1. Imperialism

2. What is Imperialism?
Imperialism occurs when a powerful nation controls a weaker country or region
Powerful nations are industrialized countries
The Industrialized countries had the weapons, stable governments and powerful leaders to take over weaker ones
The Industrialized nations set up a colonies within the weaker region

3. Why did Imperialism Occur?
Factory owners need the natural resources and raw materials to produce goods
Factories needed natural resources and raw materials like coal, iron, gold, silver, tin and copper to keep factories running
The colonies provided these resources and a market to sell finished goods
The members of the colony were only allowed to buy goods from the industrialized nations controlling them

4. Africa
In the early 1800’s Africa was known as the, “dark continent” because very little was known about the inland of Africa
Diverse cultures developed throughout Africa along with hundreds of languages and varies governments
Some people lived in centralized states, villages and herding or food gathering society
Africa was filled with an abundance of Natural resources and raw materials

5. Berlin Conference
Journalist Henry Stanley ventured into the middle of Africa bringing back ideas of riches and natural resources
European leaders met in Berlin, Germany to decide who would control which regions of Africa, no Africans were invited
The conference stated that a European Power could not claim any part of Africa unless it had set up a government office there
This led to European powers to send officials to African regions to set up governments by using force so that they could claim the land for their country

6. Cecil Rhodes
Europeans were convinced of their superiority and believed they had a mission to civilize the world
Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialism promoter declared,
“ The more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race…If there be a God, I think that he would like me to paint as much of Africa British red as possible”
Rhodes wanted to build a railroad system which would connect North and South Africa

7. Cape-Cairo Railroad

8. Imperialism in China

9. Opium War
British merchants discovered that they could make a large profit for trading a drug called opium for Chinese tea
Chinese became addicted to the drug
Chinese outlawed the drug and ordered Britain to stop selling the drug but the British refused
Chinese war ships fought with British ships over the trade of Opium
The British defeated the Chinese easily because the Industrialized nation of Great Britain had the latest weapons and China, the non-industrialized nation had outdated weapons

10. Sphere of Influence
European powers moved quickly to carve out spheres of influence in China
Sphere of Influence, an outside power claimed exclusive investment and trading privileges
Open Door Policy called to keep Chinese trade open to every country on equal basis

11. Boxer Rebellion
Chinese who were tired of outside control in their country trained to fight off foreigners in their country
They were called “Boxers” their goal was to drive out foreigners from China
The Boxers attacked foreign communities across China
The Boxers were defeated by the Western European powers and Japan

12. Imperialism in India

13. Sepoy Rebellion Sepoys were Indians who fought for the British
Wanted to remove foreign influence in India
Sepoys rebelled against the British
Sepoys brutally massacred British men, women and children
British crushed the revolt and took revenge by killing thousands of unarmed Indians

14. Meiji Restoration

15. Foreign Pressure
Japan heard about China’s defeat to the industrialized nation of Britain during the Opium War
Japan feared that they were next
The United States sent American ships and Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan to demand that they open trading ports
Japan agreed because they feared the U.S. and their weapons

16. Meiji Restoration
Meiji reformers wanted to strengthen Japan against the West
Japanese leaders sent officials to study about western governments, economics, technology and customs

17. Reforms Under the Meiji
Government
Strong-centralized government
A legislature was formed to make laws
Economy
Government set up banking systems, railroads, improved ports, telegraphs and postal system
Government built and started business and then sold them to wealthy families
Social Changes
- Government set up schools to teach about new western technology