Chapter 20

Colonial Encounters

1750-1914

European Imperialism 1750-1914•Economic Dominance–Modernize colonial trade markets

•Political Dominance–Colonies = national security and power

• Charitable work–“civilizing” the “savages”

Direct and Indirect RuleCooperation (why?) and Rebellion

Forced Labor: Construction Projects, Resources, High taxes

Agricultural Focus on Cash Cropssome capitalist benefits, many consequences

Wage Labor – Skilled and Unskilledplantations, mining, govt work, construction

Spread of Christianity often linked to education (Africanized)

Education and social mobility

What is the danger in giving colonial subjects a western education?

The Scramble for Africa1881-1914

Berlin Conference (1884-1885)“effective occupation”

1878

By 1910

Technologies and military superiority fostered imperialism

Quinine

TelegraphMachine

Gun

Steamship

“It was not a battle but an execution. The bodies were not in heaps…but they spread evenly over acres and acres.”

-British Soldier from J. Ellis, The Social History of the Machine Gun

Cecil Rhodes(1853-1902)

British Imperialist

Diamond Business

(De Beers)

Rhodesia is now Zimbabwe

“We must find new lands from which we can easily

obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labor that is

available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also

provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods

produced in our factories.”

“Africa is still lying ready for us it is our duty to take

it. It is our duty to seize every opportunity for

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 possess.”

"To think of these stars that you see overhead

at night, these vast worlds which we can never reach. I would annex the planets if I could; I often think of that. It makes me sad to see them so clear

and yet so far."

KingLeopold II of

Belgium(1835-1909)

Conquest and personal

ownership of the Congo

“I do not want to miss a good

chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent

African cake”

Leopold’s wealth came from harvesting rubber

Leopold’s conquest was bloody and brutal

“… It is curious that the most advanced and most enlightened century of all the centuries the

sun has looked upon should have the ghastly distinction of having produced this moldy and piety-mouthing hypocrite, this bloody

monster whose mate is not findable in human history

anywhere, and whose personality will surely shame hell itself when

he arrives there--which will be soon, let us hope and trust.”

Critics of Imperialism

Imperialism in Asia

Dutch expanded control of East Indies

French Indochina

Russian expansion

USA took Philippines from

Spain

Japan invaded KoreaBritish

India

French Indochina 1887-1954

Resources (rubber) and markets

“The Great Game” 1813-1907UK and Russia compete for supremacy

in Central Asia (esp. Afghanistan)

India under the British Raj1858-1947 (BEIC in 1750s)“The Jewel of the Empire”

Social Divisions

Hindu castes

Pro- British education

Hindu/Muslim

Indian sepoy soldiers

Great Rebellion1857 and 1858

(Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence)

British and loyal Indians wonPower transferred from BEIC to British Govt

Queen Victoria

(1819-1901)RuledUnited

Kingdom 1837-1901

UK Economic Policy Hurt Indians1800-1900 30,000,000 died of starvation

Christianity not widespread

Hinduism more

united

Hindus and Muslims

more divided

1885 Indian National Congress wanted more home rule

(like Canada and Australia)

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)

Did Colonial Rule bring Progress or Suffering?

Comparing 3 examples ofNative Reaction to Western Imperialists

Ghost Dance Xhosa Cattle Killing Boxer Rebellion1890 West USA 1854 South Africa 1899 China