Imperialism, Colonialism, and Resistance (1871-1914)

Imperialism■“Imperialism” generally refers to the quest for rights and possessions in other peoples’ lands. ■19th century imperialism meant control by the West of areas in Africa as well as the Middle East and Far East, with no intention of establishing any Western settlements.

■Europeans brought with them Westernization and industrialization. ■Imperialism involved the extension of sovereignty, the opening of markets, and work of Christian missionaries. ■For Westerners, imperial success gave a nation prestige and power.

■Associated with developments in industrial capitalism. ■Europeans were competing for markets, new raw materials, and profitable investments. ■1902, English reformer J. A. Hobson coined the term “the scramble for Africa.”

New Imperialism

Before European Colonization of Africa in 1880

6

■Hobson believed that imperialism benefited only the wealthy class of Western Europe, who realized high returns on their investments.

New Imperialism

■The scramble for territory and authority abroad was an extension of diplomatic and national rivalries at home. ■Territories were acquired abroad to prevent others from gaining an advantage.

New Imperialism

What conclusion can you make from looking at the political cartoon?

■Britain saw rivals abroad, especially Germany, as threats to the balance of power in Europe. ■Imperialism was about power and sovereign states saw imperial power as a supplement/addition to national sovereignty.

New Imperialism

Put yourself in the time… ■Read Rudyard Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden”…, and compare it to Henri Labouchere’s “Brown Man’s Burden.”

■China turned to reform, adopting Western diplomacy and aiming to modernize Chinese armed forces in the mid 19th century. ■A small number of government schools taught Western languages, international law, mathematics, science, and engineering.

China

■The influence of foreigners, especially missionaries, provoked a revolt in 1900. ■Chinese Christians attempted to use foreign pressure to prohibit traditional religious celebrations and favour themselves in land disputes.

China

■This angered farmers and agricultural labourers in the north. ■Men in this region formed a secret society called “Boxers,” after a form of martial arts they practiced. ■Began to kill missionaries and Chinese converts.

China

■Hundreds of foreigners were killed in Beijing before an international military force reached the capital. ■Known as the Boxer Rebellion.

China

16

■Opium War, Great Britain forced China to accept trade on its terms. ■A number of European nations and the United States established “treaty ports” in China.

China

18

■The United States, supported by Britain, proclaimed an “Open Door” policy in 1899. ■Designed to keep the territorial integrity of China, while maintaining concessions; used to prevent Japan and Russia from annexing Chinese territory.

China

■Chinese were able to maintain their independence despite Western influence. ■They created their own steamship lines to compete with British and other Europeans. ■Introduced Western spinning and weaving technology and shipped cotton textiles to the West.

China

■China faced an imperialist threat from a rapidly industrializing Japan. ■1894, Japan went to war with China over disputes regarding Korea.

China

■Japanese army, trained and supplied in the Western manner, won easily! ■Known as the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). ■Signed Treaty of Shimoneseki (1895), in which Japan forced China to cede Formosa and the Liaotung Peninsula and recognize Korea as a sovereign state.

China

■Harshness of this treaty worried Western powers and made them realize that a new important rival, and possible enemy or ally, was on the scene!

China

■Until the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853, Japan was relatively isolated from the rest of the world.

Japan

■Using the threat of force, Perry successfully demanded that the Japanese government open two ports. ■1854, Americans forces “unequal treaties” on Japan, which under the Tokugawa shogunate (military government) was a decentralized state, unprepared to deal with the new circumstances.

Japan

26

■Many Japanese demanded the real government authority be returned to the emperor. ■Resulted in the Meiji Restoration in 1868. ■Involved rebuilding the Japanese state, following Western model of centralized, unitary government.

Japan

■From 1870s to 1890s, the old samurai military forces of the shogun and daimyo gave way to European-style imperial army. ■Imperial navy was also created. ■Samurai were replaced in the civil service by men from new modern schools. ■Education became compulsory for girls and boys.

Japan

■Japan had a constitution and had transformed itself into an industrial and military power.

Japan

■Rather than fall victim to imperialism, Japan joined the Western powers as an imperial state. ■After renegotiating the “unequal treaties” and defeating China in 1894, Japan was recognized by the West as a major power.

Japan

■Japan became Britain’s ally and defeated Russia in 1905 in the Russo-Japanese War.

