State EXPANSION [AP World History] Unit 6 Topic 2

Summary

This video from Heimler’s History dives into the era of imperialism between 1750 and 1900, focusing on the expansion into Africa and Asia. It explains that imperialism is the extension of a country's power into other lands, often through diplomacy or force. The video outlines the British desire for a shorter route to Asia, leading to the Suez Canal's completion in 1869 and subsequent control seizure from the Ottomans. It describes the British and French colonial expansions in Africa, the Scramble for Africa, and the Berlin Conference of 1884, which attempted to avoid war by dividing Africa among European powers, often disregarding the native populations. The narrative then shifts to Asia, detailing British conquest in India, economic imperialism in China, and the carving up of the country into spheres of influence. Japan's rise as a colonizer post-Meiji Restoration, Dutch dominance in Southeast Asia, British colonization of Australia and New Zealand, and the Maori Wars are also covered. The video concludes with the United States' westward expansion, the Indian Removal Act, and the Spanish-American War, which added to America's overseas territories. Lastly, it touches on Russian imperialistic expansion under Catherine II and Alexander I.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Imperialism is defined as a country extending its power and influence into other lands, often through diplomacy or force.
• 🚢 The British sought a shorter sea route to Asia during the Industrial Revolution, leading to the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869.
• 🇬🇧 Britain seized control of the Suez Canal from the Ottomans in 1882 due to regional unrest and to protect their interests.
• 📜 British disregarded diplomatic agreements with African leaders and began taking over territories by force, establishing colonies in Sierra Leone, Gambia, Lagos, and the Gold Coast.
• 🇫🇷 France established a settler colony in Algeria in 1830, leading to a significant influx of European immigrants.
• 🏁 The Scramble for Africa was a period of intense European competition and land-grabbing in Africa, which led to conflict and the Berlin Conference in 1884.
• 🔍 The Berlin Conference resulted in arbitrary colonial boundaries drawn without African input, causing long-term unrest and problems.
• 👑 King Leopold II of Belgium claimed the Congo as his personal holding, exploiting its resources and causing the death of over eight million Congolese.
• 🇮🇳 The British East India Company gradually took over India, starting with their own troops and later recruiting Indian soldiers called sepoys.
• 💰 Economic imperialism was practiced by European powers in China, exploiting its instability to gain exclusive trading rights in spheres of influence.
• 🗾 Japan modernized during the Meiji Restoration and became an imperial power, expanding into Korea, Southeast Asia, Pacific islands, and parts of China.
• 🦘 Australia was initially a penal colony for British convicts, later becoming a full colony due to its agricultural and mineral wealth.
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand was a settler colony where the British created a separate colony for the Maori people, which eventually led to conflict and resentment.
• 🌎 The United States pursued Manifest Destiny, expanding westward and displacing Native Americans, known as the Trail of Tears.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. acquired overseas territories after the Spanish-American War in 1898, including the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
• 🇷🇺 Russia expanded its empire by winning half of Poland, annexing various territories, and acquiring a portion of Manchuria from China.

Q & A

What is imperialism and how did it manifest between 1750 and 1900?

Imperialism is the extension of a country's power and influence into other lands, often through diplomacy or force. Between 1750 and 1900, it manifested through the expansion of European powers into Africa and Asia, driven by economic and strategic interests, particularly during the Industrial Revolution.

Why did European powers desire a shorter sea-based route to Asian trading posts?

European powers, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, sought a shorter sea route to Asian trading posts to facilitate the import of raw materials and the export of manufactured goods more efficiently, without having to sail all the way around Africa.

What was the significance of the Suez Canal for British imperial interests?

The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, allowed Britain to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, providing a shorter and more direct route to Asia. This was crucial for British trade during the Industrial Revolution. By 1882, due to regional unrest, Britain seized control of the canal from the Ottomans to protect its interests.

How did the British Empire expand its holdings in Africa?

Initially, the British established diplomatic agreements with African leaders. However, as imperialistic fervor increased, they discarded these agreements and began taking over territories by force, leading to colonial holdings in Sierra Leone, Gambia, Lagos, and the Gold Coast.

What was the Scramble for Africa and what were its consequences?

The Scramble for Africa refers to the intense competition among European powers to claim African territories during the late 19th century. This led to the Berlin Conference in 1884, where colonial boundaries were arbitrarily drawn without African input, causing divisions among long-united African groups and combining rival groups, leading to future unrest.

How did Leopold II of Belgium's approach to colonialism in the Congo differ from other European powers?

Unlike other European powers that established colonies under their state control, King Leopold II claimed the Congo as his personal holding. He profited immensely from the brutal exploitation of the Congolese people through forced labor for ivory and rubber extraction, resulting in the deaths of over eight million people.

What was the British East India Company's role in the colonization of India?

The British East India Company played a significant role in the colonization of India by gradually claiming more territory from the weakened Mughal Empire. They initially used their own troops and later recruited Indian soldiers called sepoys to aid in their conquest, eventually leading to the full control of India.

How did Western powers engage in economic imperialism in China?

Western powers took advantage of China's instability due to natural disasters and internal rebellions. They exerted military pressure to secure trading rights, effectively carving up China into spheres of influence where they held exclusive trading rights, while the Qing Dynasty remained in power.

What was Japan's approach to imperial expansion during this period?

Japan modernized its military during the Meiji Restoration and, as it became more powerful, sought to expand its empire. Japan's imperial expansion included Korea, Southeast Asia, some Pacific islands, and parts of China, focusing on acquiring territories rich in raw materials.

How did the Dutch East India Company's failure lead to the Dutch government's involvement in colonial holdings?

The Dutch East India Company initially established dominance in Southeast Asia but failed due to corruption. Following this failure, the Dutch government intervened and took control of the colonial holdings, effectively nationalizing them.

What were the British motivations for colonizing Australia and New Zealand, and how did they differ in approach?

Australia was initially colonized as a penal colony for British convicts, with the entire continent conquered by the 1820s. The discovery of wool, copper, and gold led to the arrival of non-criminals, transforming it into a proper colony. In contrast, New Zealand was established as a settler colony, with the British creating a separate colony for the indigenous Maori people, which eventually led to conflict and resentment due to encroachment on Maori land.

How did the concept of Manifest Destiny influence American westward expansion?

Manifest Destiny was a belief held by Americans that they were divinely ordained to expand across the continent from 'sea to shining sea.' This belief led to the systematic removal of Native Americans from their lands, including the infamous Trail of Tears, as the U.S. sought to fulfill its perceived destiny.

What were the outcomes of the Spanish-American War for American imperial ambitions?

The Spanish-American War in 1898 allowed the United States to assert its imperial ambitions by acquiring territories such as the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba after declaring war on Spain under dubious pretexts and emerging victorious.

What territories did Russia acquire during its imperial expansion?

Russia expanded its empire by winning half of Poland from the Ottomans, with later acquisitions including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Finland, and part of Armenia under Alexander I. Additionally, Russia acquired a significant portion of Manchuria from China.