Monday, March 3, 2014

S,Nolan,Imperialism. Chapter 25

This blog is in reference to the information that I have learned from Chapter 25. I would like to call this blog, The World's Westward Movement.
Introduction to the Chapter: As the western society reshapes the world, millions of Europeans left their native country to travel abroad to North and South America. During this time of expansion, the most significant manifestation was the political annexation of territorial lands which was also known as new imperialism. It was the basis on which Europe's economic and technological transformed. It also focused its attention to a superior military and a strong authoritarin rule. While some societies agreed with the changes, others including the non-Western elites, would lead anti-imperialist rallies in order to retrieve their dignity and independence.
Chapter Objective: Through this blog, I hope to further define and explain what new imperialism was during the nineteenth century and to retain this information that I am sharing with you so I can be better prepared for the upcoming exam.
Essential Question: What was new imperialism and what were its consequences?
Answer: New imperialism happened in the late nineteenth century when the drive by European countries was to create vast political empires abroad. Its consequences were: new tensions among competing European states, wars/threats of war, placements of blacks, yellows, and browns under the authority of the whites.

Political Cartoon #1



Depiction: Each man tugging on Africa symbolizes a different country. Notice how each man matches the description/identity of an important person from that country. For example King Leopold represents those from Belgium who want part of Africa and the Dutch Afrikaners who reside in the Cape Colony in Southern Africa that are trying to keep their portion of Africa away from the other countries.
Artist Opinion: The picture above shows what the African continent looked like, political wise, before 1880. The scramble for African territory reflected a conflict concerning military bases for certain purposes and the exercise of power.
My Response to it: I think that it is a great representation of the situation as in the end, Africa is divided into eight different categories owned by eight different countries.

Political Cartoon #2

Depiction: This political cartoon is depicting England and the strong imperialistic goals it had. England gained India and Cape Town in South Africa from its efforts.
Artist Opinion: England wanted to have empires over the majority of Europe, as seen above by the many hands of the man in the cartoon reaching out to its surrounding lands.
My Response: I feel that the artist is in some way making fun of England because the man representing England is an octopus with a large clown-like head structure with hair bulging from the sides of his hat.

Current Political Cartoon, US Imperialism



















Depiction:This cartoon shows that imperialism is supposed to be beneficial to others but consequently, it is causing war. The man's enlarged stomach depicts the United State's attemt to expand.
Artist Opinion: By the sly yet devious look on the man's face, I can conclude that the artist believes that the actions pertaining to imperialism are not beneficial but actually evil and harmful to society.
My Response: I do not enjoy looking at this cartoon because without the tophat reading 'imperialism' I would think that the artist is saying a pregnant person births a child which results in war. The enlarged stomach automatically makes me think of a pregnant person which is why I have that thought in my mind.

Do I think that the US is/has been imperialistic?
Yes, I believe that we have been imperialistic back then and even today in this era we live in. During the nineteenth century, the US attempted to expand and ultimately obtain control over Japan but consequently, the Japanese sign treaties which end up opening two ports.

Cons
1) Tried to follow alongside the previous efforts of the Europeans
2) Imperialism doesn't lead to democracy
3) It sparked wars and it costed many lives as well as money which payed for the wars to be initiated

Pros
1) new cultures
2) annexation/Control of Hawaii and Philippines
3)Iraq Intervention in attempt to create a democracy

2 US Events
Annexation of Hawaii
  Hawaii and the United States established a treaty that would allow Hawaiian sugar to be sold in the US. Hawaii leased Pearl Harbor to the United States. In 1893, Sanford B. Dole, a pineapple planter, removed Queen Liliuokalani from the throne. He declared Hawaii a republic and made it clear that he wanted it to be annexed by the United States. President William McKinley approved this annexation of Hawaii. He thought that gaining Hawaii was another manifest destiny. Congress in 1898 approved  the US annexing Hawaii since the navy needed a naval base to protect the country's trade. This event connects across continents since the US was gaining land and ultimately becoming imperialistic, like Europe, by using its  power. Europe was dominating Africa and the US wanted to more land, just like the Europeans.

Open Door Policy
   Secretary John Hay, under President William McKinley, introduced the idea of the Open Door Policy 1899. It allowed countries to trade equally with one another. The US thought that European countries were taking over areas of the world, including: Africa. The US did not want to have to go to war fighting for the territory. The Open Door Policy was a better and more efficient way to do so. This event can be connected across continents since it not only affected the United States in trade, but also affected other countries such as Britain, Germany, Russia and Japan. It opened up much of the trade in these countries stated above.

Uprising in European Colony
The Great Rebellion was an uprising in the European colony that was a result of when Britain gained control of India and the goals of the British had in turn affected the Indians. By definition, te Great Rebellion was the 1857 and 1858 insurrection by Muslim and Hindu mercenaries in the British army that spread throughout northern and central India before finally being crushed. Both the Muslims and the Hindus were insulted by the Lee-Enfield rifle techniques and revolted against eachother. The mutiny was broken up by the British which was one of the first steps toward Indian independence from British authority.

Current Uprising in the World
The Arab Spring is a term for the revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protest involving riots, and civil wars in the Arab community which began on 18 December 2010. Many of the Arab Spring demonstrations have been met with violent responses from the authorities. A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab community has been "the people want to bring down the regime". The cause for this uprising was the dissatisfaction with the rule of local governments. So far it has been successful through efforts such as social media, strikes, demonstrations, marches, and rallies.

Spotlight On
Suez Canal
As of 1962, Egypt had full control of the Suez Canal. It is in turn operated by the Suez Canal Authority. The canal starts at Point Said in the Mediterranean Sea and eventually ends at Suez at the Gulf of the Suez. The canal runs from north to south. The canal then separates the African continent from Asia. It is not large enough for two ships to pass side by side. There is one shipping lane and more than one passing lanes. It is one of the world's most used waterways and its significant for trade. The canal is considered a checkpoint since it can be blocked easily and disrupt trade.

3.2.1. Summary
I learned:
-The Suez Canal is operated by the Suez Canal Authority
-John Jay created the Open Door Policies
-England sought to have several empires across Europe
I was interested in:
-The fact that the Suez Canal is not wide enough to be considered identical to a typical highway or road
-How social media aided in the uprisings of the Arab Spring
1 Question I still have:
-Is the Arab Spring conflict going to last several years from now?