Imperialism To Russian Revolution Flashcards
Motives for imperialism
- Economic causes: countries need for raw resources and natural materials, a result of industrial revolution. Wanted control for investment and so the country being controlled buys the products, also for getting access to goods you don’t have.
- Political causes: Imperialism fosters rivalry between countries, countries want to build up their military to combat other countries and gain advantage over competition, and to defend themselves if country gets involved in politics
- Cultural causes: To spread western cultures to countries that were “backwards”. Idea that Europeans were a stronger race, and other races were supposed to be destroyed to help humans, social darwinism.
- Religious causes: People thought Christianity was the best religion, and it was meant to be spread, Countries tried to take over land to convert people.
Types of Imperial Control
Colony - complete control
Protectorate - has own government but under the control of an outside power (indirect and less expensive)
Sphere of Influence - outside power claims exclusive trading/investment privileges (economic and indirect control)
Economic imperialism - private business interests control a less developed country
British Empire 1850
In 1850, the British Empire was a vast and powerful global entity, spanning territories in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The empire played a pivotal role in the world economy, benefiting from the Industrial Revolution’s economic advancements in Britain. Colonial administration varied across regions, with the empire expanding its influence in Africa and Asia through colonization. India was a crucial part of the empire, and the Royal Navy ensured naval dominance, safeguarding trade routes and colonies. Despite its strength, the empire faced challenges, including resistance from colonized peoples and shifting global power dynamics.
Cecil John Rhodes
European colonialist part of who tried to make the Cape to Cairo plan. The plan aimed to create a continuous British-controlled railway and telegraph line running from Cape Town in the south to Cairo in the north of Africa. Rhodes envisioned a British empire that spanned the entire length of the continent, promoting British economic and strategic interests.
Suez Canal
- Man-made water canal
- connecting mediterranean sea to Indian ocean via red sea
- Enables a more direct route for shipping between Europe and Asia
- Effectively allowing for passage from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean without having to circumnavigate the African continent
Panama Canal
- Serves as a maritime shortcut that saves time and costs in transporting all kinds of goods
- Built to dramatically decrease the travel time for ships between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
East India Company
- British joint-stock trading company established for trade with East Asia formed in 1600
- Gained control in India through diplomacy and military conquests
- Dissolved after Sepoy Mutiny (both Indian and Muslim soldiers rebelled against the British officers after being forced to use animal grease (complete lack of respect to the respective religions))
- British kept control over India with British Rah but not much changed
“Great Game”
- Throughout most of the 19th century, the British and Russian Empires engaged in a political and diplomatic rivalry over Afghanistan and nearby regions in Central and South Asia.
- Involved military officers and adventurers seeking influence and intelligence. Russian and British explorers explored uncharted parts of Central Asia, mapping terrain and forming alliances in preparation for a potential war for India.
- However, due to the global conflict in 1914 and the collapse of the Russian state in 1917, the anticipated war for India never occurred. Nevertheless, imperial expansion brought much of Central Asia under Russian control, establishing Russian dominance that lasted until the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991.
- Competition among European powers in 1991 also resulted in further imperialism in South Asia.
Monroe doctrine
- In 1823, the Revolution in Haiti ( part of the Napoleonic wars ) inspired other Latin American countries to revolt for their freedom. At this point, after the War of 1812, we had already established ourselves as a strong entity. Spain was colonizing the majority of countries in Latin America and therefore put their rich resources under a mercantilist policy.
- The Spanish were also oppressive. Since our borders were near the borders of Cuba and the rest of South America, we were open to colonization by Spain. So, President James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, which protected the Western Hemisphere ( including Latin America ) from colonization.
- This doctrine also said that any violent action would be returned with reciprocal aggression. European countries compiled because America’s reputation was not seen as fledgling anymore.
Queen Liliuokalani
- Last monarch of Hawai’i
- Overthrown from throne
she opposed annexation to the United States and insisted that native Hawaiians should continue to control Hawaii - Insurrection in her name by loyalist Robert Wilcox failed under suppression by Dole’s group and led to her house arrest and eventual agreement to give up Hawaii to the US.
Spanish Cuban American war
Causes of the Spanish-American War:
1. Spain violated the Monroe Doctrine in 1898.
2. Spain established reconcentration camps in Cuba.
3. U.S. had significant economic interests in Cuba with many businesses and trading.
4. Potential establishment of military bases in Cuba.
5. Yellow Journalism exaggerated truths to provoke outrage, particularly about Cuban concentration camps.
6. The U.S.S. Maine explosion led Congress to declare war against Spain.
Results of the Spanish-American War:
1. Annexation of Hawaii due to economic riches and strategic military potential.
2. Cuba became a U.S. protectorate, leading to dissatisfaction in Cuba.
3. The U.S. gained ex-Spanish colonies, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
4. The Philippines engaged in guerrilla warfare after feeling betrayed after the Philippines helped the United States defeat Spanish colonial forces, the Treaty of Paris was signed in December 1898, ceding the Philippines from Spanish rule to the United States in exchange for $20 million, causing division in the U.S. over annexation.
