Summary

3 Things I learned:

1. While the motto of the age of exploration (old imperialism) was "Gold, Glory, and God" the motto of new imperialism was "Commerce, Civilization, and Christianity."
2. Most new imperialism took place in Asia and Africa.
3. Europeans used the idea of "The White Man's Burden" to justify their expansion into nonindustrial areas.

2 Things that interested me:

1. Japan was to only Asian nation to resist colonization by a European power.
2. Ethiopia and Liberia were the only African nations to remain completely independent.


1 Question I still have

1. We know that the New Age of Imperialism ended with the beginning of WWI. Did it continue when the war was over? How did it change?

Spotlight On...

The Suez Canal

 

The Suez canal goes through Egypt. It connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea and it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation around Africa.The canal is owned and maintained by the Suez Canal Authority of the Egypt. Under international treaty, it may be used "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag." About 7.5% of world sea trade is carried via the canal today. In 2008, a total of 21,415 vessels passed through the canal.

Current Uprisings

Egyptian Revolution

 

A recent series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil disobedience, labor strikes, and violent clashes between protesters and supporters of the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Protests took place in Cairo, Alexandria, and several other cities in Egypt. Mohamed  El Baradei became a major figure of the opposition, with all major opposition groups supporting his role as a negotiator. The Revolution was very successful. On February 11th, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak would be stepping down as president and turning power over to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

 

Colonial Uprising

Indian Rebellion of 1857

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on May 10, 1857 in the town of Meerut, and soon erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellion. The rebellion posed a serious threat to the Company's power. It was not ended until the fall of the city of Gwalior over a year later. It was very successful in that it led to the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858, and forced the British to reorganize the army, the financial system, and the administration in India.

 

US Events

Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

  

 The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution  prohibits US citizens being denied suffrage based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". It was ratified on February 3, 1870. It was one of the Reconstruction Amendments. It gave all free male slaves the right to vote. However, many states, especially in the South, still prevented Blacks from voting for quite some time. 

 Connection across continents: During 1970, when the Reconstruction Amendments were being passed in the United States, European countries finally controlled all of Africa except Liberia and Ethiopia. This control lasted until 1914. So, at the same time when African-Americans were being given more rights in the US, Africans in Africa were losing theirs to the Europeans.

Organization of the American Anti-Imperialist League

The American Anti-Imperialist League was established in 1898 to battle the American annexation of the Philippines. They believed that imperialism violated the principles of republicanism, especially the idea of having "consent of the governed." The original organization was founded in New England and was eventually absorbed by a new national Anti-Imperialist League. By the 1920s, the League had become much less strong and successful. However, despite its anti-war record, it did not object to U.S. entry into World War I

Connection across continents: At this time, the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa is beginning. "While the British do win the war, they must make concessions to Afrikaner political organizations for internal control of South Africa, opening paths for Afrikaners to free themselves eventually of British domination and, in turn, dominate the black African majority in South Africa." (historyteacher.net)

US Imperialism

Has the US been Imperialistic?
-Yes, ever since the Revolutionary war, the US has been imperialistically acquiring new land and expanding control over other areas. However, in several cases, US imperialism has been a force for good.

Pro:
1.The Indian Removal Act
2.After the Spanish-American War, the US readily took Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
3.The takeover of Hawaii.

Con:
1. The US gave Cuba and the Philippines their independence when they wanted it.
2. America's very foundation is premised upon breaking the yoke of the British, imperialist Empire.
3. America did everything in its power to stay uninvolved in the affairs of Europe up until it was thrust in to war against, what any sensible person would regard as a true imperialist dictatorship, Nazi-Germany.

Modern Imperialism Cartoon

This political cartoon depicts President George W. Bush explaining why the US is at war with Iraq. In the cartoon, the word "oil" is written largely in all of his reasons. The artist believes that the only real reason the US is at war with Iraq is because they have a lot of oil and we need it. I agree with the artist. I think the US should have stopped occupying Iraq years ago if they were really trying to help the people.

Political Cartoons

 This cartoon depicts a Chinese man and an African man pulling a white man on a cart. The two men pulling the cart look completely miserable, while the white man looks very content. In the artist's opinion, imperialism in Africa and Asia was a horrible thing. It made the natives miserable slaves, while it only helped the conquering Europeans. I agree with the artist. I think this cartoon accurately depicts the situation of the Asian and African people who were conquered during this time period.

 

 This cartoon depicts a European explorer carrying an African native up a hill to a school house in an effort to "civilize" him. This showed that the European was trying to carry out the "White Man's Burden" to civilize and Christianize the uncivilized people of the world. The artist thinks that this is wrong. This is obvious because the poor African has a look of despair on his face. He doesn't want to become like the Europeans. I agree with this cartoonist as well. It was wrong for the Europeans to try to change the African way of life, even if they felt it was their duty to do  so.

Introduction

 Introduction

This chapter is about imperialism. It describes the western expansion into Africa and Asia. Many European countries, especially Britain, moved int these "uncivilized" countries for mostly economic necessities, including the need for raw materials, cheap labor, and a larger market for goods. The Europeans felt entitled to these lands because they felt it was their duty to civilize and Christianize the natives.

Unit Objectives

My main objective for this unit is to learn about how and why European nations conquered a large amount of the "uncivilized" people of Africa and Asia and how that impacted the world during this time period. I also plan to learn and understand the differences between early and late imperialism and the reaction of Asian and African natives to western imperialism. 

 Essential Question

Question: What inspired the western imperialism of this time period why did European nations feel entitled to colonize Africa and Asian areas?

Answer: The industrial Revolution led to a huge gap between the rich and poor areas of the world. It also led to many nations needing places to get raw materials and new markets for their goods. They desired political and economic expansion. Plus, advanced European nations felt it was their duty to "civilize" and Christianize the natives of other continents. It was "The White Man's Burden"\ and thus, they felt entitled by God to colonize Africa and Asia.