Global Changes 1800-1914

China Resists Outside Influence During the late 1700s China was entirely self-sufficient Allowed only limited trade with European nations China sold more to Europe than they bought; the balance of trade was in China’s favor The British really wanted to find something the Chinese wanted

And it was… Drugs!!! Millions of Chinese became addicted to opium The Chinese government tried to ban the sale of Opium, but the British refused and a war broke out China ultimately lost the Opium war in 1842, and was forced to increase trade with Britain and several other nations, including the United States

Other problems in China Many Chinese people were starving due to food shortages A large rebellion broke out known as the Taiping Rebellion Lasted 14 years and cost millions of lives European nations and Japan wanted Imperial holdings in China USA wanted an “open door policy,” but very little actually changed In 1900 Chinese citizens became resentful of the lack of progress in their nation, and formed a secret society called The Righteous and Harmonious Fists These martial arts experts were called “Boxers” by Europeans Eventually the Boxer rebellion was put down by an alliance of Western powers The Empress began to allow progressive changes, but they didn’t last

Japan Modernizes Japan had been isolated from 1600-mid 1800s In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry forced the Japanese to begin trading with the United States Japanese citizens were upset that the Shogun had given in to US demands, and so they overthrew the Shogun and reinstated the Emperor as direct ruler of Japan. This is known as the Meiji Era, meaning “enlightened rule.”

Japan Modernizes Determined to modernize, Emperor Mutsuhito sent officials to Europe and America to analyze their industrial and political systems Patterned their government and army after Germany, their navy after Britain, and their educational system after America. They built railroads, opened mines, and constructed factories By 1890 Japan was the most powerful and advanced nation in Asia Japan wanted to become an Empire; they attacked China in 1904 and Korea in 1905 By 1910 Japan had control of much of China and all of Korea

US Economic Imperialism During the 1800s the newly independent nations of Latin America began trading with the United States and Europe Gradually many businesses in Latin America fell under foreign control as the new nations failed to repay debts to foreign banks

US Intervention in Cuba In the 1890s Cuba was fighting Spain for independence The USA joined the war, quickly defeated Spain, and gained control of Cuba as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillipines The US government installed a military dictator in Cuba, angering many Cubans

Panama The USA wanted to construct a canal through Panama, which was part of Colombia at the time When Colombia refused to sell the Canal Zone to the United States, US forces aided a Panamanian revolution to become independent from Colombia The new nation of Panama granted the USA rights to the canal zone in exchange for their help, and the canal was completed by 1914; it is the most valuable waterway in the world These actions turned the United States into a global “watchdog” nation, leading the USA into many conflicts over the next several decades

Meanwhile in Mexico Shortly after Mexico won its independence a man named Antonio Lopez Santa Anna was appointed its president He was unable to prevent Texas from breaking off from Mexico, and a war with the United States broke out When Mexico lost this “war” they had to surrender over a third of their national lands to the United States Meanwhile, a reform movement was brewing in Mexico. Eventually this reform movement took control of the government, leading to a violent civil war

Meanwhile in Mexico After the conflict was over a man named Porfirio Diaz became president of Mexico Elected in 1872, he governed Mexico for over 30 years In the early 1900s a number of reformers began fighting to have Diaz and his corrupt government removed Eventually Diaz is forced out of office, but the fighting continued for many years as various groups attempted to gain power; true stability is not restored in Mexico until 1929

Meanwhile, Everywhere Else European Imperial nations have extended their influence throughout the world A complex web of alliances has formed within Europe itself, linking the fates of various nations together Strong nationalist sentiments run contrary to the spread of Imperialism, creating regional tensions Most nations of the world are developing powerful military forces in order to demonstrate their strength