5. The United States emerged as a recognized world power.
Boers migration to Africa
In the past, people from Europe, called Boers, moved to the southern part of Africa in the 1600s. They were Dutch settlers looking for better opportunities and freedom from Dutch Colonial rule. They formed farming communities known as Boer Republics. As time passed, conflicts arose, especially with the British, leading to events like the Boer Wars. Other Europeans also came to Africa for trade and resources, impacting the lives of the local people and shaping the region’s history. The Dutch set up a trading post called the Cape Colony in Southern Africa, where they engaged in trade. They sold and enslaved indigenous South Africans during this time. Other Europeans, including Germans and French, later joined the Dutch in the region. The Dutch settlers developed their own language called Afrikaans as they continued to shape the cultural landscape of Southern Africa.
Indentured labor
Form of labor where an individual is under contract to work without a salary to repay an indenture or loan within a certain timeframe.
“Survival of the fittest”
Social Darwinism is a concept that applies Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection to human societies. It suggests that societal progress comes through competition, with the strongest and most capable individuals or groups succeeding. “Survival of the fittest” is a phrase associated with this idea, linked to the idea that individuals or groups with traits, skills, or resources that are advantageous in a given economic system will thrive.
China (preface)
- British want chinese goods (silk, porcelain, tea in exchange for textiles)
- EIC wanted chinese tea, but CN wasn’t interested - only wanted silver
- Successfully traded with Westerners but only in two ports (Guongzhou/Canton)
- British reserve of silver drained
Opium war
First Opium War (1839-1842):
The First Opium War was between China and Britain. Britain wanted to trade opium in China, which led to addiction and social issues. China tried to stop the opium trade, leading to conflicts between Chinese officials and British traders. The conflict escalated, and Britain’s superior naval power forced China to sign the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. The treaty opened five Chinese ports to British trade, ceded Hong Kong to Britain, and established unfair trade terms.
Second Opium War (1856-1860):
The Second Opium War involved Britain and France against China. It arose from conflicts over trade and foreign influence, as Western powers sought to expand their influence and access to Chinese markets. The war began with the Arrow Incident in 1856, where a Chinese-owned ship flying a British flag was seized by Chinese authorities. This event triggered hostilities between Britain and China. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Tientsin, which expanded foreign access to Chinese trade, legalized opium, and imposed indemnities on China.
Lin Zexu
Lin Zexu was a Chinese official during the Opium Wars. He played a crucial role in trying to stop the opium trade that caused conflicts between China and Western powers. Lin Zexu attempted to halt the spread of opium in China in the 19th century by confiscating and destroying opium, taking legal actions against those involved, imposing trade restrictions on foreigners, and writing letters to Queen Victoria urging an end to the opium trade. This led to tensions with British traders who resisted Chinese efforts to control the opium trade. Lin Zexu’s actions contributed to the outbreak of the First Opium War.
Spheres of influence
- The Self Strengthening Movement failed to prevent continuing foreign intrusion into Chinese affairs. Foreign powers began to dismantle the Chinese system of tributary states during the latter part of the 19th century. By 1898, foreign powers had carved China into spheres of economic influence.
- This term refers to specific regions where these powers enjoyed exclusive economic and political privileges without direct political control.
- Only distrust among the foreign powers prevented the total dismemberment of the Middle Kingdom.
Spheres of Influence different countries had
- British Sphere of Influence:
Hong Kong and areas along the Yangtze River. - French Sphere of Influence:
Guangzhouwan and areas in southern China. - German Sphere of Influence:
Shandong Peninsula and the Jiaozhou Bay. - Russian Sphere of Influence:
Northeastern China, particularly around Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula. - Japanese Sphere of Influence:
Parts of Manchuria, especially after the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). - United States Sphere of Influence:
Open Door Policy aimed at ensuring equal economic access to China for all nations.
Treaty of Nanjing
- Unequal treaty where Britain had the upper hand. This treaty is an agreement of peace between the warring nations of Great Britain and China officially ending the Opium Wars. Some contentions of the treaty were:
- British citizens in specified Chinese cities (Canton, Amoy, Foochow-fu, Ningpo, and Shanghai) are exempt from Chinese law, governed by British laws.
