1750-1900

• Imperialism

  Establishing overseas empires through military, political, economic, cultural influence
• Causes of Imperialism

  • Nationalism
  • Cultural Ideologies
  • Religion
  • Economics
• Nationalism

  • Sense of identity and loyalty to a state leads to push to take over other territories
• Britain

  • Took land in Australia, South Asia (India and Indian subcontinent), Southeast Asia (Ceylon. Burma, Myanmar, Malay States, etc)
• France

  • Had land in North Africa, lands in South Pacific, Western Africa, Indochina in Southeast Asia
• Italy and Germany

  • Both wanted colonies for economic, strategic advantages and prestige; do not begin acquiring empire until mid 1880s
• Spain

  • Major role in first wave of imperialism in 16th and 17th centuries, loses power by 19th centuries so not dominant in second wave
• Japan


  • Show of nationalist strength going into Korea; this angers China so they fight (Sino-Japanese War) and Japanese victory gives it control of Korea and Taiwan until end of WWII
• Cultural Ideologies

  At times justification was found in the belief that colonizers were helping the colonized
• Phrenologists

  • People who studied skull sizes and shapes and believed it proved that Europeans were biologically superior
• Social Darwinism

  • Adaptation of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, used the "survival of the fittest" theory to argue that countries in power were justified in taking over colonies because they were stronger than the colonies
• Superiority Ideologies

  Idea that taking over would "help" the colonized by introducing new languages, political structures, norms (ex. White Man's Burden)
• Religion

  Missionaries also impacted colonization, setting up schools and providing medical care while encouraging people to give up traditional beliefs like ancestor veneration. Leads to more colonization.
• Economics

  Treaties signed with leaders in India, East Africa, and East Indies give Europeans right to establish trading posts and forts there; major contributors are chartered companies
• Europe and Africa had a relationship before imperialism due to trading posts and slave trade; they'll begin to expand beyond trading posts and establish colonies
• The British in Africa

  • Have control of several parts, usually incorporating diplomacy and warfare as well as economic influence
• Egypt

  • Britain seized control in 1882 from Ottoman Empire to stabilize unrest and keep control of the Suez Canal
• West Africa


  • Several colonies before the 19th century established here, where they spread education, English, Christianity (ex. Sierra Leone, Gold Coast)
• The French in Africa

  • Established settler colony in Algeria, trading posts in Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Niger to compete with British West African colonies
• The Scramble for Africa

  1. European nations continue competing for natural resources in Africa

  2. Berlin Conference 1884-1885: European powers meet in Germany and agree to divide Africa (no African representatives were invited)

  3. Boer Wars: Conflict between British and Afrikaners in South Africa from 1880-1881, 1899-1902. British army drove Afrikaners and Africans from their lands and into concentration camps where many died of starvation. Millions of Afrikaners and black African farmers displaced. Britain added the settler colonies into their empire.

  4. King Leopold II: Belgium king. Oversaw invasion of Congo in central Africa and owned the colony personally to exploit it economically. Workers harvesting ivory and rubber were often beaten or killed if they did not meet quotas. In 1908 Belgium took over and conditions improved.
• By 1900 the only African countries unclaimed by Europeans were Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia) and Liberia
• European powers competed for control of goods like spices, gems, and access to trade routes within/connecting to South Asia
• Seven Years' War


  Led Britain to drive the French out of India and install East India Company, which begins to give Britain influence there. What starts out as a small force protecting employees expanded to an army including recruited Indian soldiers, called sepoys, and more British power.
• Spheres of Influence

  Areas of exclusive trading rights and access to resources carved out for various European nations
• Taiping Rebellion

  • Made imperialism easier, was a failed uprising against the Qing Dynasty that weakened China
• Boxer Rebellion

  • Anti-imperialist group that killed Chinese Christians and Western missionaries, was encouraged by empress; humiliating defeat for empress and Qing Dynasty
• Japan

  • As they begin to industrialize during Meiji Restoration, look to gain natural resources and land outside the island nation
  • Sets up a Colonization Society with plans to establish colonies in Mexico and Latin America
  • Ends up creating an Empire that included many parts of East Asia (China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands), lasted from 1890s to WWII
• Dutch


  • Began with Dutch East India Company, took over spice trade and took control of Dutch East Indies, growing cash crops like tea, rubber, and sugar
• French

  • Gained control of northern Vietnam after it defeated China in Sino-French War; continued to expand. By 1890s had Cambodia, Laos, all of modern day Vietnam. Grew cash crops like rubber.
• British

  • Began by taking small island, then founded port of Singapore and expanded until it controlled all of Malay Peninsula, Burma, and northern Borneo. Made money off cash crops like pepper, tobacco, palm oil, and rubber.
• Siam

  • Modern day Thailand, was able to remain independent of imperialism; set up diplomatic relations with British and French and modernized in a way similar to Japan.
• After losing the American colonies, Britain decides to expand to Australia and locate a penal colony there, eventually taking all Australia and annexing New Zealand.
• Imperialism in Latin America and the Pacific

  • The US believed it was its destiny to spread across the continental US (Manifest Destiny), and also expanded overseas
• Key Terms to Know

  • Trail of Tears (forced migration of Native Americans), Monroe Doctrine (stated Europeans should stay out of affairs of countries in Western Hemisphere AKA we're taking this land so stay out!), Spanish American War (granted the US areas like Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines)
• Russian Imperialism

  • All of Russia's tsars have sought to expand, but starting with Catherine the Great Russia's Empire spreads in all directions
  • Parts of Poland, territory from Ottomans
  • Under her grandson took Finland, Moldova, Georgia, etc.
  • Also expanded in 1740s into Alaska (sold it to US in 1867)
  • Competed with British for dominance in Afghanistan, called the Great Game
• Examples of Resistance to Imperialism

  • The Balkans: Rebellions increase against Ottoman rule, Serbia and Greece win independence
  • The Americas: Revolts against those settling in the Americas
  • South Asia: Rebellions against the British
  • Southeast Asia: Almost all of SE Asia under control of Spanish, Dutch, British, and French
  • Australia and New Zealand
  • Africa: Rebellion takes longer to break out than in India
• Cherokee Nation


  • In the US, tried to assimilate to white settler culture (even creating their own constitution) but were forced off land with Indian Removal Act (1830)
• Ghost Dance

  • In northwestern US about 1869, movement with rituals of dances and songs conducted to bring back the dead and drive out the whites; ended at Wounded Knee Massacre
• Tupac Amaru II

  • In southern Peru, descendant from last Inca ruler (Tupac Amaru) executed a colonial administer, leading to revolts against Spain; ends when he and his family are executed
• Indian Rebellion of 1857/Sepoy Mutiny

  • Sepoys were furious at what they saw as an attempt to convert them (mostly Hindu and Muslim) to Christianity through use of rifle cartridgges greased with mixture of cow and pig fat; led violent uprising that spread. While Britain crushes the rebellion and kills thousands, it leads to beginning of Indian nationalism.