1. The Age of Imperialism 1875 - 1914
Red-coated British soldiers stand at attention around a royal pavilion during a ceremony in India. Britain’s Queen Victoria took the title Empress on India in 1876.

2. Imperialism Vocab
Imperialism- a policy of conquering and ruling other lands
Nationalism- strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance
Racism- the belief that one race is superior to others

3. Imperialism Breakdown
Indirect Control
Direct Control
Local government officials used
Limited self-rule
Government institutions are based on European styles
Goal: develop future leaders
Foreign officials brought in
No self-rule
Government institutions are based only on European styles
Goal: assimilation
Colony
Territory governed internally by a foreign power
Protectorate
Territory with its own internal government but under the control of an outside power
Sphere of Influence
Area in which as outside power claims exclusive investment of trading privileges
Economic Imperialism
Independent but less developed country controlled by private business interests rather than a government

4. Africa By 1880 only 10% of Africa was controlled by the Europeans
The interior of Africa was unnavigable by river and had rough terrain
Disease killed many
African empires had huge armies that successfully kept out most European armies
The Industrial Revolution and the development of modern technology (boats, weapons, etc) made it easier for Europeans to control Africa
Berlin Conference
14 European nations met to create a set of rules for the division of Africa
No African leader was invited
Respect for the empires or boundaries was ignored
Believed it would benefit the economy by tapping into a new market (they were wrong)

5. India
“Jewel in the Crown”- India as the most valuable of all Britain’s colonies
British law restricted Indian competition against British goods and manufacturing
Modern technology was brought to India helping to unify the country, increase literacy and develop a modern economy
Indians struggled to unite against the British because of the religious differences between the Hindus and the Muslims
Indians start to develop growing feelings of nationalism
Nationalist groups start to emerge and begin calling for self-government
Britain attempts to break up parts of its colonies according to race to help minimize these outbursts but they aren’t successful

6. Asia
China was highly self-sufficient agriculturally and regularly rejected offers from the West to engage in trade
Opium War of Britain vs China
British merchants were smuggling opium into China and as a result many Chinese were becoming highly addicted
The Chinese government was angry the British government was not stopping the movement of drugs so they declared war
British technology overwhelmed Chinese outdated boats and weapons
War ended 1842
Treaty of Nanjing
Gave Britain control over Hong Kong
Gave foreigners extraterritorial rights - foreigners were not subject to Chinese law on Chinese soil

7. Competition between Nations
In the mid-1800s, Britain was the most powerful nation in the world.
Factories produced more good than those of any other country
British Navy guarded the oceans so that those goods could be shipped safely to ports around the globe
British banks loaned the money needed to build factories, mines, and railroads worldwide
By the late 1800s Germany and the United States were challenging Britain’s economic leadership

8. Ideas of Superiority
The race for colonies grew out of a strong sense of national pride as well as from economic competition
Following the Industrial Revolution, Europeans regarded their new technology as proof they were better than other people
This attitude is a reflection of racism
Europeans believed that they had the right and duty to bring the results of their progress to other countries
Some of this push for expansion of the European way of life came from missionaries
Travelled to preach the Gospel and helped to end the slave trade internationally