Week 2- Chapter 26 Flashcards
Great Mutiny / Great Revolt
The Great Mutiny, or Indian Rebellion of 1857, was a major uprising against British rule in India, sparked by grievances among Indian soldiers (sepoys) over new rifle cartridges rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat. The revolt began in Meerut and spread rapidly across northern and central India. Key causes included economic exploitation, social and religious disrespect, and political instability due to British policies. The British eventually suppressed the rebellion, leading to the dissolution of the East India Company and the establishment of direct British rule over India (the British Raj). The mutiny had lasting impacts, including changes in British military and administrative policies and the rise of Indian nationalism.
Indian Civil Service
The bureaucracy that administered the government of India. Entry into
its elite ranks were through examinations that Indians could take, but these tests were offered only in England.
Indian National Congress
A political association formed in 1885 that worked for Indian self-government. It dominated the Indian movement for independence from Great Britain. It subsequently formed most of India’s governments from independence and often had a strong presence in many state governments.
Java War
The 1825-1830 war between the Dutch government and the Javanese fought over
the extension of Dutch control of the island. From this the Culture System = Indonesian peasants were forced to plant a fifth of their land in export crops, especially coffee and sugar, to turn over to the Dutch as tax. At the end of the nineteenth century, the Dutch began to encourage Western education in the East Indies. Like their counterparts in India, the children of local rulers and privileged elites encountered new ideas in Dutch-language schools. They began to question the long-standing cooperation of local elites with Dutch colonialism, and they searched for a new national identity. Thus, anticolonial nationalism began to take shape in the East Indies in the early twentieth century, and it would blossom after World War I
Opium War
First Opium War (1839-1842):
Cause: British trade deficit with China, largely due to tea imports, led Britain to export opium from India to China, causing widespread addiction.
Trigger: China’s crackdown on the opium trade, including the seizure of opium stocks in Canton, led Britain to declare war.
Outcome: The Treaty of Nanking (1842) ended the war, forcing China to cede Hong Kong to Britain, open five ports to British trade, and grant extraterritorial rights to British citizens.
Second Opium War (1856-1860):
Cause: Ongoing trade disputes and the desire of Western powers to expand their privileges in China.
Trigger: Chinese authorities’ boarding of a British-registered ship, the Arrow, led to renewed conflict.
Outcome: The Treaty of Tientsin (1858) and the Convention of Peking (1860) further opened China to Western trade, legalized the opium trade, allowed foreign legations in Beijing, and granted additional territory and indemnities to the victors.
The Opium Wars marked the beginning of the “Century of Humiliation” for China, significantly weakening Qing sovereignty and opening China to foreign influence and trade exploitation.
Nguyen Dynasty
The last Vietnamese ruling house lasted from 1802 to 1945. ) came to power in Vietnam, ending thirty years of peasant rebellion and civil war. For the first time in history, a single Vietnamese monarchy ruled the entire country. Working through a centralising scholar bureaucracy fashioned on the Chinese model, the Nguyen Dynasty energetically built irrigation canals, roads and bridges, and impressive palaces in Hue, the new capital city.
extraterritoriality
The legal principle that exempts individuals from local law is applicable in China because of the agreements reached after China’s loss in the Opium War.
Taiping Rebellion
A massive rebellion by believers in Hong Xiuquan’s religious teachings began in 1851 and was not suppressed until 1864.
As a result of the overpopulation and lack of resources in China at the time.
1911 Revolution
Causes: Economic hardship, political discontent, rising nationalism, and the spread of revolutionary ideas.
Wuchang Uprising: The revolution began on October 10, 1911, in Wuchang, quickly spreading across China.
End of Qing Rule: The last Qing emperor, Puyi, abdicated on February 12, 1912.
Republic of China: Sun Yat-sen was declared provisional president, marking the start of the republic.
Example of westernisation
gunboat diplomacy
refers to the practice of using or threatening to use military force, particularly naval power, to achieve diplomatic objectives. It involves a country demonstrating its military might to intimidate or coerce another nation into complying with its demands or negotiating terms favorable to the more powerful nation. This approach was particularly common during the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially among Western powers seeking to expand their influence and control over other regions.
The imposition of treaties and agreements under threat of military violence, such as the opening of Japan to trade after Commodore Perry’s demands.
Russo-Japanese War
Causes:
Territorial Disputes: Russia and Japan sought control over East Asian territories, particularly Korea and Manchuria.
Rivalry for Influence: Competition for influence in Northeast Asia and access to resources, markets, and strategic ports.
Nationalism and Prestige: Both nations sought to assert their military prowess and establish themselves as dominant powers in the region.
Key Events:
Battle of Port Arthur: The war began with a surprise attack by the Japanese on the Russian naval base at Port Arthur (Lüshunkou) in February 1904.
Land Battles: Fierce fighting occurred on the Manchurian front, including the Battle of Mukden (1905), one of the largest land battles in history.
Naval Battles: The decisive naval battle of Tsushima in May 1905 resulted in a stunning victory for Japan, destroying much of the Russian fleet.
Peace Treaty: Mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed in September 1905, with Japan emerging as the victor.
Outcomes:
Japanese Victory: Japan emerged as a formidable military power, defeating a major European empire.
Recognition as a World Power: Japan’s victory led to international recognition of its status as a world power and reshaped the global balance of power.
Impact on Russia: The defeat exposed weaknesses in the Russian military and government, contributing to social unrest and, eventually, the Russian Revolution of 1905.
Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Restoration, spanning from 1868 to 1912, marked a transformative period in Japanese history. Triggered by internal strife and pressure from Western powers, it saw the return of political power to the Emperor, Emperor Meiji, and the abolition of feudalism. Under Emperor Meiji’s leadership, Japan underwent rapid modernization and Westernization, including industrialization, education reform, and military strengthening. This period laid the foundation for Japan’s emergence as a modern nation-state and major global power, ending its isolationism and setting the stage for its imperialist ambitions in Asia.
indentured labourers
Labourers who agreed to a term of employment specified in a contract.
In what ways did India change as a consequence of British rule?
Politically, India lost sovereignty and underwent centralized administration.
Economically, agriculture became commercialized, industries developed, and infrastructure expanded.
Socially, traditional structures were challenged, education reform occurred, and Westernization spread.
This period also sparked political consciousness and nationalist movements, leading to India’s eventual independence in 1947.
How was Japan able to quickly master the challenges posed by the West?
Japan swiftly mastered the challenges posed by the West through strategic reforms, including selective borrowing of Western ideas and technologies, rapid industrialization, and modernization of its military and education systems.
Strong leadership was crucial, including empowering meiji, a shared national identity, and adaptability.
Japan’s ability to blend Western influences with its cultural identity enabled it to emerge as a modern industrialized nation and a formidable global power.
