Chapter 25: Imperialism in Asia and Latin America
Section 1: China Reacts to Western Influences
Eli-JayWorld Studies
A. European Influence and Conflicts in China
• When European imperialism reached China, it created conflicts and forced the Chinese to sign several treaties.
A. European Influence and Conflicts in China
• The Opium War– Opium was a painkiller that was an addictive
drug made from the poppy plant. – Many Chinese people were addicted to Opium,
and many British were coming to China just to sell Opium.
– An official named Lin Zexu wrote to Queen Victoria from Britain, explaining to her how she would feel if someone from a different country came selling Opium, knowing she didn’t allow it.
A. European Influence and Conflicts in China
• The Treaty of Nanjing– China was forced to sign the Treaty of Nanjing in
1842. – China had to give the city of Hong Kong to Great
Britain. – During the next two years, both France and the
United States pressured China to sign similar treaties, which China did sign.
A. European Influence and Conflicts in China
• The Unequal Treaties– After the second Opium War, several treaties were
forced on China. – The treaties became known as the Unequal
treaties. – The treaties gave foreign nations control over the
entire Chinese economy.
A. European Influence and Conflicts in China
• Spheres of Influence– China was weakened by the Taiping Rebellion,
which occurred from 1850 to 1864. – After the Taiping Rebellion, China was an easy
target of other countries. – The policy called, “Open Door Policy” was
established to prevent nations from colonizing China.
B. Toward Revolution in China
• Imperialism led to rebellions in China and the overthrow of the Manchu Dynasty.
B. Toward Revolution in China
• The Boxer Rebellion– Many Chinese people were deeply angry at the
foreign nations for dividing their country into spheres of influence.
– Europeans called this group boxers because they were trained in Chinese fighting techniques.
– After the failure of the Boxer Rebellion, the Manchu Dynasty decided to reform its government.
B. Toward Revolution in China
• Sun Yat-sen– Reformers wanted to replace the Manchu Dynasty
with a republic, after Empress Ci Xi died. – Sun Yat-sen became a passionate spokesperson for
a Chinese republic. – He was educated in Western countries about
western ways.
Chapter 25: Imperialism in Asia and Latin America
Section 2: Japan Modernizes
Eli-JayWorld Studies
A. Challenges by Western Imperial Powers
• Challenges by Western powers finally succeeded in opening Japan to foreigners and foreign traders.
A. Challenges by Western Imperial Powers
• A show of Force– In 1853, an event confirmed Japanese fears about
foreigners. – The American government sent a formal mission
to the emperor of Japan. – The letter asked for better treatment of
shipwrecked U.S. sailors, the sale of supplies to ships in need of them, and trade between Japan and the United States.
A. Challenges by Western Imperial Powers
• Treaty of Kanagawa– Perry and representatives of the emperor signed
the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. – An American consul would live and work in Japan. – A consul is a government official who is
responsible for commercial interests and takes care of functions such as issuing passports.
B. Restoring Power to Japan
• The Japanese emperor Meiji was restored to power, and industrialization and social change followed.
B: Restoring Power to Japan
• The Return of the Emperor– A reform group decided Japan would be better off
if the emperor were restored to full power in 1867.
– They persuaded the last shogun to resign and give his power to Emperor Mutsuhito, a 16 year old boy.
– Mutsuhito soon took the name of Meiji, which means “enlightened rule”.
B. Restoring Power to Japan
• Government Changes Under Emperor Meiji– The new government set about centralizing power
and breaking up feudalism. – The government also began moving in the
direction of a constitutional government. – Japanese leaders encouraged citizens to be loyal
to the nation and the emperor.
B. Restoring Power to Japan
• Industrialization Under Emperor Meiji– Under the government rapid industrialization and
modernization occurred during the Meiji restoration.
– The government built ships, weapons, and railroads.
– They also began mining for coal. The silk and cotton industries expanded. The silk and cotton industries depended on cheap labor.
B. Restoring Power to Japan
• Social Changes Under Emperor Meiji– All people from different classes could intermarry
and dress as they choose. – Members of this class had been known as
nonhumans. – Outcasts lived in special areas and could be
abused by members of other classes.
C. Japanese Foreign Policy
• Japan let go of its policy of isolation and became an industrial and military world power.
C. Japanese Foreign Policy
• Japanese Imperialism– In 1879, Japan took over the Ryukyu Islands. – In the past Japanese efforts to trade with Korea
had long been under Chinese control. – In 1894, the first Sino-Japanese War broke out
between Japan and China.
C. Japanese Foreign Policy
• The Russo-Japanese War– After the Sino-Japanese War, Japan gradually
strengthened its army.– Nobody asked the Koreans or the Chinese how
they felt about the conflict or what they wanted. – War broke out between Russia and Japan. This
was called the Russo-Japanese War.
C. Japanese Foreign Policy
• The New Imperialist Power– In more than 50 years a traditional isolated Japan
had become an industrialized power. – Other industrialization imperialists nations, such
as a Great Britain and Russia, viewed the nation of Japan as a threat to the balance of power.
– Japan’s achievements and victories sent ripples of concern through the western world.
Chapter 25: Imperialism in Asia and Latin America
Section 3: Japan Imperialism in Latin America
Eli-JayWorld Studies
A. Foreigners in Latin America
• Even after Latin America gained independence, foreign nations continued to dominate.
