Download IntroImperialism

WORLD HISTORY ACTIVITY: INTRO TO IMPERIALISM
Answer the following questions on your OWN paper & turn in for points
1) Explain how industrialization played a role in the Age of Imperialism:
2) What is imperialism?
3) In what ways were weaker nations dominated during the Age of Imperialism?
SETTING THE STAGE: Industrialzation stirred ambitions in many European nations. They
wanted more resources to fuel their industrial production. They competed for new markets
for their goods. As a result many nations looked around the world at other nations as a
source of raw materials and as a market for industrial products. European nations
dominated vast areas around the world during the 19th and 20th centuries. This domination
by stronger nations is called imperialism. Stronger nations dominated the political,
economic, and social life of the weaker nations.
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4) According to the document below, what were the benefits the colonies received
from the “modern progressive nations”?
O.P. Austin, "Does Colonization Pay" The Forum, 1900
"Modern progressive nations lying in the temperate zone seek to control garden spots’
in the tropics. [mainly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia] Under [the progressive nations]
direction, these places can yield tropical produce. In return, the progressive nations
bring to the people of those garden spots the foodstuffs and manufactures they need.
[Progressive nations] develop the territory by building roads, canals, railways, and
telegraphs. They can establish schools and newspapers for the colonies [and] give
these people the benefit of other blessings of civilization which they have not the means
of creating themselves."
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5) According to the document below, what were some of the negative effects of
Imperialism?
The White Man killed my father,
My father was proud. The White Man seduced my mother,
My mother was beautiful.
The White Man burnt my brother beneath the noonday sun,
My brother was strong.
His hands red with black blood
The White Man turned to me;
And in the Conqueror’s voice said,
"Boy! A chair, a napkin, a drink.
An Anthology of West African Verse, David Diop, 1957
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6) Explain the meaning of the political cartoon below:
"Learning civilized ways is hard work"
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7) According to the Rhodes why should Britain pursue a policy of imperialism?
Cecil Rhodes was a successful British imperialist in Africa. This excerpt is adapted
from his position on imperialism.
I contend that we [Britons] are the finest race in the world, and the more of
the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race. . . . It is our duty to
seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this
one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of
the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable
race the world possesses.
Source: Cecil Rhodes, Confession of Faith, originally written at Oxford, 1877 (adapted)
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8) How did this Vietnamese man explain the French imperialism in Indochina in 1867?
This excerpt gives another reason why Europeans were able to increase their colonial
holdings. This is from a letter sent by Phan Thanh Gian, governor of a Vietnamese state,
to his administrators in 1867.
Now, the French are come, with their powerful weapons of war, to cause dissension among
us. We are weak against them; our commanders and our soldiers have been vanquished. . .
The French have immense warships, filled with soldiers and armed with huge cannons. No
one can resist them. They go where they want, the strongest ramparts fall before them.
Source: Phan Thanh Gian, retranslation from Focus on World History: The Era of the
First Global Age and Revolution, Walch Publishing, 2002 (adapted)
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9) Describe the story being told in the song “Don’t Drink The Water”:
10) Is this song expressing a positive or negative view towards Imperialism?
11) List specific lyrics in the song that help you answer question #10:
12) What does the line “Don’t Drink the Water” mean?
“Don’t Drink The Water” by the Dave Matthews Band
Don't Drink the Water…
Come out, come out, no use in hiding.
Come now, come now, can you not see
There's no place here, what were you expecting?
No room for both, just room for me.
So you will lay your arms down,
Yes, I will call this home.
Away, away, you have been banished.
Your land is gone, and given to me.
And here I will spread my wings.
Yes, I will call this home.
What's this you say, you feel a right to remain?
Then stay and I will bury you.
What's that you say, your father's spirit still lives in this place?
Well, I will silence you.
Here's the hitch, your horse is leaving.
Don't miss your boat, it's leaving now.
And as you go I will spread my wings.
Yes, I will call this home.
I have no time to justify to you,
Fool, you're blind, move aside for me.
All I can say to you my new neighbor,
You must move on or I will bury you.
Now as I rest my feet by this fire
Those hands once warmed here, but I have retired them.
I can breathe my own air and I can sleep more soundly
Upon these poor souls,
I'll build Heaven and call it home.
Cause you're all dead now.
And I live with my justice
And I live with my greedy need
I live with no mercy
And I live with my frenzied feeding
I live with my hatred
And I live with my jealousy
I live with the notion that I don't need anyone but me
Don't Drink the Water
Don't Drink the Water
There’s Blood in the water
Don't Drink the Water…