All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What was the significance of the opening of Japan by Commodore Perry?
Answer: It ended Japanese isolation and initiated trade with the West. Perry's 1853-1854 visits forced Japan to abandon its isolationist sakoku policy.
Flashcard 2: What was the purpose of the British Raj?
Answer: To establish direct British control over India after the Sepoy Rebellion. Replaced East India Company rule with direct Crown administration in 1858.
Flashcard 3: What was the primary goal of the Monroe Doctrine?
Answer: To oppose European colonialism in the Americas. Warned European powers against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere.
Flashcard 4: What was the impact of the Sepoy Rebellion on British rule in India?
Answer: Led to direct rule by the British Crown, ending the East India Company's control. The 1857 uprising prompted Britain to assume direct governmental control.
Flashcard 5: Which Asian country successfully resisted European colonization during this period?
Answer: Thailand (Siam). Strategic diplomacy and modernization helped maintain independence between empires.
Flashcard 6: Which treaty ended the Spanish-American War?
Answer: The Treaty of Paris (1898). Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States.
Flashcard 7: Which African country remained independent during the Scramble for Africa?
Answer: Ethiopia. Victory at Adwa (1896) secured Ethiopian sovereignty against Italian invasion.
Flashcard 8: What was the primary purpose of the British East India Company?
Answer: To trade and establish economic control in India. Originally a trading company, it gradually acquired territorial control.
Flashcard 9: Identify the war that led to U.S. acquisition of territories from Mexico.
Answer: The Mexican-American War (1846-1848). U.S. victory resulted in acquisition of California and southwestern territories.
Flashcard 10: What was the significance of the opening of Japan by Commodore Perry?
Answer: It ended Japanese isolation and initiated trade with the West. Perry's 1853-1854 visits forced Japan to abandon its isolationist sakoku policy.
Flashcard 11: What was the impact of the Berlin Conference on Africa?
Answer: Established rules for the division of Africa among European powers. Created arbitrary borders without considering African ethnic or cultural boundaries.
Flashcard 12: Identify a key motivation for European imperialism in the 19th century.
Answer: Economic gain through access to raw materials and new markets. Resources fueled industrialization while new markets sold manufactured goods.
Flashcard 13: Which technological advancement facilitated European expansion in the 19th century?
Answer: The steamship. Steam power enabled faster, more reliable ocean travel and river navigation.
Flashcard 14: Name a significant result of the Berlin Conference (1884-1885).
Answer: The division of Africa into territories controlled by European powers. The conference formalized European claims without African representation.
Flashcard 15: Which empire was known for its 'Raj' period in India?
Answer: The British Empire. British rule over India lasted from 1858-1947 after Company control ended.
Flashcard 16: Which European country controlled the Congo Free State?
Answer: Belgium. King Leopold II personally controlled this territory through brutal exploitation.
Flashcard 17: Name a key figure in the unification of Germany.
Answer: Otto von Bismarck. His diplomatic skill and military strategy united the German states by 1871.
Flashcard 18: What was the Meiji Restoration?
Answer: The modernization and industrialization of Japan starting in 1868. Japan rapidly adopted Western technology and political systems to avoid colonization.
Flashcard 19: Identify one reason for the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century.
Answer: Economic difficulties and military defeats. Financial crises and territorial losses weakened central authority significantly.
Flashcard 20: What was the significance of the Russo-Japanese War?
Answer: Marked the first time an Asian power defeated a European power. Japan's 1905 victory challenged Western assumptions about racial superiority.
Flashcard 21: Which concept justified European powers' imperial expansion?
Answer: The concept of 'civilizing mission' or 'White Man's Burden'. Europeans claimed moral duty to spread civilization and Christianity globally.
Flashcard 22: What was the significance of the Suez Canal?
Answer: It provided a shorter maritime route between Europe and Asia. Eliminated the need to sail around Africa, revolutionizing global trade.
Flashcard 23: Identify a significant impact of European imperialism on African societies.
Answer: Disruption of traditional societies and economies. Colonial extraction systems destroyed local industries and social structures.
Flashcard 24: Name the war that led to the independence of countries in Latin America.
Answer: The Latin American Wars of Independence. Revolutionary movements ended Spanish colonial rule across South America.
Flashcard 25: What is the significance of the Treaty of Nanking (1842)?
Answer: It ended the First Opium War and ceded Hong Kong to Britain. China's first unequal treaty opened ports and granted extraterritorial rights.
Flashcard 26: What is imperialism?
Answer: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or political dominance. This definition encompasses both territorial conquest and indirect control methods.
Flashcard 27: Which ideology emphasized national unity and independence during this period?
Answer: Nationalism. Promoted ethnic unity and self-determination against imperial rule.
Flashcard 28: What was the purpose of the British Raj?
Answer: To establish direct British control over India after the Sepoy Rebellion. Replaced East India Company rule with direct Crown administration in 1858.
Flashcard 29: Identify the treaty that ended the Crimean War.
Answer: The Treaty of Paris (1856). Ended the conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in 1856.
Flashcard 30: Name a significant cause of the Taiping Rebellion.
Answer: Discontent with Qing rule and social inequality. Led by Hong Xiuquan, it challenged Qing authority from 1850-1864.