Chapter IX Colonial Expansion and Parliamentary Reforms

I. Colonial Expansion 1. Reason for colonial expansion By the middle of the 19th century Britain had completed its Industrial Revolution and began to enjoy its position as the workshop of the world. Manufactured goods were produced in great quantities, so large markets were needed. For this purpose Britain frenziedly expanded its colonies.

2. Expansion in Asia A. The Crimean War a. Time: from 1845 to 1856 from 1845 to 1856 b. The countries involved: Britain, Turkey, France, Russia Britain, Turkey, France, Russia c. Reason: for the balance of power in Europe and the desire of the western powers to keep Turkey as a barrier against Russian expansion into the Balkans. for the balance of power in Europe and the desire of the western powers to keep Turkey as a barrier against Russian expansion into the Balkans.Balkans

d. Consequence: In 1856 peace was signed at Paris. Russia agreed not to fortify Sebastopol, and the Danube River was opened to free navigation. B. Colonial expansion in India In 1587 India soldiers in the British army rebelled, however, the British element in the Indian army was strengthened. C. Colonial expansion in China a. In 1840, Britain launched an aggressive war against China. This was the Opium War. The corrupted Qing government surrendered to the British invaders and was force to sign the first unequal Treaty of Nanjing in 1842.Opium War

b. From 1856 to 1860, Britain and French forces occupied many cities in China. They plundered and burned down the Yuan Ming Yuan palace. palace c. In 1900, Britain, allied with other seven countries invaded China and got the lower and middle Yangtse valley as well as a large amount of money according to the Treaty of Beijing. seven D. Colonial expansion in other Asian countries In 1842, Britain occupied Singapore and Malaya. In 1842, Britain occupied Singapore and Malaya. In 1886, Burma In 1886, Burma

3. Expansion in Africa A. Got the Cape colony from Holland B. In 1901, defeated the Boers and annexed the two semi-independent Boer republics. Britain occupied one-third of the whole of Africa. 4. From the mid-19th century a number of British colonies were organized into dominions.

A. the dominion of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. B. By the end of the 19th Century Britain had occupied about a quarter of the earth’s inhabitable area. So Britain boasted that she ran an “empire on which the sun never sets”

II. The Industrial Monopoly 1. Reasons of the monopoly A. Upon the completion of the Industrial Revolution by 1850 England became the workshop of the world. B. On the road to free trade, foreign markets were extended and demands for British goods increased. C. In the middle of the 19th century England already revealed at least two outstanding characteristics of imperialism: vast colonies and monopoly profit.

2. Reasons for the decline  The interests of different sections of the community diverged.  Arable and meat-producing farmers felt the full weight of foreign competition.  Many industrialists felt the growing pressure of foreign competition both in old and new industries.  British textile industry was declining rapidly.  The world markets were lost.  Exports fell.

III. Party Politics and Reforms 1. The two British political parties: The Conservatives and the Liberals were in power alternatively during 19th C. 2. Viscount Palmerston A. Position: The Prime Minister during 1859 to 1865 with the image of the successful bourgeois

B. His chief preoccupation was with foreign affairs. C. In domestic policy he resisted any reform that could be resisted and delayed overdue reform. D. After his death, the question of parliamentary reform was re-opened.

3.The parliamentary reform A. Background a. a. The industrial bourgeoisie, who had reaped the fruits of the Reform Act of 1832, struggled for further reform in their own interests. b. The trade unions, which developed rapidly after the Chartist Movement, supported further reform. c. Realizing that parliamentary reform was irresistible, the leaders of the Liberals and Conservatives fell over each other to get the credit for it.

B. Gladstone He introduced a modest and colourless bill that was severely attached.

C. Disraeli He lowered property qualifications and extended the franchise to all householders. He added new names to the register and gave the vote to many workingmen in the towns and cities. The industrial bourgeoisie was politically strengthened. But agricultural labourers and the urban workers who were not house holders remained voteless.

D. Gladstone’s reform 1870 the Irish Land Act; Education Act 1871 the Trade Union Act 1872 the Ballot Act—the beginning of secret voting Though these reforms were far-reaching and fundamental, many of them did not satisfy affected interests. Therefore, Gladstone was defeated by Disraeli at the general election of 1874.

E. Disraeli’s reform 1875 the Employers and Workmen Act 1875 the Employers and Workmen Act the Trade Union Act the Trade Union Act the Public Health Act the Public Health Act the Artisans and Laborer’s Dwelling Improvement Act the Artisans and Laborer’s Dwelling Improvement Act 1878 Factory Act 1878 Factory Act F. The Liberals were returned to power in The Third Reform Bill 1884 The Third Reform Bill 1885 Redistribution Act 1885 Redistribution Act

IV. Emergence of the Labor Party 1. Working-class organizations increased in size and importance. But the Trade Unions’ activities tended to be opportunist in character. 2. In 1868 the first Trade Union met in Manchester. Union aimed at sending workingmen or spokesmen to Parliament, though not at forming a distinct Labor Party at first. They used strikes as a means of struggle.

3. In the 1880’s and early 1890’s a variety of labor organizations was formed—all conscious, at least intermittently, that, whatever their differences, they were part of a labor movement. 4. The Fabian Society: founded in 1883— 1884, included intellectuals, such as G. B. Shaw and H. G. Wells, who were to play an important part in the 20th C politics.

5. In February 1900 a labor representation conference was held in London at which trade unions, co-operatives and labor organizations agreed to found a committee, the Labor Representation Committee, with Ramsay MacDonald as first secretary.

A. It’s aim was to promote the return of Labor members to Parliament. This conference marked the beginning of the 20th century Labor Party, which, with Liberal support, won 29 seats at the general election of 1906 and was renamed the Labor Party in the same year. A. It’s aim was to promote the return of Labor members to Parliament. This conference marked the beginning of the 20th century Labor Party, which, with Liberal support, won 29 seats at the general election of 1906 and was renamed the Labor Party in the same year. B. The leaders of the Labour Party were opportunists in character, for they renounced violence and advocated peaceful reform. So it was not an independent political party of the proletariat.

6. Although until 1914 the Labor Party at Westminster for the most part supported the Liberals, in 1909 it secured the allegiance of the mines’ members. Financially backed by the trade unions, it was eventually to take the place of the Liberal Party as the second major party in the state.

The End The End

The Crimean War

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Opium War

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the Yuan Ming Yuan palace

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seven countries invaded China Back