DOCUMENT 1
The following is an infographic that depicts why the Europeans wanted colonies and Africa, what they used to conquer the continent and why it was difficult for the Africans to fight back.
Explain each of the four European motives in your own words.
Explain how each of the four external forces would have helped the Europeans conquer Africa. (Hint: malaria is an illness transmitted by mosquitoes in Africa)
Explain how each of the three internal forces would have made it difficult for the Africans to resist the Europeans.
DOCUMENT 2
The following is a map that shows African resistance movements against imperialism from 1881-1914.
In what three colonies did the majority of the resistance movements take place?
Which rebellion lasted the longest? In which colony did it occur?
DOCUMENT 3
The following is a map that shows what goods were imported from Asia and Africa to Europe around 1870.
What goods were imported from Africa?
What goods were imported from India?
What goods were imported from China?
DOCUMENT 4
The following is a graph and a chart that show the import of opium into China from 1700 until 1840.
Where is the opium produced before it is sold to China?
During what decade did opium sales increase the most? How can you tell?
Knowing what opium is, why do you think opium growth occurred so quickly during the early 1800's?
DOCUMENT 5
The graph below shows the profits made by the British East India Company selling opium to China.
What happen to the British East India Company's revenue (profit) from selling opium from 1814 until 1856?
How does this graph of the British East India Company's revenue relate to the previous chart show chests of opium sold to China? Do the graph and chart support the same conclusion?
DOCUMENT 6
The photograph below shows the completion of China's first railroad, in Shanghai, China.
Based on what you know about imperialism, why would other countries want to create railroads in China?
Based on the image and its caption, did the Chinese like the railroads? Why or why not?
DOCUMENT 7
The following is map that shows Japan's empire in 1934 and the resources they gained as they expanded.
In what two cities are the main manufacturing areas in Japan?
Which territory did Japan conquer first? Second?
What resources did Japan gain by conquering Manchuria? What resources did they gain in Korea?
DOCUMENT 8
Below is a political cartoon about British Imperialism.
Based on what you know about imperialism, what message is the artist trying to send in this political cartoon?
DOCUMENT 9
The following is an African proverb.
"When the whites came to our country, we had the land and they had the Bible, now we have the Bible and they have the land."
African proverb
What do you think that the proverb means?
How do you think the Africans felt about missionaries (people who went to African to convert people to Christianity)? How do you know?
DOCUMENT 10
This excerpt, from The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, explains how India became a “typical” colonial economy.
This process continued throughout the nineteenth century. Other old Indian industries—shipbuilding, metalwork, glass, paper—and many crafts were broken up. Thus the economic development of India was stopped and the growth of new industry was prevented. . . . A typical colonial economy was built up. India became an agricultural colony of industrial England. It supplied raw materials and provided markets for England’s industrial goods. The destruction of industry let to unemployment on a vast scale. . . . The poverty of the country grew. The standard of living fell to terribly low levels.
What happened to the types of jobs and industries that the Indians had before the British came?
What kind of work do the Indians do now that the British have conquered them?
What are the economic impacts of the British rule on the Indians?
DOCUMENT 11
The following is adapted from British historian, J.A.R. Marriott’s book, The English in India, 1932.
British brains, British enterprise, and British capital have changed the face of India. Means of communication have been developed. There are great numbers of bridges, more than 40,000 miles of railway, and 70,000 miles of paved roads. These testify to the skill and industry of British engineers. Irrigation works on a very large scale and have brought 30 million acres under cultivation. This has greatly added to the agricultural wealth of the country. Industrialization has also begun. India now has improved sanitation and a higher standard of living. It has a fine transport system and carefully thought out schemes for relief work. Because of these things famines have now almost disappeared.
What benefits have the Indian's gained from British rule?
Why do you think the British made these improvements?
Do you think the Indians believe that the benefits are worth being conquered? Explain your answer.