The Age of Imperialism

1700 -1920
The Age of Imperialism
• 1. The British in India
• 2. East Asia and the West
• 3. The Scramble of Africa
• 4. Imperialism in Latin America
•European powers came to rule a large portion of Africa
and Asia between 1800 and 1920.
•Only Japan emerged as an independent power capable of
challenging the West.
•In the Americas, the United States exercised greater
influence over the affairs of its neighbors.

1700 -1920
1. The British in India
• One of the first examples of European imperialism in
Asia, the British rule over India changed Indian politics,
economics, and society and led to the rise of Indian
nationalism

1700 -1920
Setting the Stage
• The arrival of the British in India, was an example of
European imperialism, the process of one people ruling or
controlling another.
• 1700’s - Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal - ruled
territories in the Americas.
• Less successes in Asia and Africa in 1700’s
• 1800’s more successful due to better technology and the
weakening of the great empires of Asia and North
Africa.

1700 -1920
New Technologies
• Steam powered gun boats could attack even inland
targets.
• Machine guns, repeating riffles, and exploding shells

1700 -1920
Weakening Empires
• Great Empires of North Africa and Asia were weakening.
• The Mughal Empire entered a period of decline.
• The Ottoman Empire lost its strength in the Middle East
and North Africa.
• The Qing Dynasty was also on the decline.
• This gave European powers the chance.

British East India Company
1700 -1920
• Early English imperialism carried out by a trading
company, the British East India Company
• By 1800, it began to rule much of India in the name of
Great Britain.

1700 -1920
The British Take Control
• When the Mughal Empire began to divide, merchants in
the British East India Tea Company saw there chance.
• The British military came into India claiming that they
did so to help restore order.

1700 -1920
Changes in India
• Once in control, the British made several changes.
• They introduced a new education system and the English
language.
• Introduced British laws that banned certain customs,
such as sati, the practice of Hindu widows throwing
themselves on their husband’s funeral fires.
• Helped Spread Christianity.
• This led to strain between Indians and the British.

The Sepoy Mutiny
1700 -1920
• 1857 - Mutiny - Sepoy were Indian soldiers who fought in the
British army.
• They refused to use the new British rifles because a soldier had
to bite off the end of an ammunition cartridge, which was greased
with pork and beef fat.
• This offended Muslim and Hindu soldiers because they did not eat
meat.
• This led to a mutiny, which lasted about two years. The British
ended the rule of the East India Tea Company in 1858. The British
government did not do a much better job.

1700 -1920
India as a British Colony
• India was Britain’s most important colony - the “jewel of
the crown.”
• India gave Britain great political and financial rewards.

1700 -1920
The Raj
• The era of British rule in India was known as the Raj, a
Hindu word meaning rule.
• Indian Civil Service - most ruled through British officers
- Indians incapable of governing themselves
• This led to a rise of Indian Nationalism.

The Rise of Indian Nationalism
• Many groups in India found British control to be quite
disturbing.
• Ram Mohun Roy - 1820’s - he felt that the British were
violating Indian’s natural rights, including free speech
and religion.
• Indian National Congress - 1885 - English speaking
Indians, most were Hindus.
1700 -1920
• Indian nationalism eventually became more radical, when
the British announced plans to partition Bengal.
• Muslim League - 1906 - consequence of swadeshi -
radical nationalism - preserve Hindus at the expense of
Muslims

2. East Asia and the West
1700 -1920
• While Western nations focused their imperial ambitions
on East Asia, the reactions and results differed in China,
Japan and Southeast Asia.

Western Nations Gain Power
1700 -1920
• 1800 - trade with Europe was very profitable for the
Chinese.
• As the Qing Dynasty lost its power, Europeans began to
gain power.

1700 -1920
The Opium War
• Chinese view of Europeans - Barbarians - wanted little contact
• 1700’s British - Opium - In China there was a great demand. Led to a
strong addiction.
• The Chinese eventually banned the trade of Opium, but it was too late -
led to smuggling and conflict.
• Treaty of Nanjing - unequal treaties – benefited England - opened five
more ports to Western Trade.
• Extraterritoriality - British citizens accused of crimes had the right
to be tried under British courts.

