Transcript Imperialism
Imperialism Modern World History New Imperialism For a few hundred years, European countries had been taking control of different parts of the world, in the search for spices and precious metals. However, this all changed with the industrial revolution. After the industrial revolution the push was to find natural resources of coal, wood, oil, rubber, and various kinds of metals (tin, copper, iron, etc.). Imperialism is defined as the extension of a countries power over other lands. This had been going on for a number of years. What had changed however, was the fact that these countries were no longer content setting up a trading post, they wanted to dominate the entire country. New Imperialism As time goes on and tensions on the European continent arise, the push to gain more colonial territory was very high. More colonies meant more resources and more respect. Some people also believed in Social Darwinism. This was the belief that the struggle between cultures was necessary and that only the strongest would survive. Asia Britain – Britain’s new imperialism began in Asia in 1819. That year, they founded new city on the Malay peninsula, Singapore. This city quick became a large port for ships going to and from China. Next Britain expanded into Burma. Controlling Burma gave Britain access to Southern China and protected India. France – France had watched British actions in this area and were concerned that they would attempt to expand even farther. In 1857, the French forced Vietnam to accept their protection. By the 1880’s, France had expanded their control over the area to include Laos, Cambodia, Annam, and Tonkin. This area became known as French Indo China. Asia Thailand remained the only country not under control of a European power. France and England agreed to keep it this way because the King of Thailand embraced western learning and society. This would also allow Thailand to act as a buffer between the two regions. Asia The United States – The United States also became involved in establishing colonies in Southeast Asia. During the late 1890’s the US was involved in the Spanish American war. During this war, the US fought with Spain over their presence in the Caribbean and Latin America. The fighting spilled over into the last part of the Spanish empire in Asia, The Philippines. In 1898, the US defeated the Spanish in Manila Bay. This victory freed the island from Spanish control. The US then decided it was their duty to colonize the island to help the natives. It would also be used for a key stopping point between the trade route from the US to China. Africa Europe had been involved in African affairs for a number of years. However, it wasn’t until the late 1800’s that they began to actually take over large sections of the country. The colonization of Africa began in about 1874. West Africa had been affected heavily by the slave trade, however it had died out for the most part by 1865. The slave trade was replaced by the exchange of manufactured items for natural resources. As this exchange grew, Africa became more important to the Europeans. This growing importance led to the Europeans pushing for more control over the area. In 1874 Britain officially established the colony of the Gold Coast. A short time after this they took over Nigeria as well. France and Germany also got in on the taking of land. France established French West Africa, which was the largest part of West Africa. The Germans took control of Togo, Cameroon, German Southwest Africa, and German East Africa. Africa North Africa – Egypt has been one of the most important countries in this area for a long time. In 1805, Egypt had broken away from the Ottoman Empire and become independent. In 1854 the Suez Canal was built, creating a shortcut around Africa. By the time the canal was finished, the British felt that it was a vital link to India. Initially, Britain purchased control of the canal, however many Egyptians resisted foreign control over part of their country and began a violent resistance. Britain responded militarily and had control of the entire country within a few years. Africa Once Britain became militarily involved in the area, they also became interested in Sudan. After a few years of fighting, Britain was also able to take control of this area. France and Italy also got involved in this area. France was able to take control of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Italy attempted to take control of Ethiopia, but failed. They were however successful in Lybia Central Africa Explorers had been in Central Africa for a number of years. The most famous of them was David Livingstone. For 30 years he explored and wrote about central Africa. It was thought for a while that he was lost, it was then that a reporter for the New York Herald, Henry Stanley, went to find him. Stanley finally found him on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Central Africa Belgium Congo – Stanley stayed with Livingstone to explore with him. However, just a few years later, Livingstone died. Even though both Stanley and Livingstone were explorers, the two had very different ideas about Africa. Livingstone respected the people and the continent, while Stanley took a very contemporary European view and thought the land should be taken over. Stanley began to push the British government to take over the Congo. Britain refused and he turned to King Leopold II of Belgium. The King liked the idea and the area quickly