Unit 6

• Unit 6 is the age of imperialism, covering the time period of 1750-1900
• During this time period, industrialization, political revolutions, and nationalist movements were occurring
• Imperialism

  When European states conquered and controlled territories in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
• Ideological justifications for imperialism

  • Racism, scientific racism, social darwinism, the Christian civilizing mission
• The true motivation for imperialism was economics - the desire to control resources and markets to fuel industrialization
• Racism and pseudoscientific ideas were used to justify and rally support for imperialism, despite lacking factual basis
• Different ways states imposed their power

  • Violent military conquest
  • Economic imperialism
  • Spheres of influence
• How states responded to imperialism

  • Violent rebellion
  • Cultural rebellion (e.g. Ghost Dance movement)
  • Adaptation and modernization (e.g. Japan, Ottomans, Russia)
  • Failure to effectively respond (e.g. China)
• Japan was the most successful in adapting to and resisting imperialism, while China struggled to respond effectively
• How empires facilitated movement of people, goods, and cultures

  • Movement of people within empires for jobs and opportunities
  • Spread and mixing of cultures, often resisted by dominant powers
  • Emergence of anti-immigration laws
• The age of imperialism directly led to the global conflicts and revolutions of the 20th century
• Scramble for Africa

  when European states divided the African continent amongst themselves.
• Independence movements emerged as resistance against colonial rule
• European colonies were established in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Pacific Islands.
• Scientific Racism


  The idea that there are different races of people with different characteristics. (was used to support imperialism)
• Cultural rebellion


  A response to imperialism that involves asserting one's cultural identity and resisting efforts to impose foreign cultural values. An example of this is the Ghost Dance movement among Native Americans.
• Failure to effectively respond

  A response to imperialism that involves being unable to effectively resist the encroachment of imperial powers. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as internal political instability, economic weakness, or military inferiority. China is an example of a state that struggled to respond to imperialism during the Opium Wars of the 19th century.
• Adaptation and modernization


  A response to imperialism that involves adopting elements of Western culture and technology in order to modernize and strengthen one's economy, political system, and military capabilities. Examples include Japan, the Ottoman Empire, and Russia.
• Violent rebellion


  A response to imperialism that involves the use of force or armed resistance. Examples include the Boxer Rebellion in China and the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya.
• unit 6 - 1750 to 1900