1700 -1920
The Taiping Rebellion
• The decline of the Qing Dynasty led to rebellions
throughout China.
• 1850’s - the most serious rebellion -Hong Xiuquan -
“Heavenly Kingdom of the Great Palace.” Taiping
rebellion - no one would be poor
• More than 20 million people died in the rebellion.

Foreign Influence Takes Hold
• The Self-Strengthening Movement - introduction of
Western knowledge and languages to China. Failed due to
strong resistance from traditional Confucius scholars.
• While China struggled to reform, Japan was emerging as
a major military power.
• Noting the weakness of the Chinese military, western
powers rushed to claim more territory in China – Spheres
of Influence.
• The United States got involved because she thought she
would lose her interests in Asia.
• Secretary of State John Hay - Open Door Policy -
allowing free trade in all Asian ports controlled by
Europeans.
1700 -1920

1700 -1920
The Boxer Rebellion
• Most important nationalist movement to restore China’s glory –
Harmonious Fists, or Boxers.
• Martial Arts training, hatred of foreigners, and a belief that
they were invulnerable to Western weapons.
• Boxer Rebellion – 1899 – the Boxers started attacking
missionaries and Chinese converts to Christianity.
• Laid siege to foreign compounds in Beijing and held the
foreigners hostage for 55 days.
• Eventually the Chinese Army of 20,000 captured Beijing and
suppressed the uprising.

1700 -1920
The 1911 Revolution
• With the defeat of the Boxers, Qing officials finally began to
enact reform:
• Established primary and secondary schools.
• Created a new national army.
• Still reforms were too late; radicals called for a Chinese
republic.
• Sun Yixian – Sun Yat-sen – radical who called for Chinese
Republic – nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood.
• A general by the name of Yuan Shikai convinced the Chinese
Emperor to abdicate the throne; this event brought an end to
the Qing Dynasty and Shikai became China’s first president.

1700 -1920
The Rise of Modern Japan
• Japan, in dealing with the industrialized western
European countries, became a great military and imperial
power.

1700 -1920
The U.S. Renews Contact
• Tokugawa Regime ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867.
• The United States sent Commodore Matthew Perry on a
mission to Japan.
• The threat of the U.S. Navy convinced Japan to sign the
Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854. Allowed American ships to
stop at two Japanese ports. Also established
extraterritoriality for Westerners.
• This angered many Japanese and let to further
aggression towards the West. Led to a rise of Japanese
Nationalism.

1700 -1920
The Meiji Restoration
• A young emperor, Meiji, took back the power of the
Japanese government after the weak shoguns caved to
Western aggression.
• “Enlightened Rule: - the return or restoration of
Japanese emperor
• Best way to preserve Japan was to modernize and
reform

1700 -1920
Meiji Reforms
• Iwakura Mission – two year journey – traveled to the
Western Europe ands the United States to learn about
modernization.
• Reforms – increased education, military, and rapid
industrialization

1700 -1920
Becoming an Imperial Power
• Between 1895 and 1915, manufacturing grew rapidly and
Japan quickly became an industrial power.
• Now that it modernized, it was ready to take its place on
the world’s stage.
• Sino – Japanese War – between Korea, China, and Japan
• Japan emerged as the most powerful in Asia
• Russo-Japanese War – 1904 1905 – Russian competition
with Japan over Manchuria – Japanese won, but Russia
would not surrender – President Theodore Roosevelt
intervened – Nobel Peace Prize

European in Southeast Asia
1700 -1920
• Southeast Asia had
long been a source of
spices, such as cloves
and pepper, that
Europeans valued.
• Europeans established
colonies in the
southeast in the 1500s.
• The British in Malaysia
• The French in
Indochina , Vietnam
• The Dutch in New
Guinea

3. The Scramble for Africa
1700 -1920
• In the late 1800’s, and early 1900’s, European powers
claimed land in much of Africa.

