
curiosity and scientific exploration
missionary conversation
and economic interests in sperm whale oil, coconut oil, guano, mineral nitrates and phosphates, sandalwood, and more
how are australia and the us similar
- both were taken over by the british
- in both diseases killed many native people
- both eventually gained their independence and became major world powers
how was the colonization of africa and asia different from the americas
they were more distant, economic penetration and military intervention rather than colonial rule and settlement
what was different about ethiopia and liberia
both remained free
ethiopia even expanded its empire
liberia was ruled by freed slaves from the americas
why did some cooperate with europeans
this gave them employment, status, and security
who benefitted from cooperation
traditional elites
why did nationalism increase during imperialism
due to education, spread or revival of religion, and the development of ideas of race and tribe
education
many found that western education gave them higher status and more security, this led to many embracing european culture and even rejecting their own
this also led to many forming reform societies wanting to fix “errors” in their nations
eventually these groups found that colonial governments did not want to help them, leading to uprisings
religion in africa
due to the spread of religion and the education that often came with it many sought teachers and preists to come to their towns
eventually christianity’s differences from African culture led to many separating themselves from european churches, forming their own churches and schools
religion in asia
in india there was a revival of hinduism due to attempts by reformers to give india a religion that was equivalent to christianity by unifying many practices, this distinguished indians from europeans further as they were the “spiritual east” and europeans were the “materialistic west” this led to a more nationalistic view of india as well as a more distinct view of muslims and hindus being separate, leading to political and social issues in the 20th century
race
african intellectuals began to define an african identity due to the common experience of colonial rule, these intellectuals pointed out similarities to europe that europeans valued (large empires of mali, axum, songhay) and this led to nationalist movements that fought against colonial rule
tribe
the idea of tribes also developed due to similarities in language and culture and the fact that europeans often grouped these communities together to govern them
Taiping Uprising
Massive Chinese rebellion against the ruling Qing dynasty that devastated much of the country between 1850 and 1864; it was based on the Christian-influenced teachings of Hong Xiuquan who proclaimed himself as the younger brother of Jesus, and whose mission it was to cleanse the world of demons and establish a “heavenly kingdom of great peace”
They had plans to industrialize, redistribute land and wealth, end prostitution and opium use, and organize society into military camps segregated between men and women
Hong also denounced the Qing for being foreigners
The most radical was their view of women; the movement had origins in the Hakka region which was less orthodox and women did not bind their feet, so they fought as soldiers. Taiping officials ordered that women’s feet be unbound, the land reform promised women and men equal shares of land, women were allowed to take civil service exams, mutual attraction instead of family interests was promoted as a basis of marriage
Taiping rule was very short, loyalists rallied and crushed the rebellion
Opium Wars
Two wars fought between Western powers and China (1840-1842 and 1856-1858) after China tried to restrict the importation of foreign goods, especially opium; China lost both wars and was forced to make major concessions.
Commissioner Lin Zexu
Royal official charged with ending the opium trade in China; his concerted efforts to seize and destroy opium imports provoked the Opium Wars. Very serious and uncompromising in his approach.
Unequal Treaties
Series of nineteenth-century treaties in which China made major concessions to Western powers. They included trade treaties that favored Europeans and weakened the Qing
Informal Empire
Term commonly used to describe areas that were dominated by Western powers in the nineteenth century but retained their own governments and a measure of independence (e.g., China).
Self-Strengthening
China’s program of internal reform in the 1860s and 1870s, based on vigorous application of traditional principles and limited borrowing from the West. Too little, too late.
Boxer Uprising/Rebellion
Antiforeign movement (1898-1901) led by a Chinese militia organization called the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, in which large numbers of Europeans and Chinese Christians were killed. It resulted in military intervention by Western powers and the imposition of a huge payment as punishment.
This made it clear that China was dependant
Chinese Revolution of 1911-1912
The collapse of China’s imperial order, officially at the hands of organized revolutionaries but for the most part under the weight of the troubles that had overwhelmed the imperial government for the previous century.
“The Sick Man of Europe”
Western Europe’s description of the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, based on the empire’s economic and military weakness and its apparent inability to prevent the shrinking of its territory.
Tanzimat
Important reform measures undertaken in the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1839; the term “Tanzimat” means “reorganization.” (pron. tahn-zee-MAHT)
Similar to self-strengthening policies, they did not work
Young Ottomans
Group of would-be reformers in the mid-nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire that included lower-level officials, military officers, and writers; they urged the extension of westernizing reforms to the political system.
Sultan Abd al-Hamid II
Ottoman sultan (r. 1876-1909) who accepted a reform constitution but then quickly suppressed it, ruling as a despotic monarch for the rest of his long reign.
Young Turks
Movement of Turkish military and civilian elites that advocated a militantly secular public life and a Turkish national identity; came to power through a coup in 1908.
Tokugawa Japan
A period of internal peace in Japan (1600-1850) that prevented civil war but did not fully unify the country; led by military rulers, or shoguns, from the Tokugawa family, who established a “closed door” policy toward European encroachments.
Meiji Restoration
The political takeover of Japan in 1868 by a group of young samurai from southern Japan. The samurai eliminated the shogun and claimed they were restoring to power the young emperor, Meiji. The new government was committed to saving Japan from foreign domination by drawing upon what the modern West had to offer to transform Japanese society.
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)
Fought over rival ambitions in Korea and Manchuria, this conflict ended in a Japanese victory, establishing Japan as a formidable military competitor in East Asia. The war marked the first time that an Asian country defeated a European power in battle, and it precipitated the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Treaty of Nanjing (1842)
Treaty which ended the first Opium War and limited Chinese sovereignty because of the concessions to England - Hong Kong, money, low tariffs, open five ports to trade, and access for foreigners
100 Days of Reform (1898)
China’s last ditch attempt at modernizing before they were ended by conservative forces.
Empress Cixi
Empress of China and mother of Emperor Guangxi. She put her son under house arrest, supported anti-foreign movements like the so-called Boxers, and resisted reforms of the Chinese government and armed forces.
Japanese Constitution of 1889
Japanese legal scholars, following German models, drafted a constitution in 1889 that emphasized state power more than individual rights. Constitutional monarchy.
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
Fought mostly in Korea, revealed China’s helplessness in the face of aggression, triggering a rush for foreign concessions and protectorates in China. Taiwan was given to victor.
