APWH UNIT 6
REFERENCE SHEET
OVERVIEW Causes/Rationale Where Imperialism Spreads
OF
Imperialism Imperialism: establishing overseas empires through military, Imperialism in Africa
political, economic, cultural influence, driven by the following
causes -Remember: Europe and Africa had a relationship before imperialism due to trading posts and slave trade; they’ll begin to
expand beyond trading posts and establish colonies
-Nationalism: sense of identity and loyalty to a state leads to
push to take over other territories -The British in Africa: h
ave control of several parts, usually incorporating diplomacy and warfare as well as economic
influence.
● Britain: looks to take new lands after losing
American colonies; takes land in Australia, South ● Egypt: Britain seized control in 1882 from Ottoman Empire to stabilize unrest and keep control of the Suez
Asia (India and Indian subcontinent), Southeast Asia Canal
(Ceylon. Burma, Myanmar, Malay States, etc).
● West Africa: several colonies before the 19th century established here, where they spread education, English,
● France: after defeated in battle by Prussia, expands Christianity (ex. Sierra Leone, Gold Coast)
overseas territory; has land in North Africa, lands in
South Pacific, Western Africa, Indochina in -The French in Africa: established settler colony in Algeria, trading posts in Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Niger to
Southeast Asia compete with British West African colonies
● Italy and Germany: both wanted colonies for -The Scramble for Africa: European nations continue competing for natural resources in Africa, leads to:
economic, strategic advantages and prestige; do not
begin acquiring empire until mid 1880s. ● Berlin Conference 1884-1885: European powers meet in Germany and agree to divide Africa (no African
representatives were invited)
● Spain: major role in first wave of imperialism in 16th
and 17th centuries, loses power by 19th centuries so ● Boer Wars: conflict between British and Afrikaners in South Africa from 1880-1881, 1899-1902. British army
not dominant in second wave drove Afrikaners and Africans from their lands and into concentration camps where many died of starvation.
Millions of Afrikaners and black African farmers displaced. Britain added the settler colonies into their empire.
● Japan: show of nationalist strength going into Korea;
this angers China so they fight (Sino-Japanese War) ● King Leopold II: Belgium king. Oversaw invasion of Congo in central Africa and owned the colony personally
and Japanese victory gives it control of Korea and to exploit it economically. Workers harvesting ivory and rubber were often beaten or killed if they did not
Taiwan until end of WWII meet quotas. In 1908 Belgium took over and conditions improved.
-Cultural Ideologies: at times justification was found in the -Independent Countries: by 1900 the only African countries unclaimed by Europeans were Abyssinia (modern day
belief that colonizers were helping the colonized. Ethiopia) and Liberia
● Phrenologists: people who studied skull sizes and
shapes and believed it proved that Europeans were Imperialism in South Asia
biologically superior
● Social Darwinism: adaptation of Charles Darwin’s -Remember: European powers competed for control of goods like spices, gems, and access to trade routes
theory of evolution by natural selection, used the within/connecting to South Asia
“survival of the fittest” theory to argue that countries -Seven Years’ War: led Britain to drive the French out of India and install East India Company, which begins to give
in power were justified in taking over colonies Britain influence there. What starts out as a small force protecting employees expanded to an army including recruited
because they were stronger than the colonies Indian soldiers, called sepoys, and more British power.
● Superiority Ideologies: idea that taking over would Imperialism in East Asia
“help” the colonized by introducing new languages,
political structures, norms (ex. White Man’s Burden) -China: f aces a different type of imperialism as it keeps its own government throughout European influence.
● Spheres of Influence: areas of exclusive trading rights and access to resources carved out for various European
-Religion: missionaries also impacted colonization, setting up nations
schools and providing medical care while encouraging people
to give up traditional beliefs like ancestor veneration. Leads to ● Taiping Rebellion: made imperialism easier, was a failed uprising against the Qing Dynasty that weakened
more colonization. China
-Economics: t reaties signed with leaders in India, East Africa, ● Boxer Rebellion: ani=imperialist group that killed Chinese Christians and Western missionaries, was
and East Indies give Europeans right to establish trading posts encouraged by empress; humiliating defeat for empress and Qing Dynasty
and forts there; major contributors are chartered companies
● Ex. East India Company and Dutch East India -Japan: as they begin to industrialize during Meiji Restoration, look to gain natural resources and land outside the island
Company nation.
● Sets up a Colonization Society with plans to establish colonies in Mexico and Latin America.
● Ends up creating an Empire that included many parts of East Asia (China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Pacific
Islands), lasted from 1890s to WWII.
Imperialism in Southeast Asia: Portugal and Spain had control of trade until 1600, when English and Dutch took over
● Dutch: began with Dutch East India Company, took over spice trade and took control of Dutch East Indies,
growing cash crops like tea, rubber, and sugar
● French: gained control of northern Vietnam after it defeated China in Sino-French War; continued to expand.
By 1890s had Cambodia, Laos, all of modern day Vietnam. Grew cash crops like rubber.