1700 -1920
The New Imperialism
• European countries controlled only a small part of Africa
in 1880, but by 1914, only Ethiopia and Liberia remained
independent.
• Period known as the “Scramble for Africa” – new
imperialism – govern lands occupied by non-Europeans.

1700 -1920
Economic Interests
• Several European countries profited from the slave
trade in Africa. After some nations abolished the slave
trade, the abundant amount of natural resources fueled
European entrepreneurs to harness the lands available in
Africa.

1700 -1920
Political Competition
• Imperial struggle between Great Britain and France over
Africa.
• France – controlled west and Central Africa and Great
Britain began to expand its colonial empire to block the
French.
• The rise of Germany and Italy also infuriated the
situation.

1700 -1920
Cultural Motives
• European imperialists felt that they were superior to
non-Europeans.
• Believed their rule was justified because they could
teach Africans about good government, good customs,
and good Christian values.
• Social Darwinism – certain nations or races are more fit
than others – “fit rules the less fit”
• Cecil Rhodes – Darwinist who believed Africa would
benefit from this.

European Claim in Africa
1700 -1920
• 1880’s – Europeans controlled some parts of the African
coast.
• As a result, Europeans began to compete for additional
lands in Africa.

1700 -1920
Scientific Advances and
Imperialism
• European scientific and technological advances came
together – drug quinine – against getting malaria,
machine gun, telegraphs, railroads, and steamships

Suez Canal
1700 -1920
• 1869 – Suez Canal – influenced Britain’s interests in
Egypt – canal that linked the Mediterranean Sea with
the Red Sea, shortening the trip from Europe to the
Indian Ocean.

1700 -1920
Division of Africa
• European leaders met in Berlin to divide African
territory to create order and to end conflict in Africa.
• Berlin Conference – agreed that when an European nation
claimed a new African territory, it had to notify other
European nations and prove that it could control the
territory.
• This Conference paid no attention to the African peoples
living in the land.

1700 -1920
The Boer War
• In southern Africa, the
British met opposition to
their claim.
• Dutch settlers, known as
Boers, lived there since
1600. After the discovery
of gold, the Boers refused
to grant political rights to
foreigners.
• As a result, war broke out.
• The Boers were no match
for the British army and
by 1902, the Boer
territory became the
self-governing Union of
South Africa under British
control.

1700 -1920
Belgian Congo
• The Congo Free State in Central
Africa was not ruled by any
Europeans.
• King of Belgium, Leopold II, claimed
it for himself.
• During the 1900’s, rubber for
bicycles and automobile tires, were
in great demand in the United States
and Europe.
• Congolese subjects extracted
rubber from the region’s rubber
trees.

1700 -1920
African Resistance
• Africans did not passively accept European claims to rule
over them. As Europeans tried to conquer, they were
met with resistance.

The Zulu
• The Zulu resisted colonialism for more than 50 years.
• Zulu leader Shaka built a strong Zulu kingdom by
subduing several neighbors.
• In 1879, the British invaded the Zulu territory and
Shaka’s nephew Cetshwayo managed to defeat the
British temporarily, but he could not keep them from
taking the territory for long.
1700 -1920

1700 -1920
Ethiopia
• Only the African nation of Ethiopia was able to retain its
independence by matching European firepower.
• 1889 – Emperor of Ethiopia – Menelik II – modernized
the army.
• The Ethiopian army was able to defeat the Italians and
prevent them from seizing their territory.

1700 -1920
French West Africa
• In West Africa, the leader of the Malinke peoples,
Samory Toure, formed his own army to fight the French.
• The war was fought for 15 years and eventually the
French captured Toure and defeated his army.
• This act ended all resistance to French rule in Africa.

1700 -1920
German East Africa
• Several people from East Africa united against the
Germans, but they failed in their rebellion.
• The Maji – sprinkle magic water –for protection – did not
work, obviously

1700 -1920
4. Imperialism in Latin America
• Imperialism in Latin America involved the United States
and European nations seeking to strengthen their
political and economic influence over the region.

1700 -1920
Power Struggle in Mexico
• Although Mexico won its independence from Spain in
1821 and became a republic in 1823, political factions
struggled for control over Mexico.

