IMPERIALISM IN EGYPT, CHINA, & JAPAN 1840 - 1910

JAPAN & MEIJI ERA 1600s, Japan was isolated (“closed door”) 1853 - US Commodore Matthew Perry took ships/ weapons to Japan & demand they open trade  signed Treaty of Kanagawa & opened 2 ports to all Japanese angry & overthrew Tokugawa Shogun

JAPAN & MEIJI ERA Japan would need to adopt western ways. This became known as the “Meiji Restoration” – Japans adoption of western ways Knew wouldn’t be taken over now, so Japan decided to become imperialists too Established colonies in China Now Japan & Russia major powers in Asia

JAPAN & MEIJI ERA Both Russia & Japan want Manchuria for natural resources  RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR (Japan victory) Japan went after Korea & won  established a protectorate & annexation (direct rule) Korea became its protectorate of Japan

EGYPT & THE SUEZ CANAL Originally France interested in Egypt for strategic location (Red Sea), but Napoleon failed The French originally set out to build the Suez Canal in 1859

EGYPT & THE SUEZ CANAL Egypt interested in modernizing like Europe, so figured they need to trade like Europe 1869 – Egypt decided to build manmade waterway that cut through Suez, connecting Red Sea to Mediterranean  SUEZ CANAL

EGYPT & THE SUEZ CANAL Time Saved: 2 weeks Miles Saved: 4,000 Why would they want to build it??? Time Saved: 2 weeks Miles Saved: 4,000

EGYPT & THE SUEZ CANAL Egypt had to borrow $$ from France ($450 million!), but found they could not pay back the debt Britain jumped on the chance to oversee financial control of the canal  by 1882 British occupied Egypt Suez Canal was “Lifeline of the British Empire” b/c allowed quicker access to its colonies in Asia and Africa

REFORM IN CHINA China proud of their culture & many work opportunities  very self-sufficient Not interested in gadgets West was offering; only in agriculture  Chinese did not want to trade w/ Europeans But Europeans wanted access to Chinese goods & resources (especially tea)

REFORM IN CHINA Britain determined to find something Chinese wanted to trade…OPIUM! Habit-forming drug; Chinese doctors used it for pain relief for centuries By 1835, 12 million Chinese addicted & rising Qing Emperor asked Britain to stop, but refused  led to OPIUM WAR (1839-1842) British victory, gained island of Hong Kong

REFORM IN CHINA Poppies

REFORM IN CHINA Results of Opium War: China divided into spheres of influence Increase in Western trade & influence in Asia Britain gains island of Hong Kong

REFORM IN CHINA Due to Opium addiction, China no longer productive & people hungry Europeans taking advantage of China’s growing problems Had to declare “Open Door Policy” to keep from being divided up & colonized like Africa

REFORM IN CHINA Poor peasants/workers resented foreign influence  formed secret organization, Society of Harmonious Fists (aka Boxers) Wanted to get rid of Qing Dynasty, started BOXER REBELLION Rebellion failed, but nationalism rose; started to travel West to examine government structures

REFORM IN CHINA

Safari Montage Boxer Rebellion