The Age of Imperialism

The Age of Imperialism Time Line 1830France begins its takeover of Algeria. 1842Great Britain acquires Hong Kong. 1854Commodore Matthew C. Perry “opens” Japan. 1857The Indian Mutiny results in the establishment of direct British rule over India. 1860sFrance begins its takeover of Indochina. 1867The British North America Act establishes the Dominion of Canada.

The Age of Imperialism Time Line 1869The Suez Canal is opened. 1881France acquires Tunisia. 1882Great Britain establishes a protectorate over Egypt. 1885The Congo Free State is established Japan defeats China in the Sino- Japanese War. 1896The Ethiopians defeat the Italians at Adowa.

The Age of Imperialism Time Line 1898The British gain control of the Sudan. The United States acquires the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii The Boxer Rebellion takes place in China. 1902The Boer War ends with the British takeover of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Japan defeats Russia in the Russo- Japanese War. 1910Japan annexes Korea.

The Age of Imperialism Background Last quarter of 19th century=a great surge of imperialist activity. Africa and Asia divided among GB, France, Germany, and others. End of century, US and Japan join the ranks of imperialist powers. Imperialism led to intensified rivalries and increasing tensions among the powers.

Imperialism in the 19th Century End of Napoleonic wars (1815), only major overseas empires were those of GB and the Netherlands. Great Britain Little enthusiasm for further expansion. Revolt of the US colonies. Appearance that Canada might follow US. “Little Englanders”

Imperialism in the 19th Century The Netherlands Profitable island empire in the East Indies. France, Prussia, and Austria France=preoccupied with domestic problems. Prussia and Austria involved in European issues.

Imperialism in the 19th Century Russia Only European power to continue expansionist policy throughout the 19th century. Overland expansion, not overseas. Pressed against the declining Ottoman Empire. Movement into Central Asia and Maritime Provinces on the Sea of Japan.

Renewed Interest in Expansion Great Britain 1870s, acquisition of additional colonies became an object of government policy, with wide public support. France Third Republic and domestic stability. Germany and Italy Newly unified and regarded imperial expansion as evidence of national greatness.

Motives for Imperialism Political and Psychological Factors Social Darwinism Religious and Humanitarian Motives Economic Motives

Motives for Imperialism Political and Psychological Factors Competition among European powers intensified. Means to increase a country’s military and economic power. A sign of national greatness and vitality. Failure to acquire colonies came to be regarded as a sign of national decadence.

Motives for Imperialism Social Darwinism Emphasis on the idea of life as a struggle, with the stronger surviving at the expense of the weaker. Failure to expand was seen as losing the struggle for survival. Belief that the advanced white race had an obligation to civilize the less developed peoples of the world.

Motives for Imperialism Religious and Humanitarian Motives Great upsurge in missionary activity among Catholics and Protestants. Dr. David Livingstone ( ). Combination of religious and humanitarian motives. African and Arab slave trade.

Motives for Imperialism Economic Motives Demands for new sources of raw materials and new markets for products. New opportunities for investment of surplus capital. Motives of shipping companies and arms and munitions manufacturers.

Motives for Imperialism Economic Motives J. A. Hobson ( ): In Imperialism: A Study, held that great financiers, hoping to increase wealth through overseas investment, the power behind imperialist policies. V. I. Lenin ( ): In Imperialism: The Last Stage of Capitalism, held that capitalism must expand to survive.

Most extensive empire in human history. Western Hemisphere Africa Asia Worldwide Outposts

The British Empire in the Early 19th Century Western Hemisphere Canada, islands in the West Indies, British Honduras in Central America, British Guiana in S. America. British North America Act of 1867: Established the Dominion of Canada with extensive autonomy in domestic policy.

The British Empire in the Early 19th Century Africa Acquired Cape of Good Hope in Napoleonic wars. 1820s: British settlers moved into the Cape Colony. Friction with the Boers. Great Trek of : Boers moved north into the interior. Established 2 independent republics: Orange Free State and Transvaal. 1843: British took control of Natal, east of the Cape Colony.

The British Empire in the Early 19th Century Asia India: British gained control in the defeat of France in the Seven Years’ War ( ). Administered by the British East India Co. 1857: the Great Mutiny (aka, the Sepoy Rebellion), in which Indian troops rose up against the British. 1858: British government established direct control of India.

The British Empire in the Early 19th Century Asia China: Opium War of , Chinese try to prevent British importation of opium. British annexed Hong Kong and forced Chinese to open 5 ports to foreign trade. 1858: Chinese forced to open 11 more ports.

