Chapter Nine Review

 

Concepts

Imperialism – the policy or practice of extending a states control of other territories; increased dependent relationship by incorporating colonies into capitalist system

East India Company – Brits slowly increased control in India in 1600s; company initially for trade and over 200 years the company forged alliances with local rulers; secured eco control of Indian subcontinent by 1780s

Laissez Faire – an economic doctrine with no government interference; a belief in unrestricted freedom in commerce including the exchange of goods and the accumulation of wealth; Brit was main power in this

Racism­ - The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others

Caudillos – a Spanish word designating “a political-military leader at the head of an authoritative power”

Indian National Congress – Founded in 1885 as one of earliest colonial nationalist political parties; sought larger role for Indians within structure of Brit dominion but didn’t seek full political independence; charged that Brit connection to change increase export of crops in India caused eco drain on resources; 1905 the party committed itself to the goal of Indian self-government

Pan-African Conference – held July 1900 with about 50 people; set out demands for equal and universal rights as human beings and democratic citizens

 

Events

Berlin Conference (1884) – key political event in race for colonization in Africa; agreement that possession should involve effective occupation of the land and control over the people

Indian Mutiny of 1857 – Brit put soldiers who refused to load their guns in prison; revolt and prisoners freed, marched on capital Delhi and restored throne to displaced Mogul ruler; Brit put mutineers to death and recaptured capital; the result was the Government of India Act passed by Brit Parliament 1858 that transferred all rights of the East India Company directly to the crown

Opium Wars (1839-1842) – Western countries wanted access to Chinese market but Chinese self-sufficient and Manchu dynasty discouraged Western trade; Brit created demand for opium in China and defended it as free trade

Fugitive Slave Act – implemented to stop escape of fugitive slaves to northern US and Canada; made it illegal to protect fugitive slaves anywhere in the US; threatened life/liberty of blacks and rights of whites

Emancipation Proclamation – presidential order in 1863 that freed most (but not all) of the slaves in the United States

Boer War (1899-1902) – gold ores discovered in 1886which were mined by Brits and land was owned by Boers; lead to conflicts over gold fields and treatment of Brit settlers; Boers surrendered

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)Japan was victorious over Russia; lead to Russian Revolution in 1905

 

People

J.A. Hobson – provided ecocentric view of the new imperialism that argued that the primary motive for empire was economic; colonies were acquired as fields for investment

King Leopold 2nd of Belgium– took about half of the Congo Free State into his private ownership or gave it to companies granted concessions in return for railroad development; huge humanitarian violations to Congolese people and in 1908 an international crusade of humanitarian agencies pressured Leopold to turn his private domain in the Congo over to the Belgian government

Toussaint L’Ouverture – a slave about 50 years old who was literate and served as estate manager; helped lead the slave revolution in Haiti in 1791 and helped the French abolish slavery in 1794 and was made a general; died in prison

Sam Sharpe – a domestic slave who worked in Montego Bay; spread the rumor that the British government had passed legislation to end slavery; used false rumor to fuel a slave rebellion (Christmas Rebellion) which proved to be unsuccessful

Simon Bolivar – toured around Euro after his wife died at the same time the armies of France were rearranging Euro into a “continental system”; believed that governments existed to maximize human happiness and its function was to make policy as well as satisfy interests; joined secret organization committed to winning independence from Spain; spearheaded revolution that lead to the liberation of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia; died in 1803

Sun Yat-sen – 1911 when the Manchu dynasty was brought down and proclaimed a new republic based on principals of nationalism/socialism/democracy the first president was Dr. Sun Yat-sen; the son of a peasant family who converted to Christianity as a teenager