IMPERIALISM

• 1. Why did the British go to war with China in 1839?

  • china wanted to supress the illegal opium trade and confiscated opium from british merchants 
  • british wanted to keep the trade going
  • british sought territorial concessions and expanded trading rights in China, which China declined, leading to tensions that ultimately resulted in the outbreak of the First Opium War in 1839
• What were the results of the Treaty of Nanjing?

  • Cession of Hong Kong
  • Opening of Treaty Ports
  • Extraterritoriality
  • Indemnity
  • Most Favored Nation Clause
• Cession of Hong Kong

  China ceded the island of Hong Kong to Britain in perpetuity. This concession opened up a significant trading port and naval base for Britain in East Asia
• Opening of Treaty Ports

  China agreed to open up five treaty ports—Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai—for British trade and residence. These ports became key centers for foreign trade and influence in China
• Extraterritoriality

  British nationals in China were granted extraterritorial rights, meaning they were subject only to British law and not to Chinese jurisdiction. This provision provided legal protection and autonomy for British subjects in China
• Indemnity

  China was required to pay a large indemnity to Britain as compensation for the costs of the war and the destruction of opium during the conflict
• Most Favored Nation Clause

  China agreed to grant Britain the same trading rights and privileges as those extended to any other foreign power. This clause ensured that Britain received favorable treatment in future trade agreements with China
• Why were Europeans suddenly able to extend control over large parts of Africa im the late nineteenth century?

  • Technological Advancements
  • Medical Advancements
  • Political Competition
  • Economic Motives
  • Weakness of African States
• Technological advancements


  During this period, Europeans had technological advantages such as steamships, railways, telegraphs, and firearms. These innovations facilitated transportation, communication, and military conquest, enabling Europeans to penetrate deeper into Africa's interior and project their power over vast territories
• Medical advancements


  Improved medical knowledge and the development of quinine as a treatment for malaria allowed Europeans to overcome tropical diseases that had previously hindered exploration and colonization efforts in Africa. As a result, Europeans were better able to establish settlements and maintain control over territories in Africa's tropical regions
• Political competition


  European powers engaged in intense rivalry and competition for global dominance, known as the "Scramble for Africa." This competition was driven by nationalism, economic interests, and strategic considerations. European nations sought to expand their empires and secure valuable resources, markets, and territories in Africa to enhance their geopolitical power and prestige
• Economic motives


  The Industrial Revolution fueled European demand for raw materials, agricultural products, and new markets. Africa offered abundant natural resources such as rubber, timber, minerals, and agricultural land, making it an attractive target for European colonial expansion. Additionally, Europeans sought to establish trade routes, ports, and colonies in Africa to facilitate commerce and enrich their economies
• Weakness of African states

  Many African societies were fragmented, decentralized, or weakened by internal conflicts, slave trades, and the impact of European firearms and diseases. European powers exploited these vulnerabilities to establish control over African territories through military conquest, diplomacy, and manipulation of local power dynamics
• How did Africans respond to European colonialism?

  • Resistance
  • Adaption
  • Collaboration
  • Negotiation
• Resistance


  Many Africans resisted European colonization through armed uprisings, guerrilla warfare, and diplomatic efforts to maintain their sovereignty and independence. Examples include the Maji Maji Rebellion in Tanzania, the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa, and the Ashanti resistance in present-day Ghana
• Adaptation


  Some African societies adapted to colonial rule by incorporating European practices, technologies, and institutions while retaining aspects of their own cultures. This strategy, known as "indirect rule," allowed Africans to navigate colonial systems while preserving elements of their autonomy
• Collaboration


  Some African elites collaborated with European colonial authorities in exchange for political power, economic benefits, or protection. Collaboration often involved serving as intermediaries between Europeans and local populations, administering colonial governments, or participating in trade networks
• Negotiation

  African leaders engaged in diplomatic negotiations with European powers to mitigate the negative impacts of colonialism, protect their territories, and secure concessions. These negotiations sometimes resulted in treaties, agreements, or compromises that temporarily preserved African sovereignty or autonomy
• How did Europeans manage to rule their distant overseas colonies?

