AMSCO - 6.5 Reading Notes - AP History
Explain how the East India Company became successful.
A major turning point in the East India Company's transformation from a profitable trading company into a full-fledged empire came after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The battle pitted 50,000 Indian soldiers under the Nawab of Bengal against just 3,000 Company men
What was economic imperialism and what did it exploit?
A situation in which foreign business interests have great economic power or influence. It exploited people, raw materials, and refined materials.
Describe the unequal trading structure between European and African markets
Africa had to devote its land to Growing cash crops to provide raw materials for European Industries I'm Goods for the European markets. In exchange that Africans received cotton textiles, canned food and alcoholic beverages which is unfair. it made the colonies dependent on the Imperial powers
How did Argentina turn into the richest country in Latin America?
Because Britain invested in Argentina. Burton improved breeding stock and developed large-scale farming throughout Argentina. They also Finance infrastructure and building projects.
How did cash crops impact Africa?
Because they only relied on one cash crop to be grown and sold it left many Africans vulnerable. Food production declined because farmers chose to plant cash crops to increase the value of their land, and food shortages occurred.
Why was there a lack of trade between China and Britain early on?
Britain wanted goods from China but China did not want goods from Great Britain. This resulted in low silver reserves in Britain.
What was the result of the Opium Wars? How did this 'reveal the fate of non industrialized nations'?
Chinese government seized the British opium warehouse in the port of Canton. War broke out when British warships destroyed a Chinese blockade keeping ships from Canton and the only port China allowed to trade with foreigners. The British attacked and occupied Canton and had many successful battles and captured Nanking.
What became a major cash crop in Kenya?
Cocoa(introduced by missionaries) became a major cash crop on the Gold Coast.
Explain the Culture System and how it impacted villagers.
It forced Farmers to choose between growing cash crops or performing corvee labor. For villagers they either had to set aside 1/5th of their rice fields for export crops or work in a government field for 66 days if they didn't have land.
What was Egypts cash crop? What did it replace as a chief export?
It had cotton as a cash crop before the American Civil War. It replaced enslaved people and ivory as the chief export.
What was the Treaty of Nanking and why was no one completely satisfied?
It required China to open up four ports to foreigners and the island of Hong Kong was given to Britain and they had to pay the damages. Britain wasn't satisfied because they wanted the use of opium to be legalized and China was unhappy because of the consequences they had to face.
What was "new imperialism"? How did this impact Latin America?
It was when Latin America had imperialist aggression from Europe and the US. The emerging middle class of Latin America wanted European influence. Britain replaced Spain as Latin America's trading partner. Companies based in Britain became the largest investors in Latin America.
Explain the system of spheres of influence. Who had trading rights? How did this impact China?
Japan, France, Germany, Russia, and the US wanted trading privileges that Britain had attained so they forced China to give them those rights. China gained foreign influence
Explain the changes made to native groups in Kenya.
Native groups had to move to reserves with poor soil and bad climate and the fertile land was given to White settlers. Africans were forced to provide cheap labor for white farmers. and they were forbidden to participate in cash crop growing and exporting.
What was it used for specifically - how did many companies react?
Slave labor was used to produce cash crops such as oil Palms, coffee, and cocoa. It did not really care
How did slave labor stay the same or change over time in Africa?
Slavery still remained even though it was outlawed in British colonies.
Explain how Hawaii was annexed by the US.
Some groups of American businesses and sugar Planters in Hawaii overthrew the constitutional monarchy and eventually Hawaii became a territory of the United States
What was the Chinese emperor's response? Explain how effective it was...
The Chinese objected the importation of the drug which led to the war between them and Britain.
Explain how the Dutch East India Company's role changed over time.
The Dutch East Indian Company had a monopoly on trade on Spice Islands with the Dutch East Indies. First they focused on shipping, then by the second half of the eighteenth century they focused on agricultural production. Then, the Dutch government took over control.
How did the East India Company try to fix this issue?
The East India Company forced farmers in India to grow opium, and they were able to sell it a lot to China and made profits.
Explain how the Industrial Revolution led to economic imperialism.
The Industrial Revolution helped create a demand for raw materials and created technology to help control other territories.
Explain how Spain colonized Chile
The Spanish-Portuguese treaty of 1494 granted to Spain all territory west of Brazil. The task of conquering Chile was assigned to Pedro de Valdiva, who led his forces into Chile's fertile Mapacho Valley in 1541
Explain the significance of the United Fruit Company in Central America and the Caribbean.
The United Fruit Company allied with large landowners to pressure governments to have conditions that would be favorable for the company. Central America and the Caribbean were under the economic power of the United Fruit Company.
What was the role of the United States in Latin America?
The United States invested in Latin America and became its sphere in influence.
What is the role of colonies in type of imperialism?
The colonies were used as export economies to produce goods for profit.
How was Brazil impacted by the rubber industry's shift?
The rubber industry declined in Brazil after it began growing in Malaysia. The shift showed how trade was organized to the advantage of companies based in Europe and the United States.
English defeats the Spanish Armada, meaning they have proven they have a strong navy. What does this lead to for the British and Dutch?
The significance of England's defeat of the Spanish armada was that it ended Spain's domination of the Atlantic. This lead to the British and Dutch having free water ways
Explain the challenges faced by the East India Company.
They had to compete against the Dutch. Cotton and textiles replaced the spice as the company's major export. With the Industrial Revolution British demand for Indian textiles decreased and they began supplying raw cotton.
Explain the contextual importance of cotton and opium for Britain.
To Britain cotton was an important cash crop. They were able to sell textiles using cotton at inflated prices and made a good amount of money. They sold opium to China and made great profits.
What else was traded from West Africa?
palm oil, palm kernels, and peanuts for exports from West Africa.
