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Imperialism
Key Terms to Remember
Industrialism-a system based on the use of machines.
Nationalism-the belief that one’s greatest loyalty is to a
shared culture.
Imperialism-one nation extends its control to the
government and economy of another country
Sphere of influence-areas in one country, claimed by
another, for trade
Building Empires
Nationalism and
Industrialism were the
driving forces behind
imperialism
Building Empires
• The Industrial Revolution caused European
nations to search for new places to colonize
• Industrialized nations sought both raw
materials from less developed countries and
new markets for finished products
• Countries in Europe were initially the key
imperial powers while countries in Asia and
Africa were sought-after areas to colonize
Building Empires
• Europeans also wanted colonies because they
believed that ruling other people increased a
nation’s power and glory (nationalism)
• The belief in Western superiority justified
imperial conquests: it as the duty of Western
powers to take their superior culture to the
lesser nations.
British Empire
India
• British East India Company
set up trading posts along
the coast
• Britain exploited India for its
raw materials, while setting
up markets to sell British
goods; which hurt Indian
industries
China
• As a result of losing the Opium
Wars to Britain, China was
forced to sign a treaty that
allowed British trade.
• European countries, Britain
included, carved up China into
their own spheres of
influence.
• The US created the “Open
Door Policy” with China,
opening the country to trade
with all nations
Japan
• Re-opened trade with Western countries (for the first
time in over 200 years) when the US threatened to attack
• Initially industrialized countries began to use Japan for its
raw materials
• As a result of aggressive actions towards Japan, the
government decided to industrialize to avoid being
imperialized.
• Japan became the first Asian country
to begin to create its own empire
Africa
• Europeans exploited
then took over land in
Africa to get the raw
materials needed for
industrialization
• The “scramble for
Africa” began after
Belgium claimed a
section of the continent
• The Berlin Conference of
1884-1885 set forth the
rules for the division of
Africa
-14 European nations met,
with no reps. from Africa, to
divide the continent with no
regard for cultural boundaries
• With European
advanced technology,
Africa was easily
dominated