Imperialism in Asia India and Gandhi

Asia

British in India By the Mid 1800’s, British controlled 60% of India Created railroads and industry British gained control by putting the diverse cultures against one another British East India Company- trade company that gained political control Major goal of company was to make $$

British Cause Major Problems Hindu was one of the primary religions in India British Changed Social/Religious Laws: Sepoy, (Indian troops), were allowed to serve overseas which went against Hindu values and caste system. Allowed Hindu widows to re-marry Stopped “suttee” Upper-class widows committing suicide at husbands funeral by throwing self on burial fire. Show of dedication to husband.

Problems continued Distributed new rifles greased with animal fat which went against their religion, both Hindu and Muslim Hindu: cow scared Muslim: Can’t eat pig British had little regard for culture and religion. Ignorant to values of the people they were ruling British were trying to “modernize,” and keep the peace.

Sepoy Rebellion Army not happy with Brits, forced to go against religious beliefs British had changed the guns to vegetable oil, however, the rumor had spread and they did not trust the British Rose up and rebelled against religious intolerance Some made allies with Muslims in the name of freedom Rebellion was squashed and resulted in direct control of the crown

The good and the bad British Influence: Good things: Introduced modern technology, medicine, brought about peace among villages and education. Connected rural areas with the Railroads Inspired nationalism among Indians who wanted freedom from their oppressors Bad things: Cause food shortage from population explosion, stepped on religious values and culture, restricted rights and promoted inequalities

For and Against Nationalists wanted British influence gone quick and forever Indian National Congress want to combine British education, ideas with Indian tradition and use peaceful protests to gain independence

him                                                                                           

Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi- Indian Nationalist Believed in peaceful protest Hindu Business class Part of Indian National Congress Fought for rights in South Africa and India

Gandhi in India Used peaceful protests, non-cooperation and fasting to fight off British control of the country Did not believe in material things Made own clothes and used the food from the land to survive

Important protests British control: Protesting oppressive British Laws and control of the country Indigo protest: Gandhi made own clothes to protest British hold on the textile industry. Gandhi got rid of all material things to get back to the culture of India. Only wore things made from his hands Salt march: British Law against Hindu’s making their own salt. Gandhi marched 240 miles to sea to produce salt Massacre: British general made a law against public Indian assembly

Amritsar Giving no word of warning, 50 soldiers were ordered to fire into the gathering, and for 10 minutes 1,650 rounds of ammunition were unloaded into the screaming, terrified crowd, some of whom were trampled by those desperately trying to escape. According to official estimates, nearly 379 civilians were killed, and another 1,100 were left wounded with no medical attention

Gandhi's influence Supported Indian nationalism Attempted to erase class distinction Promote unity and acceptance Tried to erase religious tensions among Christians, Muslims, and Hindu's of India

After Independence Mahatma Gandhi, aged 78, was on the way to a prayer meeting, when he was shot three times in the chest by a fellow Hindu. Gandhi died on January 30, 1948. “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Mohandas Gandhi 1869-1948

Effects of British Indian nationalism inflamed Modern technology Famine and poverty, Indians stopped farming and producing food, and became over focused on cash crops (cotton, indigo) Class system dissolved Pakistan for Muslims

Moving Across Asia China and the British

What’s the deal with China? Brits in China, Why go there? Chinese had strict control of their trade. They made more of a profit then those selling to the Chinese China felt superior to the West and therefore felt they did not need any of their products

Two major Reasons China was in an overall decline, and England saw an opportunity Industrial Revolution!!! China was no longer the most advanced country. China’s refusal to modernize and trade left them with outdated technology and a weakening economy

Get ‘em when they are down British discovered their upper hand, trading Opium for tea Chinese became addicted and began buying more and more of the drug, ruining Chinese economy British knew that the drug was addictive, and it was outlawed in England

What’s India got to do with it? Opium is grown in India Brittishs controlled trade in India Easy trade route to China from India

Opium Wars Chinese tried to outlaw Opium trade British pushed through and ignored the law, claiming they had “free trade” Violence erupted- Chinese clashed with Brittish Merchant ships on the sea British overpowered with newer technology

Two Wars Opium Wars fought in two parts, and both times Chinese were defeated by the British British warships had faster guns, shot longer distance Boats were faster, stronger Chinese failed and were forced to bargain

Glory to Ghastly Treaty of Nanjing- British opened more trade ports, (only had one legal before) British got control of Hong Kong Island Had free trade without limitations Extraterritoriality Indemnity “most favorable nation” Caused increased Chinese resentment of British With China weak, other nations began carving it up, and the US set up an “open door policy” for trade

