Imperialism Study Guide
1. What is nationalism? How did nationalism lead to
imperialism?
• pride in one’s country – the desire for self-rule for those who
share a common culture
• they wanted to “show off” their power and spread their culture
to other areas
2. What is imperialism?
• the control of a weaker country by a more powerful country
How did industrialism lead to imperialism?
• The European countries were looking for raw materials for their
industries and markets to sell their goods
3. What were four goals of imperial nations of the
late 1800s?
• to get raw materials
• to have more markets for manufactured goods
• to have more power
• to spread European culture
• 4. What were three arguments in favor of imperialism?
• Imperialism ended local warfare in the colonies
• Imperial nations built schools and hospitals in the colonies
• Imperial nations helped farming and industry and
transportation
• Imperial nations should spread their “better” ways of life
• 5. What were three arguments against imperialism?
• It was wrong to force a government or culture on others
• Bitter feelings developed between imperial nations and
colonies
• Imperialism kept native people from holding high positions in
colonies
• Imperialism destroyed local industries in colonies
• 6. What two European countries controlled most of Africa?
• Britain and France
• 7. Complete the chart
India
South Africa
China
Who?
Britain
Britain
Britain, France, Russia, US
What?
Sepoy
Zulu
(Boer War)
Boxer Rebellion
Causes
?
Distrust of British
Zulu pushed off land
Felt they were fighting their own Zulu refused to disband their
people
army
Bullets caused religious conflicts
Results
?
Many killed
India under direct British rule
Boxers did not like foreign
influence
Boxers attached foreigners and
Chinese Christians
Great Britain defeated Zulu and Foreign nations sent troops
took over all of South Africa area Crushed Boxers and forced China
to trade
• 8. What were two characteristics the Sepoy and Boxer rebellions
had in common?
• caused by European religious ideas being spread
• native resisted foreign influence
• natives lost to imperial powers
• 9. How did the Zulu War show Great Britain’s power?
• Great Britain defeated the Dutch and then took over all Zulu lands
• 10. Who were the Boxers?
• a group in China that did not like foreigner influence
• they killed foreigners and Chinese Christians
• 11. How did imperial rule hurt India?
• flooded Indian market with cheap textile goods and destroyed the Indian
textile industry
• forced them to grow cotton instead of wheat – people starved because
not enough food
• 12. Why did the imperial powers want to trade with China?
• large land with many resources
• large population for selling goods to (markets)
• 13. What was the Open Door Policy
• policy that would open China to trade with all countries
• 14. Who was Matthew Perry
• navy commodore that forced Japan to trade with US
• 15. What did the Meiji want for Japan?
• to modernize
• to be wealthy and powerful and a world power
• 16. Why did Russia and Japan fight in the early 1900s?
• both wanted control of Korea
• 17. What were two major results for Japan after this war?
• shocked the world
• Japan became a world power
• 18. Why had Japan “copied” the US and Europe? How had they
copied them?
• they saw how powerful they were
• they wanted colonies for resources , cheap labor and markets
• 19. What were three reasons for U.S. interest in imperialism in
the late 1800s??
• wanted new markets
• adventure
• spirit of nationalism
• 20What was the Monroe Doctrine?
• a policy of the US that said Europeans should not interfere with the
Americas
• 21. What was the difference between how the U.S. got Alaska
and Hawaii?
• Alaska – bought from Russia
• Hawaii – annexed (took over and added to country)
• 22. Why did the U.S. declare war on Spain?
• the explosion of the Maine
• 23. What was another name for the War of 1898?
• Spanish-American War
• 24. What three countries were involved in the War of 1898?
• Spain
• U.S.
• Cuba
• 25. Who won? What “prizes” did the winner get?
• United States
• Philippines, Guam & Puerto Rico
• 26. What were two results for the U.S. after winning the SpanishAmerican War?
• won land from Spain
• became a world power
• foreign investments grew
• 27. Why did the U.S. want to build a canal across Panama?
• to move trade ships quickly
• to move military quickly
• Because it made the trip shorter
• 28. What president “took charge” of this building plan?
• T. Roosevelt
• 29. How did the U.S. get the rights to build the canal?
• helped Panama get independent from Colombia
• made a treaty with Panama
• 30. How was the construction of this canal both difficult and
dangerous?
• malaria
• explosions
• mountains / jungle