1700 -1920
Early Conflicts
• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna – dominated Mexico for 30
years
• 1855 – a group of reformers overthrew Santa Anna, and
he did not return.
• Leader – Benito Juarez – put forth series of reforms –
reduced the powers of the Catholic Church and the
military.
• Led to Civil War

The Second Mexican Empire
1700 -1920
• The conservative found a powerful ally in Europe –
France Napoleon III – dreamed of restoring French
colonization in the Americas.
• France got involved and installed Austrian Archduke
Maximilian as emperor of Mexico.
• Once France withdrew from Mexico, Maximilian was
executed and Jaurez was re-elected president – one of
Mexico’s greatest heros.

1700 -1920
The Mexican Revolution
• After the death of Juarez, Porfirio Diaz came to power.
• Ruled with an Iron Fist, he maintained law and order in
Mexico.
• In election of 1910, Diaz controlled the election. He
jailed his opponent, Francisco Madero. He fled to the
United States and declared himself president.
• When Madero returned, Mexico was in rebellion.
• Francisco “Pancho” Villa led a band of rebels who
supported Madero.
• Emiliano Zapata – called for land reforms and led a
revolt with indigenous peasants.
• Diaz was forced to resign.

1700 -1920
More Violence
• Madero was elected president later that year.
• Within months, army chief Victoriano Huerta, seized
power and jailed Madero.
• Pancho Villa’s army of small ranchers rebelled against
Huerta. And so did Emiliano Zapata.
• The United States got involved after Madero was
executed in 1914. Eventually Huerta was forced to
resign.

1700 -1920
Carranza as President
• Venustiano Carranza – declared himself president.
• Zapata and Villa however refused and the nation once
again was in civil war.
• 1915 – Carranza had defeated his rivals with the help of
the United States.
• With his political position secure, he began building the
nation: a new constitution, redistribution of land and
limiting the power of the church, and protecting rights
of citizens

1700 -1920
Growing U.S. Influence
• The United States had become a growing economic force
in Latin America by the late 1800’s.

1700 -1920
Uprising in Cuba
• One of Spain’s colonies – Cuba
• 1860’s Cuban nationalists were fighting for independence
from Spain.
• Jose Marti – exiled to America – poet and journalist –
communicated to Cubans through his writings, urging
them to continue their fight.
• He returned to Cuba and he and his rebellion were
eventually killed by the Spanish.

The Spanish-American War
1700 -1920
• In the United States, many people felt sympathy for the
Cuban cause for independence from Spain.
• 1898 – U.S. battleship Maine mysteriously exploded in
Havana’s harbor. Were the Spanish to blame?
• This disaster brought the United States into war with
Spain. The war was a disaster for Spain.
• Cuba gained her independence. U.S. received Puerto Rico
and Guam and purchased the Philippines for $20 million.
• Turns out, the Spanish did not sabotage the ship!

1700 -1920
Revolt in the Philippines
• Filipino’s who desired their independence from Spain and
the United States tried to fight, but the army under
Emilio Aguinaldo was no match for the U.S.
• Philippines ruled through a governor appointed by the
president until 1935. full independence - 1946

1700 -1920
The Panama Canal
• Many earlier attempts to build a canal across Latin
America to gain access to the Pacific Ocean failed – the
French.
• In 1903, the United States bought the French property,
and the President of the United States, Theodore
Roosevelt started and even oversaw the early
construction of the canal. Was finished in 1914.
• Shortened the trip by about 8,000 miles.

1700 -1920
A Warning to Europeans
• In 1823, with the proclamation of the Monroe Doctrine,
the United States declared the Western Hemisphere
off limits.
• By the late 1800’s, Europe and the United States had
considerable interests in Latin America.
• To protect U.S. interests, Roosevelt Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine – U.S. vowed to use military force to
keep Europeans out of the Americas.

1700 -1920
Increasing U.S. Power
• The United States used the Roosevelt Corollary to
become even more involved in the political affairs of
Latin American countries.
• The United States, at the turn of the nineteenth
century, became a great imperialist power.