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Unit 7: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Inquiry Journal

thinkingnation.org

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________ Class: ____________________

Topic 1: Expansion of Empire Supporting Questions
LESSON 1	What was the most significant cause and/or justification of imperialism?
	K:
	W:
LESSON 2	In what ways did European imperialism impact African societies politically, economically, and culturally?
	K:
	W:
LESSON 3	What methods did the British use to gain and maintain control over India?
	K:
	W:
LESSON 4	How were Japanese and Western approaches to imperialism alike in East and Southeast Asia?
	K:
	W:

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Directions: Read the compelling question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Topic 1: Expansion of Empire

Compelling Question

How did the varying goals of imperial powers shape the strategies they used to gain and maintain power in different regions?

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Topic 2: Effects and Resistance Supporting Questions
LESSON 5	What economic, political, and cultural factors led to rebellions against imperial rule?
	K:
	W:
LESSON 6	How did individuals and communities under imperial rule express their views of colonial power?
	K:
	W:

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Directions: Read the compelling question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Topic 2: Effects and Resistance

Compelling Question

What techniques did different societies use to respond to imperial expansion?

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Assessment Supporting Questions
LESSON 7	To what extent do museum displays of artifacts from colonized nations shape public understanding of history and colonial legacies?
	K:
	W:
LESSON 8	Place-Based Lesson Extension

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Directions: Read the essential question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Essential Question

To what extent did economic interests, political ambitions, and cultural ideologies drive imperialism and shape the resistance movements it provoked?

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thinkingnation.org

CLAIM (Your argument)
EVIDENCE #1 (Facts, examples, sources)
REASONING #1 (Explanation of how the evidence supports the claim)
EVIDENCE #2 (Facts, examples, sources)
REASONING #2 (Explanation of how the evidence supports the claim)

Paragraph Template

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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Unit 7: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance

Inquiry Journal (Exemplar)

thinkingnation.org

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________ Class: ____________________

Topic 1: Expansion of Empire Supporting Questions
LESSON 1	What was the most significant cause and/or justification of imperialism?
	K: Countries usually sought to control others because of a desire to improve their countries’ financial status and global reputation.
	W: Did countries truly believe they were helping, or was it just an excuse for domination?
LESSON 2	In what ways did European imperialism impact African societies politically, economically, and culturally?
	K: Imperialism takes away the right of a groups autonomy and sovereignty.
	W: Did different European countries engage in similar or different imperial actions?
LESSON 3	What methods did the British use to gain and maintain control over India?
	K: Countries usually need to have a strong military to gain and maintain control of another region, especially if it is far away.
	W: How long did the British control India?
LESSON 4	How were Japanese and Western approaches to imperialism alike in East and Southeast Asia?
	K: Europeans, including France and Britain, used their military to colonize around the world.
	W: What specific countries did Japan imperialize?

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance (Exemplar)

Directions: Read the compelling question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Topic 1: Expansion of Empire

Compelling Question

How did the varying goals of imperial powers shape the strategies they used to gain and maintain power in different regions?

The varying goals of imperial powers significantly shaped the strategies they used to gain and maintain control across different regions. For example, in India, Britain’s primary goal was economic profit, which led to strategies like transforming local agriculture into cash crop production, exploiting Indian labor, and building railways and telegraphs to transport goods and maintain communication. In contrast, in Africa, European powers often pursued both resource extraction and territorial control, leading to brutal tactics like forced labor in King Leopold’s Congo and the creation of arbitrary borders that ignored ethnic divisions. In East and Southeast Asia, Japan sought to establish itself as a modern imperial power, leading to assimilation policies in Korea and efforts to build an empire modeled after Western powers. These differences in goals—economic dominance, territorial expansion, political prestige, and racial ideology—shaped how powers interacted with colonized societies. Powers that aimed to extract resources often used economic manipulation and minimal settlement, while those with long-term control in mind, like settlers in Algeria, implemented systems of cultural erasure and direct political rule. Thus, the imperial powers’ varying motivations directly influenced whether they relied on military force, infrastructure development, cultural assimilation, or administrative restructuring to control regions around the globe.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance (Exemplar)

Topic 2: Effects and Resistance Supporting Questions
LESSON 5	What economic, political, and cultural factors led to rebellions against imperial rule?
	K: Many regions in Asia and Africa were imperialized, such as Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa, and China. Colonization disrupted traditional customs, languages, and religions.
	W: How did cultural and religious oppression contribute to rebellion?
LESSON 6	What were the similarities and differences in the responses of colonized peoples towards imperial powers?
	K: Colonized people resisted imperial rule to protect their traditions, religions, and way of life. Some rebellions against imperialism were military-based and were motivated by religious and cultural concerns.
	W: How did gender impact participation in resistance movements?

