1.

Imperialism
a. Definition: the rule or domination of one country by another, usually through acquisition of
colonies, but the entire country does not need to be colonies in order to dominate it i.e. China
b. Economic factors:
i. (1) industrial countries need colonies because they need raw resources that are reliable
and only theirs i.e. they do not need to compete with other countries for these resources,
they get them for extremely low costs
ii. (2) and a colony functions as a market to sell finished goods to, once they are made with
the raw resources
c. Technological factors: colonies especially in Africa are now easier to dominate for various
reasons:
i. (1) the steam boat allows for countries to travel upstream fast moving rivers because of
their strong engines, allowing for further penetration into Africa (used to be only able to
colonies the coastland),
ii. (2) new medicine and vaccinations allow immunizations to rare and deadly
African/tropical diseases,
iii. (3) new weapons give them an upper hand and because of the industrial revolution, the
repeating rifle and machine gun allows for a small group of Europeans to defeat large
African warrior tribes.
d. Religious (and racist) factors: from Rudyard Kipling: it is the White Mans Burden to educate
the black and yellow people because the white Christian person is superior steps: (1)
Christianize them, (2) uplift them, (3) civilize them, (4) and then educate them seems altruistic,
but cloaked in racism
e. European rivalries nationalism factor the owning of colonies is a representation of power, so
countries attempted to own as many colonies as possible. To help so how nationalistic this race to
colonization is, look at the British saying, The sun never sets of the British Empire
f. Opium War: China had lots of goods that Europeans wanted (silk, spices, china/porcelain,
lackerware, etc), but the Chinese did not want any of European goods except for gold and silver.
This is a poor economic relationship, because it is destroying the European economy, so the
British try to find a good that the Chinese do want. British begin giving opium to the population
of China and because opium is very addictive, the demand for it begins to skyrocket. When the
emperor sees this, he threatens to execute anyone who is selling or buying opium, including
foreigners, so the British go to war with China. The superior British navy (and strategy) led to an
easy victory, and the British forced the emperor to retract the anti-opium laws, as well as open 5
additional ports to trade with, as well as to pay all the costs of war (for both sides), and accept
exterritoriality (which means all foreigners are exempt from Chinese law kind of like
diplomatic immunity but much worse: Europeans can kill Chinese for no reason and face no
punishment) = huge embarrassment and a form of total domination of Chinese
g. Boxer rebellion: Boxers are strong nationalists in China, and they became increasingly frustrated
as more and more ports began to open and how more and more foreigners began to influence the
Qing dynasty, so they began to kill them. The European armies are sent to China and easily
annihilate the uprising. China has to pay an indemnity (damages for the war)

2. Great Britain and Imperialism

a. India: pearl of Great Britain:

i. After the Sepoy mutiny (introduced new bullets and rumors of cow (Hindu) and pork
(Muslim) fat used for coatings began to spread. both groups begin to revolt and British
troops needed to put down uprising), the power shifted from the British East Indian
Company to the Great Britain.
ii. Political unify India under one centralized government,
iii. uniform law code for the whole colony,
iv. efficient government create a civil service exam/screening process,
v. Cultural tried to Christianize mostly failed,
vi. created an education system that taught children English,
vii. Economic build railroads, telegraphs, schools, medical facilities, but destroyed handmanufactured goods,
viii. Social tired to break caste system failed, but did different castes could mix on a train
and the you can sue a person in a higher caste,
ix. raised status of woman when stopped tradition of satie widows committing suicide
upon death of husband and
x. stop infanticide, killing of female children.
xi. There was also submerged nationalism, shown by the Indian National Congress, which
was Indian nationals educated in Europe and meant to be leaders of colony, but to loyal to
India as separate state, began to rebel against the British control of India.
b. South Africa: was originally settled by Dutch (Holland) farmers called Boers, but as Napoleon
was getting closer to Holland, British took over South Africa (called the cape colony) to avoid it
being taken by French. The location at the cape would make it hard to get to India by boat if
French owned it.The Dutch farmers, called Boers were pushed north, but when diamonds and
gold was found in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, began attacking to take over land
(this is called the Boer War). British settlers were losing, so began to burn homes, kill animals,
set up concentration camps, and burn crops, including placing glass in food. Killed lots of
woman and children and Boers surrendered. The cape colony, the Transvaal, and the Orange Free
State all make up the Union of South Africa.
c. Crimean War: Russia attacked Ottoman Empire in order to take the strip of land giving them
access to the Mediterranean Sea for better trading, as well as making them a world power, but
Britain and France backed the Ottomans for fear that Russia would become too strong. The
Ottoman side defeats Russia, and the British and French leave Ottomans on life support because
they act as a buffer to Russia
d. Egypt: Mohammad Ali tried to modernize the country of Egypt, but didnt have the money to do
so, so European countries lent him money industrializes, but the debt grew and grew (they
became an economic pawn). The Suez Canal was built to connect the Red Sea to the
Mediterranean. A French company built it, but British bought over 50% of the stock in the
company, said they therefore owned it, and took control of canal, needed to protect their prized
colony of India. The ownership of the Suez canal was in the own self-economic interests of
Britain. They said Egypt is a protectorate Britain they can rule themselves, but must do so in
favor of British puppet government because wanted to protect the Suez canal = economic
impact. If Egypt would fall to turmoil, the Suez canal would be at risk, so the British acted as
protectorate for Egypt.
3. Nationalism and Japan
a. Definition: pride and loyalty to ones own nation; a sense of belonging or strength in the country

b. Emerging: Nationalism mostly occurs because of a common geography, or a common religion or

