Imperialism
Use the map on the previous slide to answer the following questions. 1. What European country owned most of India? 2. What did Japan own (other than its own islands)? 3. What did the US own? 4. Who owned the East Indies?
Spheres of Influence Throughout the nineteenth century, China's emperors had watched as foreigners encroached further and further upon their land. Time and again, foreigners forced China to make humiliating concessions. Foreign regiments, armed with modern weapons, consistently defeated entire imperial armies. Now, as a new century was about to begin, Tsu Hsi, empress dowager of the Ch'ing Dynasty, searched for a way to rid her empire of foreign parasites. Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia all claimed exclusive trading rights to certain parts of China. They were dividing China into "spheres of influence." Some even claimed to own the territory within their spheres. By acquiring the Philippines, the United States became an n power too. Now, with a strong base of operations just 400 miles from China, American businesses hoped to take advantage of China's vast resources. The foreign spheres of influence, however, threatened their ambitions. So while the empress was hoping to close China to foreigners, Americans were looking for a way in. John Hay, now Secretary of State, had an idea. Since public opinion, strained by the Philippines war, would never support the use of force, he decided to negotiate. He sent letters to all the foreign powers and suggested an "Open Door" policy in China. This policy would guarantee equal trading rights for all and prevent one nation from discriminating against another within its sphere. The nations replied that they liked the concept of the Open Door, but that they could not support or enforce it. Hay's plan had been politely rejected. Nevertheless Hay announced that since all of the powers had accepted the Open Door in principle, the United States considered their agreement "final and definitive.
Answer these questions from the reading on the previous page. 5. What countries claimed spheres of influence in China? 6. What was the Open Door Policy?
http://www2.newcanaan.k12.ct.us/ education/components/scrapbook/ default.php?sectiondetailid=5504 Use the link to answer the following questions 7. What countries made claims in India? 8. Which country won the whole of India?
http://www.indiana.edu/~hisdcl/ G369_2002/japanese_imperialism.htm Use the link above to answer the following questions. 9. What countries/regions did Japan take and what did they get from them (explanation of expansion section)? 10. Was Japanese imperialism different from European imperialism? Why or why not?
LETTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, (1899) By: Emilio Aguinaldo God Almighty knows how unjust is the war which the Imperial arms have provoked and are maintaining against our unfortunate country! If the honest American patriots could understand the sad truth of this declaration, we are sure they would, without the least delay, stop this unspeakable horror. When we protested against this iniquitous ingratitude, then the guns of the United States were turned upon us; we were denounced as traitors and rebels; you destroyed the homes to which you had been welcomed as honored guests, killing thousands of those who had been your allies, mutilating our old men, our women and our children, and watering with blood and strewing with ruins the beautiful soil of our Fatherland. the Spanish government, whose despotic cruelty American Imperialism now imitates, and in some respects surpasses, denied to us many of the liberties which you were already enjoying when, under pretext of oppression, you revolted against British domination. Why do the Imperialists wish to subjugate us? What do they intend to do with us? Do they expect us to surrender -- to yield our inalienable rights, our homes, our properties, our lives, our future destinies, to the absolute control of the United States? What would you do with our nine millions of people? Would you permit us to take part in your elections? Would you concede to us the privilege of sending Senators and Representatives to your Congress? Would you allow us to erect one or more federal states? Or, would you tax us without representation? Would you change your tariff laws so as to admit our products free of duty and in competition with the products of our own soil? Emilio Aguinaldo, Central Filipino Committee.
Answer these questions using the reading on the previous slide 11. What European power controlled the Philippines before the Americans took over? 12. Why do you think Aguinaldo was writing this letter? 13. In your opinion why was the U.S. interested in keeping control of the Philippines?