- Cession of Hong Kong to the Queen of Great Britain, her heirs, and successors, to be possessed forever and governed by British laws.
- The Chinese Emperor agrees to pay twelve million pounds to compensate for expenses incurred by the British government due to a British expedition.
Taiping rebellion
- Civil war AFTER the treaty of Nanjing
- A group known as the Taipings attempted to take over the Chinese govt (Qing govt) and drastically reform their society, with a goal to establish a utopian, Christian-inspired society
- Led by Hong Xiuquan (a teacher who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ) who believed that the govt was corrupt - saw millions of chinese become opium addicts after the treaty of Nanjing and said that the govt did little to prevent the spread of opium and was unable to adapt to the new angers of Western imperialism
- Preached an early form of communism (stressed shared property and mixed with the 10 commandments - Hong was a Christian and hoped that all Chinese would convert)
(beginning in 1850) Taiping army (at its height) had 1-3 million soldiers controlling over 30 million people - The Taiping army was made up of many diff armies led by diff leaders -> internal feuds
- British and French armies aided the Qing govt in fighting the Taipings (for business/economic interests) -> successfully stopped in 1864
- Over 20-30 million Chinese killed - bloodiest civil war in human history, although the rebellion was suppressed by the Qing Dynasty.
Self-strengthening movement
- Series of reform programs initiated by Qing Dynasty rulers to empower China amidst internal rebellions. Local leaders, granted authority by the imperial government, promoted military and economic reforms, adopting the slogan “Chinese learning at the base, Western learning for use.”
- Seeking to blend Chinese traditions with European technology, leaders of the movement built modern shipyards, railways, weapons industries, and academies for scientific expertise while holding onto Confucian values.
- Despite laying the foundation for industrialization, the movement brought only superficial changes to the Chinese economy and society. Hindered by a contradiction between industrialization and Confucian values, the movement faced obstacles from the imperial government, with funds diverted by Empress Dowager Cixi for non-essential projects.
- The movement ultimately failed to introduce enough industry for substantial military and economic strength in China.
Hundred Days reforms
- Creation of spheres of influence prompted the Hundred Days’ Reforms in 1898.
- Scholars Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao led the reform movement.
- They reinterpreted Confucian thought to justify radical changes in the imperial system.
- Goal was to transform China into a modern industrial society.
- Emperor Guangxu launched sweeping reforms, including constitutional monarchy, civil liberties, anti-corruption measures, education overhaul, foreign influence, military modernization, and economic development.
- Conservative opposition, including Empress Dowager Cixi, led to the nullification of reforms after 103 days.
- Emperor Guangxu was imprisoned, and six leading reformers executed.
Kang and Liang escaped to Japan.
Boxer rebellion (1899 - 1901)
- Believing that foreign powers were pushing for her retirement, Cixi threw her support behind an antiforeign uprising (Boxer rebellion
- Secret society known as the Boxers (Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists) led the rebellion.
- Motivated by anti-foreign and anti-Christian sentiments in China.
Boxers attacked foreigners, Christians, and Chinese Christians.
Siege of foreign legations in Beijing during the rebellion. - International response with the Eight-Nation Alliance, including forces from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary.
- The Treaty of Portsmouth in 1901 ended the rebellion.
- The Boxer Protocol imposed heavy indemnities on China, allowing foreign military occupation of certain areas.
- Contributed to the weakening of the Qing Dynasty and internal political unrest.
Commodore Matthew Perry
Sent by Pres. Millard C. Fillmore to Japan with a squadron of American warships to get JPN to agree to trade and allowing American ships and crew to rest and refuel mid-journey.
Meiji Restoration
The Meiji Restoration of 1868 marked a pivotal moment in Japanese history when a group of young samurai replaced the Tokugawa shogunate with a government influenced by Western political ideas, establishing the 15-year-old Emperor Meiji as its symbolic head. This overthrow ended 250 years of Tokugawa rule and initiated the Meiji period, characterized by extensive changes in Japanese society, including government, international relations, economy, social structure, and culture. The Meiji government selectively adopted Western industrial, economic, and political systems to strengthen Japan’s international position, drafting a constitution in 1889 based on the German (Prussian) model. The constitution was presented as a gift by the emperor without requiring ratification by the people, emphasizing a government led by a monarch rather than a representative or democratic system. The samurai leaders behind the restoration became the oligarchs of the new Japanese government, shaping a modern nation where citizens owed loyalty to the emperor.