language, but in this case, none of these stimulated Japanese nationalism. It was because of fear
of foreign domination that the Japanese began to rapidly industrialize. = modernize or get taken
over
c. Government: create a centralized government, get rid of feudal system, and through the Meiji
Restoration, the emperor was in charge, not just a political figure, and the tokuagoa shougonate
lost power. The capital was also moved to Tokyo
d. Economy: industrialized using Western technology, especially agricultural advances. Agriculture
was a means to stimulate the economy, and the money was used to build factories
e. Culture and Education: reformed education system, including education of females, and changed
lifestyle: eat meat, brush teeth, new clothing (no more kimono), and even switch to metric
system
f. Law code: adopt new law code which is Westernized, done to avoid the exterritoriality sanctions
that China endured
g. Military (army and navy): contact Germany and Britain to help build a modern navy and army
because they had the strongest army and navy at the time
h. Foreign policy: truly grasp the idea of Westernization and began to become imperialistic and
dominate and take colonies. Japan did not have a lot of natural resources, so needed to find
sources in order to keep/catch up with the west. Fought in the Sino-Japanese War with China and
won Korea and Taiwan. They also fought in the Russo-Japanese War with Russia and won this
was the first time an Asian country defeated a Western country in war.

4. World War 1
a. Nationalism: if you are loyal to your own country, you want it to be the strongest and most
powerful, this is done by defeating other countries and increasing/advancing your own increase
your own pride. Examples: (1) Russia wants revenge for Crimean war and want port into
Mediterranean, (2) Austria wants to keep all countries within it intact, while the countries have
something called submerged nationalism. For example, even though the Turks like in the

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.
g.

Ottoman Empire, they want their own country of Turkey. (3) Poland is another example and
wants to break out of German and Russian control, (4) Britain and Germany fight for best navy
Imperialism: everyone wants more resources, so fighting over colonies began to happen both
Germany and France fought over who owned the colony of Morocco because the resources will
help make them a strong country. Conflicts typically occurred over border disputes, and this is
important because of money. The money colonies, the more money you can make/save.
Militarism: strengthen army, new weapons, keeping an army during peacetime (conscript
army/draft), and the von Schlileffen Plan plan for how Germany would react is a world war
would happen attach France fast then move to Eastern front for Russian attack
Entangling alliances: want alliances with other countries because it makes you feel safer and
more willing to go to war because you have backup (decreases diplomacy and increases
aggression)
i. Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria Hungry, and Italy)
ii. Triple Entente (France, Great Britain, and Russia)
Immediate Cause:
i. Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (heir to Austria Hungry throne) and his wife at
Sarajevo. Sarajevo was taken (annexed) by the Austria and Serbia felt like the same
would happen to them, so a Serbian peasant kills Franz to send message. (nationalism)
ii. Germany gives blank check to Austria saying we will back you with whatever you do.
iii. Austria gives final ultimatum to Serbia, but
iv. big brother Slav (Russia) mobilizes army to back Serbia.
v. This messes up the von Schlieffen Plan, so Germany declares war on Russia,
vi. then everyone declares war on everyone.
vii. Finally, Italy moves from two the other side because they want the Austrian land.
Trench warfare: new deadly weapons require you to stay underground to be safe
New weapons: (1) poison gas, (2) tanks, (3) long-range canons, (4) repeating rifle, (5) machine
gun, (6) airplanes, (7) submarines

5. Rise of Adolf Hitler

a. Germany surrender conditionally in WWI saying the 14 points of Woodrow Wilson was the
treaty, but at the Treaty of Versailles, didnt meet this condition.
i. 14 points: no more secret alliances, reduce army size, lower tariffs, open trade
agreements, draw map according to nationalism, and formation of League of Nations.
(very easy on Germany)
ii. Treaty of Versailles: Germany was responsible for war, Germany pays all war debts (32
billion), Germany loses all colonies, Germany loses Alsace Lorraine to France, draw map
according to nationalism, and formation of League of Nations. (very harsh on Germany)
b. Rise to power

i. Hitler talked about the Treaty of Versailles and how it stabbed Germany in the back
(appeal to nationalism)
ii. Germany had a brand new democratic parliamentary government which was very weak
and did not have the time need to establish, and on top of this, they were facing the death
of money and Great Depression government was inept to fix the problems
iii. The death of money, rapid inflation, bank failures, and the Great Depression was a death
sentence, but Hitler offered new hope. Germans didnt want socialism/communism
because the large middle class was happy with wealth, and capitalism is failing, so decide
to go with fascists.
iv. Hitler also offers a scapegoat to all the problems of Germany = Jews. The Jews were
displaced from homeland of Palestine and were very common businessmen and bankers
of countries, because they came late to the game and have no land. Blame the
businessman/banker.
v. LOTS of propaganda and gathered in large groups. Large groups run on emotion.
Promotes nationalism
vi. Nazi party won a plurality and Paul von Hindenburg elects leader of Nazi party, Hitler, as
chancellor of Germany. He didnt take power by force.
c. Ideas/Goals
i. build a totalitarian state in order to help Germany recover all power in the hands of the
state/one person
ii. eliminate all political opposition
iii. stimulate economy by building expressways (die Autobahn) and create an affordable
automobile for everyone (die Autobahn also helped the German troops mobilize quicker)
iv. increase German nationalism
v. anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) and Holocaust (elimination of Jews)
vi. expansion of militaristic policy Take places like the Rhineland, Sudetenland,
Czechoslovakia, but wasnt punished. The alliances gave into Hitler saying that he can
take this if he promises to take nothing further, in order to avoid was = called
appeasement. After Hitler invades Poland, cant take it any longer and WWII starts.