Effects on Chinese After the opium wars, China was greatly weakened and occupied by many diff. countries HOWEVER, the Chinese did not want to be controlled by foreigners and wanted to enjoy their freedom and therefore, fought a series of rebellions Taiping Rebellion, War with Japan, .Boxer Rebellion,

After Effect China was hesitant to reform because it wanted to maintain its “golden days” and was afraid that if the modernized they would loose their traditions and territory After the Boxer Rebellion, China realized the need for modernization Did modernize and eventually form a democratic republic, but was weak b/c of internal struggles, had STRONGnationalism but not unity

Japan’s Decision Look through your books on pgs. 342-347. How was Imperialism in Japan similar to what was happening in China? How was it different? What was the Meiji Restoration? How was Japan able to defeat China in war?

Peasants, Merchants, etc. Japanese Feudalism Samurai – lived by Bushido, the “way of the warrior” (chivalric code) Ronin – those samurai without masters Shogun Ninja – a warrior trained to use unorthodox fighting methods (assassination, espionage, martial arts) Daimyo Samurai Peasants, Merchants, etc.

Japanese Culture and Economy Religion Mixture of native Shintoism (living spirits in all things) and Chinese Confucianism (based on the teachings of Confucius) Economy Growing internal trade during the Edo period Merchants began to surpass the samurai in wealth Rigid social stratification But these limits were being tested by the end of the Tokugawa shogunate

End of Japanese Isolation U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858) 1853 – gunboat diplomacy 1854 – trade treaty with the United States Great Britain, Holland (Netherlands), and Russia soon gained similar trading rights Townsend Harris (1804-1878) United States Consul General to Japan 1858 – commercial treaty between U.S. and Japan

Japanese Reaction Pros Cons “Dutch Learning” (Western knowledge) became very popular among many doctors, scholars, and scientists Western knowledge went against many traditional Japanese beliefs Japanese entrepreneurs, merchants, and budding industrialists stood to profit from increased trade Traditional holders of prestige and power (daimyos and samurai) did not tend to profit from increased trade Resentment Extraterritorial rights of Americans and Europeans Anti-foreign uprisings (1863-1864) Japanese ports in turn bombarded by foreign ships Solution “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” Japanese could benefit from knowledge of what happened to China Japanese felt that they would be in a better position to renegotiate the trade treaties, and be less likely to be imposed upon, if they adopted Western ways (democracy, imperialism, industrialization, militarization, and modernization) – westernization

Meiji Restoration Shogun forced to relinquish power Power officially in hands of Emperor Mutsuhito His reign was called the “Meiji” Japan westernized Quickly went to work crafting a constitution

Governmental Reforms Diet – Japan’s bicameral legislature First convened – 1889 Meiji (Imperial) Constitution Adopted – 1890 Followed until the end of World War II

Economic Reforms Abolition of feudalism Currency (yen) adopted, 1872 Encouragement of foreign trade Expansion and encouragement of industrialization Growth of factories First large factories manufactured textiles First textile factory workers were girls and women Land reform Zaibatsu (large conglomerates) built and expanded

Military Reforms Before the Meiji era: Armies were run by local daimyo and thus not subservient to a central government Meiji era: Modern army and navy established which were loyal to the Japanese government Used Prussia (Germany) as primary model Firm belief that if Japan was to be taken seriously by Western powers, and was to avoid China’s fate, Japan would have to compete militarily Conscription (1873) – all men had to serve for three years after turning twenty-one

Social Reforms Universal compulsory elementary education Universities established Westernization of many laws Tokyo University

Social Changes Adoption of Western architecture, fashions, music, and literary styles (magazines and novels) Diversity of intellectual and political thought Growing independence and empowerment of women Movement of peasants from countryside to factories

Imperialization of Japan Why become Imperial Nation? Lack of fertile land for agriculture Markets for finished products Need for the raw materials of industry Population growth Response to Western imperialism

Meiji Japan at War First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) Gained: Formosa (Taiwan) Liaotung Peninsula (Manchuria) – soon forced to relinquish it Sphere of influence in Korea Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) Destruction of Russian fleet Finally respected as a world power Treaty of Portsmouth, 1905 U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt won Noble Peace Prize Japan was granted the southern part of Sakhalin Island and a large sphere of influence in Manchuria Annexation of Korea (1910) World War I Joined Allies Received Germany’s mandates over Asian islands and its leases in the Shantung Peninsula

Review Questions How did the government of Japan change during the Meiji restoration? Describe Japan’s rationale for its westernization. Describe Japan’s imperialism and militarization.