○ Called French Indochina
● British: began by taking small island, then founded port of Singapore and expanded until it controlled all of
Malay Peninsula, Burma, and northern Borneo. Made money off cash crops like pepper, tobacco, palm oil, and
rubber.
● Siam: modern day Thailand, was able to remain independent of imperialism; set up diplomatic relations with
British and French and modernized in a way similar to Japan.
Imperialism in Australia and New Zealand: after losing the American colonies, Britain decides to expand to Australia and
locate a penal colony there., eventually taking all Australia and annexing New Zealand.
Imperialism in Latin America and the Pacific: the US believed it was its destiny to spread across the continental US
(Manifest Destiny), and also expanded overseas
● Key Terms to Know: Trail of Tears (forced migration of Native Americans), Monroe Doctrine (stated
Europeans should stay out of affairs of countries in Western Hemisphere AKA we’re taking this land so stay
out!), Spanish American War (granted the US areas like Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines)
Russian Imperialism: all of Russia’s tsars have sought to expand, but starting with Catherine the Great Russia’s Empire
spreads in all directions
● Parts of Poland, territory from Ottomans
● Under her grandson took Finland, Moldova, Georgia, etc.
● Also expanded in 1740s into Alaska (sold it to US in 1867)
● Competed with British for dominance in Afghanistan, called the Great Game
Effects/Responses to Imperialism
Examples (non-exhaustive) of Resistance in:
-The Balkans: rebellions increase against Ottoman rule, Serbia and Greece win independence
-The Americas: r evolts against those settling in the Americas
● Cherokee Nation: in the US, tried to assimilate to white settler culture (even creating their own constitution) but were forced off land with
Indian Removal Act (1830)
● Ghost Dance: in northwestern US about 1869, movement with rituals of dances and songs conducted to bring back the dead and drive out the
whites; ended at Wounded Knee Massacre
● Tupac Amaru II: in southern Peru, descendant from last Inca ruler (Tupac Amaru) executed a colonial administer, leading to revolts against
Spain; ends when he and his family are executed
-South Asia: r ebellions against the British
● Indian Rebellion of 1857/Sepoy Mutiny: sepoys were furious at what they saw as an attempt to convert them (mostly Hindu and Muslim) to Christianity through use of rifle cartridgges greased with
mixture of cow and pig fat; led vuolent uprising that spread. While Britain crushes the rebellion and kills thousands, it leads to beginning of Indian nationalism.
● Indian National Congress: British educated Indians established this as a forum to air grievances to the colonial government, evolves into forum calling for self-rule
-Southeast Asia: a lmost all of SE Asia under control of Spanish, Dutch, British, and French
● Vietnam: resists colonization in many ways: criticizing the French, hiding the Vietnamese emperor
● Philippines: as previously mentioned, Propaganda Wars led to rebellion against Spanish control, death of Jose Rizal (reform leader), and led to all out fighting in the Philippine Revolution. At this time,
the Spanish-American War is also going on and ends with Treaty of Paris. Philippines expected independence from US, but the treaty gave control to Philippines to the US instead, leading to the
Philippine-American War. Philippines remained US possession until 1946.
-Australia and New Zealand:
● Australia: major impact of imperialism was that thousands of Aboriginal people were killed defending their territory; they were not treated humanely as they were not considered British subjects
● New Zealand: as previously discussed, Maori Wars broke out against the British
-Africa: rebellion takes longer to break out than in India
● Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement: in South Africa, the Xhosa people fought against the British. They killed their cattle and destroyed their crops, thinking that spirits would react and kick the BRitish
out. Famine resulted instead, killing thousands, and the British remained.
● Anglo-Zulu War: at first in favor of the Zulus in the Zulu Kingdom of South Africa. Eventually defeated by the British and lands become part of South Africa (colony)
.
OVERVIEW OF Economic Development Economic Imperialism
Global Economy Some of these are repeats, but nevertheless, important! Remember, many of these will lead to improvements Again, some overlap here, yet important. Economic imperialism is a
in manufacturing of certain items and wealth for industrialized nations. At the same time, there is a large situation where foreign business interests exert great power or influence
cost to those producing items and to the environment (think of monocultures, overgrazing, soil erosion). beyond their borders. Here are some examples that you’ve already seen
with imperialism in general:
Technological Developments:
● Railroads: lowers cost of transporting raw materials, opens up markets, used as evidence by Examples:
Europe that they were helping to modernize colonies
● East India Company in India (most important resource -
● Steamships: at first only limited distance, but began to transport people, mail, and goods. Newer textiles)
engines meant longer travel, and new refrigeration equipment meant perishables like meat and
dairy could go across oceans. ● Dutch East India in Dutch East Indies, who used a Culture
System which forced farmers to grow cash crops or work for no
● Telegraph: news traveled instantaneously, changing communication and linking more places. pay
Usually built to follow railroad lines and also established as underwater cables crossing oceans.
● Opium War/Treaty of Nanking sale of opium to China and the
Agricultural Products: defeat of their rebellion against import of the product forced
● Cash Crops: replace subsistence farming in many areas. These are crops grown for commercial China to pen up more ports to foreigners and give Hong Kong
value, not for local use by those who grew them. Includes: tea, cotton, sugar, oil palms, rubber, to Britain
coffee, etc.