became the Belgium Congo. East and South Africa The Germans became involved in colonizing East Africa. Bismarck didn’t like the idea of colonies, but the public called for them and he listened to their demands. Portugal and Britain also pushed for control of the area. During the Napoleonic the British had gained control of part of South Africa. This area had been inhabited by the Dutch since the 1600’s. These Dutch descendents were known as the Boers. The British pushed the Boers north in the 1830’s where they clashed with native Zulu tribes. After several years of fight the Boers won and created to independent countries. Around the turn of the century, British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes attempted to overthrow these territories which brought the two countries to war. The British eventually won and created the Union of South Africa. Anti-Colonial Uprisings After a long period of control by European countries, many of the natives that were now subjects of these foreign countries felt that it was time to break free. Throughout the world, anti-colonial movements sprang up and often led to active revolt. In most cases the country in control of the area attempted to stop these revolutions and were met with mixed results. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America The island of Hispaniola was one of the first places that Columbus landed when he first came to the new world. Even though Columbus claimed the entire island for Spain, years of piracy forced them to abandon the west side of the island. By the late 1600’s France and Spain signed a treaty that gave France control of the western third of the island. Over the next century the French colony of Saint Domingue became the most profitable French colony. Sugar was the main export of the island, however such a labor intensive crop required the use of slaves brought over from Africa. By the late 1700’s slaves outnumbered the European born French leaders by a factor of 10 to 1. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America With the revolution beginning in France, many of the slaves and people with mixed race back grounds began to push for rights. Confusion over whether or not new laws applied to wealthy men of color led to the execution of Vincent Oge, a wealthy free man of color. A few months after the execution a slave rebellion began on the island. Once the rebellion began, different European powers were interested in taking over the most profitable colony in the Western Hemisphere. Initially the slaves liked the idea of the Spanish regaining control of the island, but after a few years of fighting, France agreed that they would free the slaves if they agreed to join them in fighting to expel the Spanish and English forces. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America The most successful slave leader was self educated former house slave, Toussaint Louverture. Louverture was a strict military leader that also taught his men to avoid wholesale slaughter. Louverture orginally fought in support of the Spanish, but with the French willing to free the slaves Louverture led his men in expelling the English and Spanish by 1798. With the fighting over, Louverture maintained a heavy hand in the affairs of the country. In 1801, Louverture issued a constitution for the country and named himself governor for life. France responded by sending troops to regain control of the country. Louverture resisted but agreed to integrate his forces with the French after he was promised his freedom. Unfortunately, Louverture was double crossed and died a few years later in prison. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America In 1802, after a few months of French rule, it became obvious that the French intended to bring back slavery. Some of the other rebel leaders that had integrated with the French Army split with them and once again led people against the French. With Napoleon’s interest in the Western Hemisphere declining, French troops found themselves without reinforcements and were defeated. On January 1, 1804, Haiti became the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere and the only successful slave uprising in the world. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America After the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, Spain’s power in world affairs had continuously declined. Despite this, they still had control of many areas in Latin America. Over time, society in these colonies had been split into three different groups; peninsulares, creoles, and mestizos. Peninsulares were officials that were born and raised on the Spanish mainland that were sent to one of the countries controlled by Spain in Latin America. These people were sent to run the colonies and occupied the highest level of society. For the most part, the peninsulares were in Latin America temporarily. Most used their time in Latin America to gain favor with the king which would benefit their standing when they returned. