Chapter 21: The Height of Imperialism

I. The New Imperialism

A. European nations began to view Asian & African societies

as a source of industrial raw materials & markets for

Western manufactured goods

B. Imperialism- extension of a nation's power over other lands

C. Europeans wanted direct control over vast territories

D. European nations were involved in heated rivalries &

wanted colonies to gain an advantage

E. Colonies were also a source of prestige.

F. Imperialism was also tied to Social Darwinism & racism

II. Colonial Takeover in Southeast Asia

A. Great Britain

1. founded a new colony called Singapore; used it as a

resting place between GB & China

2. wanted control of Burma to protect its interests in

India

B. France

1. FR had missionaries in Vietnam; eventually made

Vietnam a protectorate

2. Extended its control over Cambodia, Annam,Tonkin,

& Laos.

C. Thailand maintained its independence.

D. The United States took control of the Philippines &

issued the Monroe Doctrine.

E. Colonial powers ruled indirectly or directly.

1. indirect rule- colonial government in which local rulers

are allowed to maintain their positions of authority &

status

2. direct rule- colonial government in which local elites

are removed from power & replaced by a new set of

officials brought from the mother country

III. Resistance to Colonial Rule

A. Resistance came through peasant revolts.

B. Early resistance movements failed.

C. By the 1930's these resistance movements started demanding

national independence.

IV. Empire Building in Africa

A. Before 1880, Europeans controlled little of the African

continent directly.

1. British manufactured goods destroyed the local

industries.

2. Zamindars increased taxes & forced peasants to

become tenants or lose their land

3. forced farmers to switch from growing food to

growing cotton (cash crops)

4. 30 million people starved to death

D. India finally gained its independence with the help

of Mohandas Gandhi.

B. West Africa

1. West Africa affected by the slave trade.

2. 1808 GB & US declared the slave trade illegal.

3. By 1890, most major countries in the world had

abolished the slavery.

4. GB annexed the Gold Coast & established a

protectorate over Nigeria.

5. FR took contol of the rest of W. Africa.

6. Germany controlled Togo, Cameroon, German

Southwest Africa, & German East Africa.

C. North Africa

1. 1805 Muhammad Ali seized power & established

an Egyptian state.

2. Ali modernized the army, set up a public school

system, & helped create small industries in

refined sugar, textiles, munitions, & ships.

3. Egypt became a protectorate of GB in 1914.

4. The Sudan was brought under British control in

1898.

5. France took Algeria.

6. Italy took Libya (Turkish Tripoli).

D. Central Africa

1. Stanley encouraged the British to send settlers

to the Congo.

2. Britain refused so Stanley asked the King of

Belgium.

3. Then, other European nations wanted to explore

the interior of Africa.

E. East Africa

1. Germany late to the colonial party

new bullets.

3. Sepoys arrested & killed 50

Europeans.

4. Revolt spread & British able to crush it

b/c the Hindus & Muslims could not

work together.

5. The result: tighter British control.

B. Benefits of British Rule

1. peace after years of civil war

2. stable & efficient government

3. schools

4. railroads, telegraph, & postal services

C. Costs of British Rule

2. Berlin Conference 1884-1885

a. GB & GER had their claims in E. Africa recognized.

b. PORT. got Mozambique

F. South Africa

1. European presence grew the fastest in the South.

2. Dutch originally settled South Africa; then the British

took over.

3. British defeated the Zulus & the Boers

4. Agreed to allow only whites to votes & a few blacks to

vote.

G. By 1914, the only free states were Liberia & Ethiopia.

V. British Rule in India

A. The Sepoy Mutiny

1. rumor spread that the British were issuing

bullets greased in cow & pig fat.

2. A few sepoys refused to load their rifles w/ the

Chapter 21: The Height of Imperialism