○ Meat also is high in demand leading to production in ranches ● Spheres of Influence term for trading privileges taken by Japan,
○ Guano (poop!) is also in demand from bats and seabirds because it is an excellent France, Germany, Russia, the US, and Britain within China
fertilizer
● Cash crops in Africa took over farming and herding for
Raw Materials:: turns colonies into export economies products like cotton, coffee, tea, palm oil, and cocoa (Gold
● Cotton: f or textiles Coast)
● Rubber: made from latex sap of trees/vines, used for tires, hoses, gaskets, shoe soles, etc. ● Mining industry in Chile for copper, run by Spain
● Palm Oil: u
sed to lubricate machines to keep them working, also for candle making ● Rubber industry in Brazil d
eclined after companies brought it
to Malaysia to grow it cheaper, hurting Brazilian economy
● Ivory: from tusks of elephants, used for piano keys, billiard balls, knife handles, ornamental
carvings ● Banana Republics in Central America and Caribbean c ountries
under the economic power of foreign based corporations,
● Minerals: s ilver in Mexico, copper in Chile and Congo (for telegraph cables, etc.), tin in Dutch usually an unstable state with economy dependent on limited
East Indies, gold in Australia and Africa resource product like bananas or minerals
● Diamonds: o ver 90% of the world’s diamond production was owned by De Beers (led by Cecil ● Cash crops in Hawaii sugar grown by US businesses
Rhodes). Rhodes was able to become prime minister of Cape Colony, but his policies set the stage
for the apartheid in South Africa of the 20th century.
OVERVIEW OF Causes of Migration Effects of Migration
Migration Labor Systems: Effects on Home Societies
● Demographic shifts: u
sually more males migrated than females, which
● Slavery: slave trade mostly abolished, although the institution continued. Slavery sometimes led to changes in women’s role
abolished last in Americas by US (1865), Cuba (1886), and Brazil (1888). Slavery
continued in Africa into the 20th century. Leads to reliance on other forms of labor. Effects On Receiving Societies
● Ethnic enclaves: c lusters or neighborhoods of people from the same foreign
● Indentured Servitude: people who worked for a set number of years before becoming country are created
free. Many entered into this to pay for their transportation from a poor country to a ○ Ex. Chinese Enclaves in Southeast Asia and the Americas
wealthy one, others had to do so to pay off debts. ○ Ex. Indian Enclaves in British colonies
■ Africa
● Asian Contract Laborers: Chinese and Indian workers forced or tricked into servitude. ■ Southeast Asia
Difficult and unjust work, seen as subsitutite for slavery. ■ Caribbean Region
○ Ex. Irish Enclaves in North America
● British and French Penal Colonies: ○ Ex. Italian Enclaves in Argentina (who welcomed immigrants and
○ Britain: convicts forcibly shipped to Australia and performed hard labor like offered them the same rights enjoyed by citizens)
road and railway building. Were never allowed to return to Great Britain.
○ France: convicts forcibly sent to Africa, New Caledonia, French Guiana. ● Diaspora: the spread of one’s culture, an impact of immigrants on the
French Guiana included Devil’s Island which treated convicts harshly. countries they settled (could be religious, could be cultural, could be
linguistic, etc.)
Challenges Prejudice and Regulation of Immigration
● Chinese Exclusion Act -1882 act that banned further Chinese immigration in
● Challenges in India: p overty and indentured servitude were largest factors the US. Repealed in 1943.
● Challenges in China: poverty, famine, search for opportunities, instability (Taiping
Rebellion, for example), indentured servitude largest factors ● Chinese Immigration Act - 1855 act passed in Victoria, Australia to limit the
● Challenges in Ireland: p olitical reasons, religious discrimination, the Great Famine number of Chinese who could come ashore from each ship (many got
(1845-1849) around the law by landing in South Australia)
● Challenges in Italy: poverty, political issues, organized crime
● Chinese Immigration Regulation and Restriction Act - passed in New South
Migration to Settler Colonies: many European citizens lived in their empire’s colonies. Many for Wales due to violence against Chinese miners; was an attempt to limit the
the British Empire were sent to Canada, South Africa, Australia, etc. In the case of Britain, these number of Chinese immigrants but was repealed in 1867.
were members of the Colonial Service, those who managed plantations, colonial enterprises, or
were British officers, soldiers, or government officials. ● Influx of Chinese Restriction Act -passed in New South Wales in 1881 after
the above was repealed, attempted to restrict Chinese immigration by taxing
Overall, when looking at immigration you can look at two factors: them.
● Push Factors: reasons to l eave y our own country (ex. Religious oppression)
● Pull Factors: reasons that bring you t o a specific country (ex. Freedom of religion) ● White Australia Policy - policy of Australia to limit non-British immigration,
● Unless you are forced to migrate, in which you don’t really get a choice remained in effect until mid 1970s.
Overall, migrants help to shape the history of the places they settle. They themselves
face discrimination in many instances, whether through law or through resentment
during this time period.