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America Creoles were people of European decent, however they were born in Latin America. This group was considered the middle of the social classes. Creoles usually owned the land they lived on and most had no plans of returning to Spain. Mestizos were people who had a mixed heritage of native and European. This group was the largest of the three groups but was also at the bottom of the social ladder. Natives were still referred to as Indians. The natives lacked any real social standing but were still subject to the rule of the Spanish and the peninsulares. It was illegal to use them as slaves, but because they had no social standing, the jobs they were limited to amounted to near slave like conditions. Anti-Colonial Movements in Latin America The divisions in Latin American society led to tension in the areas controlled by the Spanish. In 1807 The Napoleonic Wars led to a change in leadership in Spain. With this change, Spain had a difficult time maintain control of areas that were so distant. Shortly after the Napoleonic wars began two men began to led revolutions throughout Latin America. Jose de San Martin of Argentina and Simon Bolivar of Venezuela worked to free Latin America from Spanish control. By the end of 1824, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile had all broken free. Anti-Colonial Movements in Asia England’s influence over India had continued to expand throughout the 1700’s. Officially, the British government influenced Indian affairs through the British East India Company. This private company was granted the authority to become actively involved in Indian political and military affairs. In order to accomplish their goals the East India Company hired Indians as soldiers. These Indians were known as sepoys. Anti-Colonial Movements in Asia The Sepoy Mutiny – 1857 a growing distrust of the British led to a rumor that the British were having the sepoys use bullets that were greased with pig and cow fat. The Hindu sepoys believed that the cow was sacred, while the Islamic sepoys believed that pigs were taboo. When a unit of sepoys refused to load their guns with the bullets, a revolt broke out. Despite outnumbering the British 5 to 1, the sepoys were eventually defeated. The sepoy rebellion was never well organized mainly because the Islamic and Hindu sepoys couldn’t work together. As a result of the rebellion, the authority of the British East India Company’s authority was transferred over to the British crown. In 1876, Queen Victory was bestowed the title of Empress of India. Anti-Colonial Movements in Asia By the 1800’s, Europe had been in contact with China for over 200 years. However, there dealings were limited to the city of Guangzhou. The British especially disliked this policy and felt that it led to an unfavorable trade balance. To displace the flow of silver out of Britain, the British began to export opium to the region. The highly addictive drug hooked many people from the area and upset the Chinese government. After warning the British several times to stop, the Chinese were forced to blockade the foreign area of Guangzhou and confiscate opium that they were there to sell. This led to the Opium War (18391842), war easily won by the British. Anti-Colonial Movements in Asia After the Opium War, the British forced China to open up five ports to them and give the control of the island of Hong Kong. The Qing Dynasty had ruled China since 1644, however with their loss of the Opium War and the approach of the British the Qing Dynasty began to weaken. Soon, this led to other European countries carving out spheres of influence in China for themselves. This upset the United States who failed to carve out a sphere for themselves. The US developed the Open Door Policy, which eliminated most trade restriction between the different spheres. Anti-Colonial Movements in Asia With the growing influence of foreign countries in China, many Chinese desired to expel them. To make this happen, a secret organization known as the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists was formed. This organization believed that through martial arts training, diet, and prayer, they could become immune to bullets and swords. With a since of impunity, the Boxers (this is what the Europeans called them after they saw them “shadowboxing”) began to roam the countryside and kill foreigners that they ran across. The rebellion lasted from November of 1899 to September of 1901. Soon after the killings began an international coalition was formed to put down the rebellion. After the uprising had been crushed the Qing Dynasty was weaker than ever. Anti-Colonial Movements in Africa In the 1840’s, Britain took over the country of Natal from the Boers. The Boers were descendents of Dutch farmers who moved to the area years earlier. Britain controlled the area for a few decades before the neighboring country of Zululand grew angry with the presence of the Europeans. Conflicts over the borders in the area led to an ultimatum from the British. The ultimatum was written so that if the Zulu King Cetshwayo went along with it, it would break up Zulu society. Anti-Colonial Movements in Africa When Cetshwayo failed to respond to the ultimatum, the British invaded. Under the lead of British General Lord Chelmsford, the British advanced into Zululand. Lord Chelmsford was over confident and the British forces were surprised and defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana. This defeat shock the British, including Queen Victoria who had not given Lord Chelmsford to start the war. Shortly after their victory at Isandlwana, a group of 4000 Zulu warriors were defeated at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. The victory at Rorke’s Drift was as improbable as the defeat at Isandlwana. The Zulu War lasted for a few months longer before the Zulu’s faced their final defeat. The loss of the war was the end of the Zulu’s independence.