Japan

■Japan also had ambitions on Manchuria - which clashes with Russia. ■Russia wanted to build railways into Manchuria and gain concessions in Korea - Japan considered this part of its sphere of influence. ■Tried to negotiate, unsuccessfully!

Russo-Japanese War

33

■In 1904, Japan attacked Port Arthur, Russian base in Manchuria.

Russo-Japanese War

■Russo Japanese War lasted 16 months (1904-1905). ■Japanese were successful in part because Russia could not supply its navy and troops, and because of Russian military incompetence.

Russo-Japanese War

■Treaty of Portsmouth gave Port Arthur to Japan and confirmed Japan’s interests in Korea. ■Marked the first time since the Renaissance that a non-European state had defeated a major European power. ■Balance of power had changed!

Russo-Japanese War

■1857-1858, India experienced a large uprising against the British, led by Muslim and Hindu sepoys - soldiers trained in European military tradition - joined by several Indian princes. ■Rebellion was quashed by British, aided by loyal Indian troops. ■Known as the Sepoy Mutiny by the British. ■Indians call it the Great Rebellion.

India

■Led to India losing its independence. ■The British East India Company no longer administered the subcontinent, and India came under control of the British parliament.

India

■British governed India with a civil service composed of a small European elite of about 3500 persons in 1900.

India

■They administered a subcontinent of 300 million people! ■Spoke many different languages. ■Composed of Hindus, Muslims, and other religions. ■Native princes continued to rule in accordance with British policy in local areas.

India

■In 1876, parliament proclaimed Queen Victoria Empress of India. ■She promised her Indian subjects that all treaties would be respected, the government would cease further annexation of territories, and allow the remaining princes to continue to choose their heirs (as long as they acknowledged her as the Empress of India).

India

A British Merchant's Home in Colonial India

■Between 1858 and 1914, British Raj (means “rule” in Hindi) became entrenched in India. ■Goal was to create a class of Westernized Indians, through education.

India

■1885, the Indian National Congress was formed. ■Concerned with Indianization of the administration. ■By the mid 1890s, some nationalists began to criticize the modernization of the Congress.

India

B.G. Tilak (1856-1920). At his own life, Tilak championed the freedom of the press and demanded independence from British rule.

By 1905, Indian Congress committed itself to the goal of Indian self-government.

Indian nationalism challenged both Britain and the local princes who co-operated with the British.

■Suez Canal opened in 1869 by the French. ■Came under control of the English in 1875. ■Control of canal cut travel time in half !

Partition of Africa

■European’s began to explore further into the African continent and realized the numerous economic possibilities of areas like the Congo. ■To exploit the area, King Leopold II of Belgium (1865-1909) founded a private company that gained international recognition of its sovereignty over the Congo.

Partition of Africa

■France moved into Tunisia, Morocco, and the area west of the Belgian Congo. ■Italy moved into the east. ■Germany began to press into areas in central and southwest Africa in 1884.

Partition of Africa

A Map of Africa (1914), showing the extent of colonization

■1885, Congress of Berlin was called to deal with the partition and development of Africa. ■By 1914, ALL of Africa, except Ethiopia and Liberia, was part of the imperial spheres of Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, or Spain!!!

Partition of Africa

A Map of Africa (1914), showing the extent of colonization

■European states viewed the African continent as open for business and exploitation and ripe for missionary activity. ■They had little regard for African society and culture. ■Strong racial element as European countries viewed themselves as models for all civilizations.

Partition of Africa

■Tensions developed not only between Europeans and Africans, but also between European nations themselves. ■The area around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) had been colonized by the Dutch in the 17th century, but came under British control in 1806.

Partition of Africa

■Dutch settlers, known as Boers (meaning farmer in Dutch), moved out of the area when the British outlawed slavery. ■They established two independent republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

Partition of Africa

■When diamonds were discovered in these areas in the 1870s and gold in the 1880s, a large number of British entered the areas. ■Boers deeply resented new immigrants and prevented them from taking part in political life of the area.

Partition of Africa

■1899, British declared war on the Boers. ■Lasted 3 years and they had to commit over half a million men to the conflict. ■Ultimately, the Boers were defeated and the two republics became part of the British Empire.

Partition of Africa

Boer piquet near Spion Kop, Jan 1900

British dead after the Battle of Spion Kop, 1900