  • Military Force
  • Administrative Structures
  • Legal Systems
  • Economic Exploitation
• Military force


  • European colonial powers used military superiority to establish control over indigenous populations, suppress resistance, and maintain order in their colonies
  • This often involved the deployment of professional armies, naval forces, and colonial militias to enforce colonial laws and protect European interests
• Administrative structures


  • European colonial administrations established bureaucratic systems to govern their colonies, with European officials appointed to key administrative positions
  • These administrations implemented colonial policies, collected taxes, and regulated local economies, often through a combination of direct and indirect rule
• Legal systems


  • European colonial powers imposed their legal systems on indigenous populations, establishing colonial courts, laws, and judicial procedures
  • European legal frameworks served to enforce colonial authority, regulate social behavior, and adjudicate disputes within colonial societies
• Economic exploitation


  • European colonial powers exploited the natural resources, labor, and markets of their colonies for economic gain
  • This involved the establishment of cash crop plantations, mining operations, and trade networks, often at the expense of indigenous populations' livelihoods and well-being
• Why do people theorize that local leaders put up with colonial rule?

  • Economic Incentives
  • Political Pragmatism
  • Ideological Influence
• Economic incentives


  Collaboration with colonial authorities offered opportunities for local elites to accumulate wealth, acquire political power, and access European goods and technologies
• Economic motivation


  Encouraged some leaders to collaborate with colonial powers in exchange for economic benefits or protection
• Political pragmatism


  In the face of European military superiority and technological advancements, some local leaders pragmatically chose to cooperate with colonial authorities to avoid violent conflict, maintain stability, and preserve their positions of authority
• Ideological influence


  European colonial powers promoted ideologies of racial superiority and cultural superiority, which influenced perceptions of colonial rule among local populations
• Some indigenous leaders may have internalized these ideologies, viewing European rule as inevitable or even beneficial for modernization and progress
• How did Egypt end up as a colony?

  • Ottoman Rule
  • Muhammad Ali’s Reforms
  • Economic Factors
  • British Occupation
• Ottoman rule

  Egypt was nominally part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, but by the 19th century, it had become semi-autonomous under the rule of the Muhammad Ali dynasty
• Muhammad Ali's reforms

  • Implemented modernizing reforms in Egypt, including military, economic, and administrative changes
  • Increased Egypt's dependency on European powers, particularly Britain and France
• Economic factors

  Egypt's strategic location, the construction of the Suez Canal, and its status as a key link between Europe and Asia made it a coveted territory for European colonial powers
• British occupation

  1. In 1882, Britain occupied Egypt militarily in response to political instability and to protect its interests in the Suez Canal

  2. Although Egypt nominally remained part of the Ottoman Empire, it effectively became a British protectorate, with British influence dominating Egyptian politics, economy, and society
• How and why internal factors from imperialism have influenced the process of state building from 1750 to 1900

  1. Imperialism disrupted existing political, social, and economic structures in colonized territories

  2. Imperialism led to the fragmentation or reorganization of indigenous states

  3. European colonial powers imposed new administrative boundaries, legal systems, and governance structures

  4. Imperialism reshaped local power dynamics and identities

  5. Indigenous resistance to imperialism influenced the development of state institutions and political cultures in colonized societies

  6. Indigenous collaboration and adaptation to colonial rule influenced the development of state institutions and political cultures in colonized societies
• How and why external factors from imperialism have influenced the process of state building from 1750 to 1900

  1. Imperialism created new geopolitical configurations and power dynamics on a global scale

  2. European colonial empires competed for territory, resources, and influence, leading to conflicts, alliances, and diplomatic negotiations among colonial powers

  3. The spread of European ideologies, technologies, and institutions through imperialism impacted state-building processes in non-colonial regions, influencing political ideologies, economic systems, and social structures

  4. Imperialism exerted profound and complex influences on the process of state-building, both within colonized territories and on the global stage