Global Imperialism and Migration (c. 1750–1900)

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Social Darwinism

A misapplication of Darwin's theory that argues survival of the fittest applies to human societies, often used to justify European dominance.

The Civilizing Mission

The belief held by Europeans that they had a moral duty to bring civilization and culture to other parts of the world.

Nationalism

A sense of pride in one’s nation that often fueled competition among European powers for colonial expansion.

Missionaries

Individuals sent by religious organizations to convert indigenous populations and spread their faith, often linked to imperialism.

Raw Materials

Natural resources needed by industrial factories that colonies provided, such as rubber, cotton, and palm oil.

Berlin Conference

An 1884-1885 meeting where European powers divided Africa among themselves to avoid conflict.

The Congo Free State

The personal colony of King Leopold II of Belgium that was exploited for rubber using forced labor.

British Raj

The direct rule by the British government in India following the disbanding of the British East India Company.

Spheres of Influence

Areas in China where foreign nations held exclusive trading rights.

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China over the opium trade, leading to the Treaty of Nanjing.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that justified American territorial expansion across the continent.

Spanish-American War

A conflict in 1898 where the United States acquired territories such as Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Meiji Restoration

The period during which Japan underwent industrialization and modernization to avoid colonization.

Túpac Amaru II

A leader of a massive indigenous revolt in Peru against Spanish rule in 1780.

Samory Touré

A leader in West Africa who resisted French colonial rule for decades.

Yaa Asantewaa

The Queen Mother of the Ashanti Empire who led a war against British colonialism.

1857 Indian Rebellion

A revolt by Indian soldiers against British rule triggered by cultural insensitivity.

Battle of Adwa

A victory for Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II against the Italian army, preserving Ethiopian independence.

Ghost Dance

A Native American movement in the US that aimed to drive out white settlers and restore traditional ways of life.

Xhosa Cattle Killing Movement

A movement in South Africa predicting that killing cattle would lead to the expulsion of the British.

Economic Imperialism

A situation where foreign business interests exert significant economic influence over a region or country.

Banana Republics

Central American nations where US corporations had such power that they effectively controlled the government.

Open Door Policy

A US policy aimed at keeping Chinese trade open to all nations, preventing total partition.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system wherein workers agree to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage.

Convict Labor

A system in which convicts are transported to penal colonies to perform labor.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A US law that banned Chinese laborers from entering the country.

White Australia Policy

Legislation aimed at restricting non-European immigration to Australia.

Sepoy

An Indian soldier employed by the British East India Company.

Sphere of Influence

An area where a foreign power holds exclusive trading rights.

Berlin Conference

The 1884 meeting that regulated European colonization in Africa.

Meiji Restoration

Japan's state-sponsored period of industrialization and westernization.

Transnational Business

Companies that operate internationally, transcending national boundaries.

Boxer Rebellion

An anti-imperialist uprising in China that took place in 1900.

Congo

The region known for its brutal exploitation for rubber under King Leopold II.

Quinine

A medicine that allowed Europeans to survive malaria while in Africa.

Ethiopia

An African nation that successfully resisted colonization, particularly during the Battle of Adwa.

Opium

A drug involved in trade conflicts between Britain and China, central to the Opium Wars.

Rudyard Kipling

An author who wrote 'The White Man’s Burden,' promoting imperialist ideology.

King Leopold II

The King of Belgium who personally controlled the Congo Free State and is infamous for its exploitation.

David Livingstone

A missionary and explorer who worked to convert Africans and abolish the slave trade.

Cecil Rhodes

A British imperialist involved in the diamond industry in South Africa.

Industrial Revolution

The period of rapid industrial growth that fueled new imperialism in the late 19th century.

Indian Rebellion of 1857

The uprising against British control, which ultimately led to direct British rule in India.

New Imperialism

The period from 1750 to 1900 marked by an aggressive expansion into Africa and Asia by European powers.

Old Imperialism

The period from 1450 to 1750 characterized primarily by European colonies in the Americas.