A. Foreigners in Latin America
• Effects of Colonial Imperialism– Before Europeans arrived, Latin America
economies were mostly self-sufficient. – European interference permanently changed the
economies of Latin America. – Unfortunately, they also denied the Latin
Americans any role in government.
A. Foreigners in Latin America
• Economic Imperialism in Latin America– Even after Latin Americans broke free of
Europeans’ political control, their economies still depended on trade with European countries.
– They needed sources for food crops and goods they did not produce.
– Some Latin Americans nations with many resources and good management built strong economies.
A. Foreigners in Latin America
• Areas of Weakness– Problems between social classes and troubled
economies made it difficult for Latin American countries to unite.
– Many Latin Americans felt no loyalty to the central governments of their nations.
– They were at risk of further colonization because they could not defend their liberty.
A. Foreigners in Latin America
• The Monroe Doctrine– As revolutions ended Spanish and Portuguese rule
in Latin America, U.S. citizens watched eagerly. – U.S. government leaders were aware that the
newly independent Latin American governments were poorly prepared to defend themselves against further colonization.
– Great Britain opposed European colonization in Latin America and was willing to back up the U.S. if necessary.
B: United States Imperialism
• During the late 1800s and early 1900s the United States introduced it’s own brand of imperialism to Latin America.
B: United States Imperialism
• The Spanish-American War– In 1895 a Cuban revolution with the goal of gaining
independence from Spain began. – Most of the Americans were on the Cubans side, so
president McKinley sent the battleship USS Maine to Havana, the capital of Cuba to help protect the Americans.
– The Maine exploded and the explosion killed 260 American sailors. Nobody knew the cause of the blast. Finally president McKinley asked Spain to stop fighting and grant Cuba its independence.
B: United States Imperialism
• Big Stick Diplomacy– European imperialists had acquired territory and
colonies all over the world. – Instead of seeking colonies for the United States,
President Roosevelt wanted treaties that would support U.S. businesses abroad.
– Many people accused him of being imperialistic. Roosevelt said that it was important to “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. ( A strong country could control others without making them colonies).
B: United States Imperialism
• The Panama Canal– The United States had long wanted to link its east and west
coasts with a canal across Central American. – The united States obtained the isthmus between North
and South America located around Panama. (Isthmus: is a narrow strip of land bordered on both sides by water between two larger masses of land).
– 1904-1914 the canal was built after Panama signed the treaty giving the United States permission.
C: Reform and Change in Mexico
• After Mexico’s independence from Spain, Mexico faced economic challenges and revolution.
C: Reform and Change in Mexico
• Benito Pablo Juarez and Porfirio Diaz– In early 1854, reformers launched a revolt against
Santa Anna and took over the government in 1855. – Benito Juarez was a great leader of the reform
movement. He was a Native American who wanted to help the poor. He became the president of Mexico in 1861.
– Later in 1877, Porfirio Diaz led a series of revolts, he became president of Mexico. Under his harsh rule, Diaz brought order and modernization to Mexico.
Benito Juarez Porfirio Diaz
C: Reform and Change in Mexico
• Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa– Francisco Indalecio Madero, a revolutionary
leader, succeeded Diaz. – Madero disappointed his revolutionary
supporters: Native Americans Emiliano Zapata and former bandit Pancho Villa.
– Venustiano Carranza seized power in 1914, Zapata and Villa led rebellions against Carranza. Zapata was murdered in 1915.
Chapter 25: Imperialism in Asia and Latin America
Section 4: Worldwide Effects of Imperialism
Eli-JayWorld Studies
A. Views of Imperialism
• Both opposing and supporting views existed on the issue of imperialism.
A. Views of Imperialism
• Opposing Imperialism– Imperialism became a hotly debated issue in the
United States. – Many Americans believed that the United States
should not have an overseas empire, and they also believed that the United States should stay out of the affairs of other countries.
– Senator, George F. Hoar, stated his objection to imperialism in the debate over acquiring the Philippines.
A. Views of Imperialism
• Supporting Imperialism– In the late 1800s the United States had not been
involved much in foreign affairs. – Several settlers helped the United States to
expand westward as far as the Pacific Ocean. – American industry and agriculture were producing
more goods than the American people were buying. Such economic benefits caused many Americans to take a positive view of imperialism.
B. Progress Under Imperialism
• Imperialism influenced worldwide changes including progress in medicine, public health, education, and science and technology.
B. Progress Under Imperialism
• Medicine– Important scientific discoveries led to major
breakthroughs in medicine. – In the mid-1800s Louis Pasteur, a French chemist
and biologist, proved the germ theory of disease. – Robert Koch, a German scientist made the study
of germs into a systematic science.
B. Progress Under Imperialism
• Public Health– The mingling of people from Europe and other
continents resulted in more disease. – In addition to sending doctors, western nations
established hospitals in other countries. – Modern Western medicine also had some
negative effects. It cause people to abandon the sometimes valuable medical knowledge of traditional herbalists and healers.
B. Progress Under Imperialism
• Science and Technology– The western nations took their own technology to
the countries they controlled or colonized. – They built roads and established a network of
railroads. Ports were modernized. – Many people were eager for western technology.
Sewers and water systems added to the quality of life.
B. Progress Under Imperialism
• Education– European nations soon realized that they could
not attract enough fellow Europeans to handle all the jobs that had to be done in their colonies.
– These workers had to speak the language of their governing nation, and they had to have a basic western education.
– European schools taught promising students in the colonies.