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance (Exemplar)

Directions: Read the compelling question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Topic 2: Effects and Resistance

Compelling Question

How did responses to imperialism compare across Africa, India, East and Southeast Asia?

Different societies employed a range of techniques to resist imperial expansion, including armed rebellion, military strategy, cultural resistance, and political maneuvering. In India, the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857 was a widespread uprising against British rule, in which Indian soldiers revolted due to grievances over cultural and religious insensitivity by the British East India Company. Similarly, in West Africa, Yaa Asantewaa led the Asante resistance in 1900, organizing a military rebellion to defend the Golden Stool, a symbol of Asante sovereignty. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, King Menelik II used military strategy and modernization to defeat the Italians at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, securing Ethiopia’s independence. In China, the Red Lanterns, a group of female martial artists, played a key role in the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) by using spiritual and physical training to resist foreign influence. Additionally, Empress Cixi strategically supported and later manipulated the Boxer Rebellion to maintain power while attempting to push back against foreign imperialism. She issued an edict that called for government reform in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion. These examples illustrate that resistance to imperialism took many forms, from direct military confrontation to social and political defiance. Armed rebellions, such as the Sepoy Rebellion and the Asante resistance, demonstrated the willingness of colonized peoples to fight for sovereignty. Meanwhile, leaders like Menelik II and Empress Cixi used political and military strategies to counter foreign domination. Groups like the Red Lanterns and showed how resistance extended beyond traditional military engagements, incorporating cultural resistance. These varied techniques highlight the widespread and diverse opposition to imperial rule across different regions.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance (Exemplar)

Assessment Supporting Questions
LESSON 7	To what extent do museum displays of artifacts from colonized nations shape public understanding of history and colonial legacies?
	K: Museums often display artifacts from different cultures. Many of the Smithsonians in DC have exhibits with ancient artifacts from around the world.
	W: How do these artifacts become owned by the U.S.?
LESSON 8	Place-Based Lesson Extension

Directions: Read each of the supporting questions. For each “K,” write what you already KNOW about the topic. For each “W,” write what you WONDER about the topic.

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Unit 7 Inquiry Journal: Transforming Societies - Imperialism & Resistance (Exemplar)

Directions: Read the essential question. Explain what you LEARNED throughout the unit with a Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) paragraph.

Essential Question

To what extent did economic interests, political ambitions, and cultural ideologies drive imperialism and shape the resistance movements it provoked?

Economic interests were the primary driver of imperialism as industrialized nations sought raw materials, cheap labor, and new markets. The Scramble for Africa (1880s–1914) was largely fueled by Europe's desire for resources such as rubber, diamonds, and gold, leading to brutal exploitation in places like the Congo under Belgian rule. Similarly, British imperial control over India was deeply tied to its valuable resources like cotton and tea, as well as the forced deindustrialization of Indian textile production to benefit British manufacturers. However, political ambitions also played a major role, as imperial powers sought global influence and military dominance. Japan’s expansion into Korea and China was motivated by a desire to establish itself as a dominant power in Asia. Cultural ideologies, including Social Darwinism and the "White Man’s Burden," provided justification for imperial rule by portraying non-European societies as inferior and in need of Western civilization.

Resistance movements emerged as direct responses to these imperial forces. The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) in China was a reaction to both economic exploitation (such as the forced trade of opium) and cultural suppression by Western missionaries. In Africa, Ethiopia under Menelik II successfully resisted Italian invasion at the Battle of Adwa (1896), demonstrating how political autonomy and military strategy could challenge imperial rule. Meanwhile, the Indian Revolt of 1857 (Sepoy Rebellion) was fueled by both economic grievances—such as unfair taxation and land seizures—and cultural tensions, as British policies disrespected Indian religious traditions.

While imperialism was justified through political and cultural rhetoric, its foundation was overwhelmingly economic, as European and Japanese powers sought financial gain through resource extraction and trade dominance. However, resistance movements were shaped by a mix of economic hardship, political autonomy, and cultural preservation. The Boxer Rebellion and the Indian Revolt show that imperialism was not accepted passively; rather, local populations actively resisted when their way of life was threatened. Though economic exploitation was the primary reason for imperial expansion, the cultural and political dimensions of imperialism ensured that resistance took multiple forms, ranging from armed uprisings to diplomatic negotiations. Ultimately, imperialism and its opposition were complex, with economic motives driving expansion and diverse forms of resistance challenging colonial rule.