Lecture Notes: Economic Imperialism (1750-1900)

Key Concepts

Imperialism Beyond Colonization

• Full-blown colonization: Costly and resource-intensive.
• Economic imperialism: Extension of control over another state by economic means, avoiding the high costs of colonization.

Major Examples of Economic Imperialism

Influence in China

• Opium Wars:

  • Britain and France influenced China through economic means.
  • China: Historically a major world power with a strong economy (Silk, Porcelain, Tea).
  • Trade imbalance: British silver flows into China, little Chinese silver to Britain.
  • Solution: Britain increased colonial production of opium in India and illegally exported it to China.
  • Impact of opium: Led to addiction in China, silver flowed back to Britain.

• First Opium War:

  • British response to China's ban on opium.
  • British military force led to defeat of China.
  • Result: Treaty of Nanjing, opening of new trading ports to Britain, enhancing British economic influence.

• Taiping Rebellion:

  • Weakened the Qing Dynasty, caused substantial financial and human losses.
  • Distracted Qing rulers from industrializing.

• Second Opium War:

  • Involvement of France with Britain, further defeat of China.
  • More unequal treaties, increased Western trading ports.
  • Led to "spheres of influence" where China was economically dominated by foreign powers including Russia and Japan.

Influence in Argentina

• British Investments:
  • Heavy investments in infrastructure, notably railroads and modern trading ports.
  • Motivated by interest in extracting and exporting raw materials.
  • Resulted in Argentina's economic dependence on British investment.

Reorganization of Colonial Economies

• Focus on Trade and Commodities:
  • Colonial economies organized to focus on a few key exports demanded by imperial powers.
  • Examples:
    • Cotton: Grown in India and Egypt for export to Britain.
    • Palm Oil: Extracted in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Resulted in economic dependencies which favored imperial powers and disadvantaged local populations.

Conclusion

• Economic imperialism allowed industrial powers to control and exploit other regions economically without direct colonization.
• This period marked a significant reorganization of global trade and economy, heavily skewed in favor of Western powers.

Additional Resources:

• AP World Review Guide for further study and exam preparation.

Next Steps:

• Continue reviewing Unit 6 content.
• Consider additional study resources for comprehensive understanding and exam success.