Revision handout: International History

1870–1945

Chapter 1: Empire and the emergence of world powers 1870–1919

1 Imperialism in the late 19th century

a Economic and political motives for imperialism

1 Impact of Industrial Revolution
a need for raw materials
b need for markets
c investment opportunities for entrepreneurs
d effects of Long Depression 1873–96
2 Political factors
a settlement of European borders 1871
b growth of nationalism

b The emergence of ‘New Imperialism’

1 Medical advancement
2 Technological advancement
a railways
b steamships
c weaponry
3 Opening of the Suez Canal
4 Opposition to slavery
5 Theory of racial superiority

c Nature and purpose of the ‘scramble for Africa’

1 Exploration – opened up the African interior
2 Britain in Egypt, Transvaal and East Africa
3 Expansion by France, Belgium and Portugal
4 Reasons why Germany entered the ‘scramble’ later than other nations
5 Effects on the African people

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d Support for overseas expansion in Britain, France and Germany
1 Factors encouraging public support for overseas expansion
a government policies – e.g. education
b the role of the Church
c a sense of duty to bring ‘civilisation’ to Africa
d patriotic pride and jingoism
e newspapers, literature, art and popular culture – e.g. music halls
2 Opposition to imperialism
a some people saw it as racist
b some argued it was not cost-effective
c fear that it would lead to war
d working-class leaders wanted money spent on domestic social reform

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2 Impact of imperialism on international relations

a Relations between European nations

1 Fashoda Incident 1898
2 Naval development in Germany – arms race with Britain
3 Entente Cordiale – agreement between Britain and France 1904
4 Moroccan crisis and the Algeciras Conference 1905–06
5 Moroccan crisis 1911

b Disputes with China

1 Impact of the Opium Wars
2 Problems facing China
a growth of foreign influence
b Taiping Rebellion 1850–64
c government lacked political authority, military power and popular support
d First Sino-Japanese War 1894 – Treaty of Shimonoseki 1895
e USA demands for an ‘open door’ policy
f Boxer Rebellion 1898–1901

c Tension between Britain and Germany over South Africa

1 First Boer War 1880–81
2 Jameson Raid 1895 and Kaiser Wilhelm’s telegram to Kruger
3 Second Boer War 1899–1902
4 European nations’ resentment at British tactics
a ‘scorched earth’
b concentration camps
5 Impact of Boer Wars on British foreign policy

d Attempts to resolve tensions between imperial nations

1 Berlin Conference 1884–85
2 Imperial nations working together in China – e.g. Boxer Rebellion
3 Triple Intervention – Russia, France and Germany against Japan

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3 The emergence of Japan as a world power

a Rapid modernisation and military development

1 Commodore Perry 1853–54
2 Meiji Restoration 1867
3 Rapid industrialisation and military development
4 First Sino-Japanese War 1894 – Treaty of Shimonoseki 1895, Triple Intervention

b International recognition of Japan as a world power

1 Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902
2 Russo-Japanese War 1904–05
a reasons for Russia’s defeat
b reasons for Japan’s victory

c Japan in the First World War and its global position by 1918
1 Japanese gains during First World War
a increased trade
b rapid growth of shipbuilding and other industries
c gained control over Shantung Province in China
2 Twenty-One Demands 1915

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4 The emergence of the USA as a world power

a Closing of the frontier

1 Territorial expansion across North America
2 Manifest Destiny
3 Monroe Doctrine 1823
4 Official closing of the frontier 1890
a essay by Frederick Jackson Turner 1893
b isolationism
c early support for American imperialism

b Economic growth and the need for trade

1 Reasons for the USA’s economic growth
a availability of raw materials
b high population – immigration
c availability of capital
d railroads
e government protection of US industry
2 Economic downturns – e.g. 1893
3 Mahon The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1890

c The Spanish-American War 1898

1 Cuban rebellion against Spanish control
2 Sinking of the Maine
3 The Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Paris 1898
4 President Theodore Roosevelt
a Platt Amendment to the Cuban constitution
b Panama Canal
c Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine 1904
d expansion of US navy

d The USA’s entry into First World War

1 Reasons why the USA did not enter First World War in 1914
a USA saw it as a European war
2 Sinking of the Lusitania 1915
3 Wilson-Bryan debates
4 Reasons why the USA entered the war in 1917

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 a German U-boat attacks
b Zimmerman telegram
5 President Wilson’s war aims and the Fourteen Points
6 Impact of US involvement in First World War

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