1. Imperialism Case Studies: China & Japan

2. China: Key Terms & Questions
Opium/Opium War
Extraterritorial Rights
Taiping Rebellion
Sphere of influence
Open Door policy
Boxer Rebellion
Questions:
Why did China have little interest in trading with the West?
What internal problems did China face?
Why did reform efforts fail?
Why did Europeans establish spheres of influence rather than colonies?

3. China: Spheres of Influence, c. 1910

4. China and the West
China was largely self-sufficient and could reject Western offers
Healthy agricultural economy, large mining & manufacturing industries
Looked down on all foreigners
Only allowed foreigners to do business in Guangzhou (gwahng-joh) – balance of trade in Chinese favor
Opium – a product that would upset this balance (addictive drug derived from poppy plant)
By 1835 – 12 million Chinese people were addicted

5. The Opium Wars
Qing Emperor was angry about this situation; pleaded with the British to stop the trade
Opium War broke out
China’s ships were no match for the British
China signed the Treaty of Nanjing
Gave GB island of Hong Kong
US and other foreigners gained extraterritorial rights (not subject to Chinese law)

6. Internal Problems in China
1. Foreigners
2. Growing population (430 million in 1850)
Food production could not keep up, widespread hunger
3. Rebellion against Qing Dynasty
Taiping Rebellion: The Chinese word “Taiping” means “great peace”; Hong Xiuquan (hung shee-oo-choo-ahn) organized a peasant army of almost a million in hopes to create a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”. He and his followers captured large areas of southern China and Nanjing. His new government was brought down ten years later through internal fighting and outside assaults (20 million died in the rebellion)

7. Growing Foreign Influence
Question: to reform based on Western ways or continue traditional ways
Dowager Empress Cixi was in charge
She was traditional, but supported certain reforms
“Self-strengthening movement”: update educational system and military (manufacture steam-powered gunboats, rifles, and ammo)
Foreigners took advantage of China’s situation
Created spheres of influence
US feared other countries would divide China and create separate colonies
Proposed the “Open Door Policy” – China’s “doors” should be open to all merchants
Others agreed with this out of fear too

8. Chinese Nationalism
Frustration continued to grow: modernize or remain traditional
Boxer Rebellion
Peasants and workers resented special privileges for foreigners and Chinese Christians
Formed a secret society (Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists – aka: Boxers)
Their campaign against Dowager Empress and foreigner privilege was known as the Boxer Rebellion
Laid siege to Beijing in 1900 and surrounded European section
They were defeated by a multinational force
Despite the rebellion’s failure, nationalism grew

9. Japan: Key Terms and Questions
Treaty of Kanagawa
Meiji Era
Russo-Japanese War
Questions:
How was the situation in Japan similar to, yet different from China?
How did Japan modernize? Why?
Is Japan’s imperialism justified?

10. Japan: No Longer Isolated
Japan stayed isolated from in the industrialized world (traded with China and Indonesia)
In the early 19th c e., Westerners tried to persuade Japan to open their ports
Like China, Japan refused to accept them at first
1853: US sent Commodore Matthew Perry to Tokyo (showed off their ships and cannons) who asked Japan to open free trade to the US (actually a threat)
Treaty of Kanagawa (1854): Japan opened 2 ports to the US; other Western powers pushed for other ports to open; offered extraterritorial rights to those other countries

11. Reform and Modernization
People questioned whether or not to reform and modernize
Meiji Era (or “enlightened” era): Mutsuhito was a young emperor who ruled for 45 years
Thought the best way to compete with western influence was to modernize (Can’t beat ‘em – join them)
Imitated aspects of different western countries
Reformed education and the military
Industrialized
Became competitive with the West

12. Japan Becomes an Imperial Power
Japan became strongest military power in Asia because of its modernization
Got rid of extraterritorial rights
Strong nationalism
1876 – forced Korea to open 3 ports (this upset China who saw Korea as a trading partner)
China & Japan agreed to not send armies to Korea but China broke the agreement in 1894 (helping Korea)
Japan and China went to war; Japan won and gained its first colonies (Taiwan)
Japan’s victory changed balance of power

13. Imperialism Cont’d Japan and Russia competed in Asia
They went to war over Manchuria
Japan would recognize Russia’s rights in Manchuria if Russia promised to stay out of Korea (Russia said no)
Feb – Japan launched a surprise attack on Russian ships off of Manchuria
Russo-Japanese War: Japan drove Russian troops out of Korea and captured Russia’s pacific fleet
Huge embarrassment for Russia!!
1905 – Japan made Korea a protectorate; annexed it

15. Hi everyone!
I apologize for the wordiness of the PowerPoint. I tried to make it fairly self-explanatory but we will go over the major terms and essential questions in class. Please be prepared to discuss them and ask any questions that you have.