Imperialism Project

by Chloe Lau, 5th period

Context

What is imperialism? How do people respond to imperialism?

• Imperialism is when a one country takes complete control over the land and people of a weaker country.
• ie. Great Britain imperialized India
• There are 3 responses to imperialism:
• violence-rebellions involving fighting and bloodshed
• non-violence-peaceful demonstrations of resistance
• acceptance-allowing others to take control and trying to survive in that society
• In this presentation, I will give two examples from different countries for each response.

My Opinion

What is the best way to respond to imperialism?

I believe that nonviolence is the best response to imperialism. In the case of Britain imperializing India, India did eventually win independence by using nonviolence. Nonviolence is a more strategic and passive aggressive way to sabotage a country without causing too many deaths. For instance, the Salt March weakened England's economy without breaking any laws or causing bloodshed, and gained worldwide support. In Botswana, when Tswanas negotiated with the British over copper mines, they gained a legislative council, leading to their independence. Some may argue that violence is a quicker way to gain independence. The Sepoy Mutiny did get India independence, but only for a year. When the British regained control, the Indian people suffered even more oppression. Violence was also used in Kenya, but this took 11 years and destroyed many farms and people in the process. With acceptance, the Indian people were able to function from day to day, but still endured racism and were not able to fight for independence. They had to live as inferior beings without making any progress towards freedom. Therefore, nonviolence is the best response, as it achieved permanent results peacefully.

source 9

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Violence

India

• When the British took control over India, they forced the Indian people to serve in their army. These soldiers were called sepoys. (page 5, documents 1 & 3)
• The sepoys responded by burning down houses in British villages and then they went to war with the British, killing hundreds of thousands of people. This was called the Sepoy Mutiny.

(page 5, document 3)

• Eventually they did gain independence, but only for one year. (notes 3)
• Afterwards, the British took direct control of India, becoming even more tyrannical. (notes 5)
• Racism and distrust increased between British and Indians. (notes 5

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Violence

Kenya

• The British imperialised Kenya during WWII but the Kenyans wanted political equality. (source 2)
• Jomo Kenyatta wanted to transition into independence peacefully and formed the Kenya African Study Union (KAU)
• some members of the KAU wanted quicker results and formed the violent Mau Mau which attacked the British who lived in Kenya (source 2)
• the uprising led to a state of emergency for the colonial government in 1952-1960 (source 2)
• Many Africans were placed in detention camps and forced to plant cash crops (source 2)
• The political parties KANU and KADU joined to create a constitution that allowed Kenyans to govern themselves (source 2)
• After discussions in London, Kenya became a republic in 1963 (source 2)

source 12

Jomo Kenyatta

source 13

Nonviolence

India

• Gandhi led Indian people in acts of civil disobedience-deliberate and public refusal to obey unjust laws (notes 6)
• Indians refused to buy cloth, weakening Britain's economy and control over India (notes 6)
• Salt March: instead of paying taxes on salt, Indians walked for miles and peacefully made their own salt
• British police attacked the unarmed protesters causing disapproval around the world (notes 6)
• Other countries supported the Indians' independence and helped them get more rights (notes 6)
• 1935 the Government of India Act led to full independence (notes 6)

Gandhi

source 14

Nonviolence

Botswana

• The British imposed the Bechuanaland Protectorate on Botswana in 1885 (source 1)
• It forced Tswanas to build a railroad through their land to Zimbabwe (source 1)
• 1950 Seretse Khama was not allowed to become a Ngwato chief and was exiled because the British disapproved of his marriage to a white woman (source 1)
• This showed how much power the British had over the African people (source 1)
• 1952 the Ngwato chiefs organized political movements in hopes of becoming self-sufficient (source 1)
• Tswanas negotiated with the British over copper mining (source 1)
• 1961 Tswanas were allowed to set up a legislative council (source 1)
• 1964 the self governing Republic of Botswana was formed (source 1)

source 15

Acceptance

India

• After the Sepoy Mutiny, the sepoys decided to accept British control and make money to survive without causing disturbances (page 7)
• If they conformed to British rule, there were benefits:
• A high and constant salary (page 7)
• An honorable profession (page 7)
• Advantages over non-sepoys in court rulings (page 7)
• It wasn't a great way of life for a few reasons:
• Sepoys could never rise up in the ranks no matter how hard they worked; the British had power because of their race, not qualifications (page 7)
• They had to endure racism without fighting back (page 7)
• Indians who were loyal to the British got special treatment, dividing them from those who did not conform to British rule (page 7)

a sepoy

source 16

Acceptance

The Philippines

• The Philippines allowed the Spanish to control them for nearly 300 years. (source 3)
• America took control by defeating Spain in 1898. (source 3)
• Some Filipinos resisted the Americans with shooting near Manila. (source 3)
• Some guerilla warfare continued but was ineffective. (source 3)
• 1904-1906 Filipinos tried to take power back in Samar.
• They tried to burn down some villages but it backfired and was shut down. (source 3)
• The United States had no reason to hold back now, so they took direct control, ending the conflict until they gave the Philippines independence in 1946. (source 3)

source 17

source 18

Sources Cited

Online Resources:

1. "Botswana : British Protectorate." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/75170/Botswana/43909/British-protectorate>.

2. "Kenya : World War II to Independence." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/315078/Kenya/38095/World-War-II-to-independence>.

3. "Philippine Revolution." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/456384/Philippine-Revolution>.

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Unit Packet Resources:

4. Notes 3

5. Notes 5

6. Page 5

7. Notes 6

8. Page 7

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Images Cited

9. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamulapati/3002897522/

10. http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachblogger/2261928256/

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholasjones/6199597898/sizes/m/in/photostream/

12. http://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2327740463/sizes/m/in/photostream/

13. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbowen/111435260/sizes/m/in/photostream/

14. http://www.flickr.com/photos/clankennedy/428915691/sizes/m/in/photostream/

15. http://www.flickr.com/photos/87913776@N00/506956546/sizes/m/in/photostream/

16. http://www.flickr.com/photos/87913776@N00/506956546/sizes/m/in/photostream/

17. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelogs/201607687/sizes/m/in/photostream/

18. http://www.flickr.com/photos/via/4503655487/sizes/m/in/photostream/