Sean Munroe(Shwari)

Schuyler Cross
4/29/15
Period 4
Chapter 29 and 30 Bulliet Questions
Chapter 29-The New Imperialism
What motivated the industrial nations to conquer new territories, and what means did they use?
Both the Americans and Europeans had political, cultural, and economic motives to imperialize in
the years of 1869-1914. Politically speaking, many of the countries at this time were concerned with their
status. As far as motive for imperialism goes, it was different for each country. France was humiliated by
their defeat in Prussia in 1871, and decided to reinstate their dominance and power through territorial
acquisitions overseas. Great Britain decided that in order to protect their jewel in the crown India, they
should acquire countries in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Although Otto Von Bismarck saw no need for
imperialism, many other Germans believed it was only right to have a powerful empire overseas to
compliment their newly united country in Europe. Also, generally, countries in frontier wars found it
easier to defeat their neighbors rather than to make peace with them. Culturally, the purpose of
imperialism was not only religious, but also to spread their own norms of civilized behavior. This
included abolishing slavery, bringing western education, medicine, hygiene, and monogamous marriage.
Economically, countries needed secure sources of tropical raw materials and protected markets for their
industries.
A few of the tools imperialists used for imperialization was the building of the suez canal and the
development of increasingly efficient engines. These inventions led to a boom of shipping to the Indian
Ocean an East Asia. Also a global network of submarine telegraph cables was developed. In conclusion, it
was the advancement of technology in ships, shipping, and weapons that was used to enhance
imperialization.
Which parts of the world were annexed to the new empires, and which ones became their economic
dependencies?
Many parts of the world were annexed to many different countries throughout history. A few of
the major places were Egypt, Western and Equatorial Africa, Southern Africa, Central Asia, Southeast
Asia and Indonesia, and Hawaii and the Philippines. Starting with Egypt, the British occupied Egypt in
1882 after Egypts debts to the British rose to high. the British only planned to stay for a few years, but
ended up staying for 70. During these years, the British were able to build a dam in the Nile to cultivate
crops,thus making Egypt into one of Britain's economic dependencies. Then there is Western and
Equatorial Africa. Equatorial Africa was first inhabited by Belgium, who built trading posts, under the
rule of King Leopold II. This started what is known as The Scramble for Africa, which eventually was
divided up to many countries. But, compared to the colonization of Western Africa, Equatorial Africa was
nothing. The Congo Free State, the French Congo, and Portugal were activists in the colonization of
Western Africa. Rather than directly controlling the vast territories, they farmed out huge parts of the
territories to independent companies who would then be able to monopolize the territory and tax its
inhabitants. This was beneficial to the Congo Free State, French Congo, and Portugal because they were
able to indirectly export the materials, including rubber, to their respective homelands, in a cheap and no
hassle way. Southern Africa is a little bit different in respect to the ways they were colonized. This is

because this region of Africa had always attracted settlers because of its good pastures and farmlands,
deposits of diamond, gold, copper, coal, and iron ore. These raw resources lured the Europeans, including
Great Britain, to the region. This ultimately led to the South African War, and in the latter, turned South
Africa into a land of segregation, oppression, and bitter divisions. Central Asia was colonized by Russia
around 1870. The Russians were also lured in by agriculturally fertile land, and because of the declining
Qing Empire, it was fairly easy for Russia to take over. Russia used the newfound land to cultivate cotton,
while building a railroad to connect it to Europe, and abolishing slavery. The imperialism of Southeast
Asia and Indonesia was beneficial to both the indigenous inhabitants, and the imperialists(Britain and
France). Britain and France were attracted by the fertile land, constant warmth, and heavy rains which
allowed intensive gardening, irrigation, and terracing. The indigenous inhabitants of these countries and
islands received peace, and a reliable food supply. Hawaii was preliminarily looked at as an export
market, but eventually many Americans were in support of annexation. Hawaii was a very good place to
start because it was a stepping stone to Asia, and had fertile soil for agriculture, and Hawaii benefited
through protection. The United States colonization of the philippines was strictly political because the U.S
did not want Japan or Germany to get their hands on the country.
How did the environment change in the lands subjected to the New Imperialism?
The British had such a craving for tea that they decided to cultivate it in Ceylon and northeastern
India because of the rainy hill country. To cultivate tea though you need plantations, this caused the
British to cut down many forests in order to instill tea plantations. Also, european botanists collected and
exchanged species of plants from all over the world and eventually founded botanical gardens in tropical
colonies. These gardens brought species not naturally grown in the respective environment, in contact
with plants they wouldnt normally. Also irrigation and water control transformed the dry land of the
tropics to well watered and populated farmland. A final effect of Imperialism on the environment is the
building of railroads. Railroads required a lot of resources and time. In conclusion, there were pros and
cons of imperialism with respect to the environment.
Chapter 30-The Crisis of The Imperial Order
How did the First World War lead to revolution in Russia and the disintegration of several once
powerful empires?
The First World War lead to revolution in Russia because Imperialism was coming to an end.
Most of the lad on the Earth had been taken over by other nations and was therefore accounted for. Russia
however had not taken advantage of Imperialism, and they were in a bad geographic situation. Along with
the poor geographic situation, they were in a lot of political struggles as well with the rise of communism.
They continued to fight after the war, and famine spread. The communists ended up winning and took
over Ukraine. The Red Army combined Ukraine with Russia forming the USSR which lead to the
disintegration of many empires.
What role did the war play in eroding European dominance in the world?
After the war, many European countries had to rebuild what was destroyed in the war. Also as a
result of the war, many European nations lost their colonies. This drastically changed the economic power
of these major empires. The US, an ally of many European nations, lost a lot of its power because
Kennedy was assassinated. The war also played a role in eroding European dominance in the world
because the nationalist movement challenged European influence. They started think of what would be
best for their individual nation and thus were reluctant to sign treaties and work together.

Why did China and Japan follow such divergent paths in this period?
After the war, Japan began to build an economy comparable to that of European nations before
the war. China was ruled by the Qing, but found themselves in a lot of civil wars and a lot of political
factions tried to take power. The population grew to its largest at 400 million people. There was a huge
gap between the life of the poor and the lives of the wealthy. This caused a lot of resentment and lead to
hostility. During the Great War, the Japanese military seized all European involvement, so their economy
would thrive at Chinas expense.
How did European and North American society and technology change in the aftermath of the
war?
The war left a huge death toll, around 60 million deaths. Many of the victims were because of
bombings, massacres, and famines. One reason for the change in death toll, was the change in moral
values. People saw nations and peoples as a whole as enemies, this allowed soldiers to easily kill a man
because in their eyes he represented someone the hated. Soldiers were also more willing to kill civilians
than before. Also because wars are now fought through the air and with bombs, it is much easier to mass
murder people because their is a sense of detachment. The soldiers dont fully know who or how many
people they are killing. Chemical warfare and air strikes by the Americans and Europeans played a major
role in the increase in death toll.