Tokugawa rule
Tokugawa rule refers to a period in Japanese history when the Tokugawa family held power, specifically during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shoguns established a centralized government in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and implemented policies to bring stability to Japan. They enforced a strict social hierarchy, limiting the power of the samurai and promoting economic growth. However, this era was marked by isolationist policies, restricting foreign influences and trade. The Tokugawa rule ended with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, leading to significant social and political transformations in Japan.
Sino-Japanese War
- Korea was a longstanding tributary state of China, but as Japan modernized in the late 19th century, both nations sought influence in the Korean Peninsula.
- The Li-Itō Convention in 1885 prevented war by withdrawing troops from Korea. In 1894, Kim Ok-kyun, leader of the previous coup, was lured to Shanghai and killed, outraging Japan.
- China sent troops to Korea at the Korean king’s request, seen as violating the Convention. Japan sent troops too, and when China reinforced its forces, Japan sank a British warship with Chinese reinforcements.
- War broke out on August 1, 1894, and Japan easily defeated China. Weakened by foreign occupation, China signed unequal treaties, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, where China ceded Taiwan and Penghu Islands, paid a large indemnity, allowed Japan into treaty ports, and recognized Japanese dominance in Korea.
- This marked the end of Korean tribute to China and brought Korean “independence,” with an indemnity paid to Korea from China.
Russo-Japanese War
- In the late 1800s, Russia established a naval base at Port Arthur, to secure a terminus for the Trans-Asiatic railway. Japan, concerned about Russian dominance in Korea, saw this as a threat to its own influence.
- In 1896, the Korean king sought aid from Russia under Japanese pressure, sparking negotiations between Russia and Japan over their activities in Korea.
- Tensions escalated, leading to Japan attacking Russian troops at Port Arthur in 1904, destroying much of the fleet. Japan formally declared war on Russia two days later. Despite Russia being a world power and Japan considered second-rate, Japan won the Russo-Japanese War.
- The treaty of Portsmouth resulted in Japan gaining control of the Liaodong Peninsula, Port Arthur, the South Manchurian Railway, and half of Sakhalin Island. Within two months of signing the treaty, a revolution occurred in Russia.
“Scramble for Africa”
Colonization, division, and invasion of 90% of the African continent and gaining most of their resources by seven Western European powers.
Leopold II
- Belgium’s ruler when it recently became an independent kingdom.
- Contracted Henry Morton Stanley in 1879 to explore the Congo basin, who gave deceitful treaties in 1885 to the people there which allowed Leopold to declare the Congo his private colony.
- persuaded global powers to grant him ownership, promising to protect free trade.
Leopold exploited the Congo’s resources, imposing unpaid labor and harsh rubber quotas, leading to widespread suffering. Accusations by George Washington Williams in 1890 and Roger Casement’s 1903 report corroborated atrocities. - Under international pressure, Leopold relinquished control in 1908, receiving 50 million francs from Belgium, before dying shortly after
Khoikhoi and Xhosa
- The Khoikhoi, also known as the Khoi, are traditionally pastoralists and hunter-gatherers. Historically, they lived in the southwestern parts of Africa, including present-day Namibia and South Africa.
- The Xhosa people are a Bantu ethnic group in Southern Africa, primarily residing in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.
- Often came into contact with Europeans (resulting in violent conflict) and local population dropped when introduced to smallpox by dutch
- the Dutch East India Company enclosed traditional grazing land for farms - over the next century the Khoihkoi would be driven off of their land
Their culture became torn apart by colonialism - the men would work as bondsmen or farmworkers, and many women were taken to Europe to be displayed.
Berlin Conference
he Berlin Conference in 1884-1885 divided Africa among European powers to regulate the colonization and trade in Africa. It also helped to prevent conflicts between countries and establish guidelines for claiming territories in Africa. This led to the division of African territories without considering existing cultural boundaries. The decisions made had lasting negative effects on the continent and changed the colonial map, as African leaders were not involved or consulted.
Direct rule
- a system of government in which a province is controlled by a central government.
- Assimilation, no self rule
- e.g. colonies
Indirect rule
- a system of government of one nation by another in which the governed people retain certain administrative, legal, and other powers.
- limited self rule but used local govt officials to help rule.
Indian National Congress
- Political party made up of Hindus
Wanted to self govern the country, advocating for nationalism and Indian independence from britain - Upset that Britain had segregated Bengal (segregated Muslim + Hindu people and took away their control) in 1905
- 1911-1912 British segregate by language instead (Hindus happy with it)
Sepoy Mutiny
- Sepoys were Indian and Muslim soldiers hired by the EIC (East India Company)
- Mutiny after they had to use a mix of beef and pork grease for the ammunition.
- Killed hundreds of officers, women, and children via shooting, burning, and dismemberment.
- Led to the dissolvement of EIC