The British Empire in the Early 19th Century Worldwide Outposts Control of key strategic points around the world: Gibraltar at the western entrance to the Mediterranean. Malta in the central Mediterranean. Aden at the southern end of the Red Sea. Ceylon off the SE coast of India. Singapore at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. Australia and New Zealand in the S. Pacific. Self-government as dominions in 1901 & 07.

Expansion of British Imperialism in Africa Egypt 1875: Disraeli bought 44% of the shares in the Suez Canal Company from Egypt. Regarded as an essential link between GB and India. Sale proceeds were used by the khedive to pay off part of enormous debt. Joint control of Egyptian finances by GB and France. 1882: GB established a protectorate over Egypt, thus eliminating France from Egyptian affairs.

Expansion of British Imperialism in Africa South Africa Cecil Rhodes ( ): the central figure in S. African imperialism. Discovered diamonds at Kimberley in the Cape Colony in Goal was British African possessions from Cape of Good Hope in the south to Egypt in the north. Northward imperialist expansion.

Expansion of British Imperialism in Africa South Africa The Jameson Raid, 1895: gold discovered in the Transvaal (1886). Tension between British and Boers erupted with the raid into the Transvaal by the British, led by Dr. Leander Jameson. Boers convinced Rhodes was plotting to take over Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Expansion of British Imperialism in Africa South Africa The Boer War, 1899: British victorious in : British united Cape Colony, Natal, the Transvaal, and the Orange Free State to form the Union of South Africa, a self-governing dominion.

Expansion of British Imperialism in Africa West & East African Possessions W. Africa: British expanded old trading stations into full-scale colonies. Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria. E. Africa: possessions included Kenya, Uganda, British Somaliland, and the island of Zanzibar.

The French Empire in the Early 19th Century 1815: France retained only a small part of their former empire. In W. Indies, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and several small islands. In S. America, French Guiana. In Africa, several coastal trading stations. Minor influence in Egypt and the Middle East. France began the process of acquisition. 1830: Algeria in N. Africa. 1843: Tahiti and other islands in the S. Pacific. 1860s: Indochina.

French Imperialism in Africa Late 19th century: France had created a huge African empire. North Africa: Tunisia (1881) and a protectorate over Morocco. West Africa: Senegal, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast. Island of Madagascar off east coast of Africa. French Somaliland on the Red Sea.

The Anglo-French Conflict Over the Sudan Sudan: south of Egypt, came under dispute in : British/Egyptian force marched up the Nile and into the Sudan. Massacred by Moslem forces at Khartoum. 1886: British/Egyptian force defeated the Moslems at Omdurman in Sept. Fashoda Crisis: Days later, British force encountered French force. At threat of war, French yielded to British.

King Leopold II and the Congo 1870s: Belgians under King Leopold II began the process of imperial empire in Africa. Employed Henry Stanley, an Anglo-American journalist and adventurer, to sign treaties with African chieftains in the Congo region of Central Africa : international recognition of Congo Free State under Leopold’s personal rule. Forced labor in production of rubber, ivory, and minerals. Belgian official control in 1908.

Other Imperial Powers in Africa Germany Bismarck gave in to forces insistent that colonies would enhance German prestige. 1884: Togoland and the Cameroons in W. Africa, and German SW Africa. 1885: control of German E. Africa.

Other Imperial Powers in Africa Italy Relatively unsuccessful in colonial efforts in Africa. 1889: Italian Somaliland. 1890: Eritrea 1890s attempt to seize Ethiopia: defeated in the Battle of Adowa. 1912: Tripoli in North Africa.

Imperialism in China British sphere of influence in the Yangtze River valley. French sphere of influence in southern China, adjacent to Indochina.

Imperialism in China Japanese Intervention 1854: Commodore Matthew Perry and the “Opening of Japan”: westernization and modernization : Sino-Japanese War. Japanese defeat of China yields Formosa (Taiwan), the independence of Korea, and an opening of Manchuria. Russia, Germany, France intervened, forcing Japan to agree to nullify Korean independence.

Imperialism in China The Boxer Rebellion Intense anti-foreign feelings in China. Some 200 foreign missionaries and other civilians killed in revolt of Chinese secret societies. 1900: international expeditionary force dispatched to China to break the siege of embassies and suppress the revolt.

The Russo-Japanese War Russian advances in northern China angered the Japanese. Russians had established a sphere of influence in Manchuria and showed interest in Korea. Feb. 1904, Japanese forces executed a surprise attack on the Russian Far Eastern fleet at Port Arthur.

The Russo-Japanese War Japanese defeat the Russians. Treaty of Portsmouth (1905): Russia maintained Manchuria, while Korea was opened to Japanese penetration. Japan annexed Korea in 1910.