Transcript British Imperialism in Asia

British Imperialism in Asia:
China and India
British Empire, c. 1900
A Weakening China
• Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
– European influence, especially
British, weakened the power of the
dynasty.
• All British trade was restricted to
one city: Guangzhou.
– Britain had an unfavorable balance
of trade with China.
The Opium War
•
•
After failing to negotiate better trade arrangements,
the British begin importing opium.
– Highly addictive, and illegal, drug.
British refuse Chinese demands to stop selling the
drug.
– Opium War (1839 – 1842)
• China loses: agree to the Treaty of Nanjing
– Open five ports to the British.
– Limit taxes on British goods
– Pay for the war.
– Give the British the island of Hong
Kong.
•
This treaty opens China to influence from other
Western nations.
Spheres of Influence
• By 1895 the European powers had tightened their hold on China.
– Spheres of Influence
• Areas where imperial powers had exclusive trading rights.
Boxer Rebellion
• “Boxers” were members of a secret
organization called the Society of the
Harmonious Fists.
– Unhappy with the foreign takeover of China.
• By 1900, they were murdering foreigners
and Chinese Christians.
• Imperial powers assemble an army of
20,000
– British, French, German, Russian, American,
and Japanese.
– Attacked Beijing, restored order, and
demanded the Chinese government pay for
the damages.
• Chinese government is left weaker than
ever.
– Revolution?
British Imperialism in India
• By 1760s, Britain had become the
dominant imperial power.
– British East India Company
• British changes in India…
– Encouraged disunity.
– Granted the power to tax and have
courts.
– Seized natural resources.
– Imposed laws to hurt local merchants.
– Imposed their culture.
• “Western” dress.
• Christianity.
• English Education
Indian Nationalism
• As a result of British rule, an
educated Indian Middle Class
evolved.
– Learned about political ideas of liberty,
freedom, home-rule.
• Founded Indian National Congress
(1885)
– Called upon Britain for gradual change,
allow more Indians in government.
• Mostly Hindu.
– Nervous Muslims found “Muslim
League” in 1906
– Mohandas Gandhi becomes leader of
INC, 1920.