European Imperialism Dbq Essay

Brigid Cosgrove

AP World

Mr. Bryant

15 March 2023

Imperialism LEQ

In the 19th century, European imperialism began to dominate the globe. While Europe remained isolated from the rest of the prosperous world in earlier centuries, by the “Age of Exploration”, they began gaining the knowledge for development and advancements. As European countries began to realize the gain of wealth and power came through acquiring territories, they began competition of lands with imperial powers such as “the scramble of Africa” and missionaries sent to countries in Asia. With the continued expansion of European imperialism from the 19th into the early 20th century, Western dominance of profitable economies, reform movements in the Eastern world, and rebellion

During the Meji Period, Japan began to imitate European powers as they modernized their military. Fear of ending up like China, the Meji Restoration abolishing the strict class system ultimately unleashing their potential to compete with European powers. While Japan began to prosper, they lost their feudal governing system and rich cultural history in the process. Nevertheless, Japan soon became a prominent imperial power, assisting European countries with the Boxer Rebellion and colonizing nearby countries like Korea. Japan became a disliked country in Asia due to their imperialist goals and establishment of diplomatic relationships with Great Powers. When related to Immanuel Wallerstein’s “World Systems Analysis”, the Meji Restoration developed Japan into a core country. As a dominant power, they took advantage of periphery countries for labor and every opportunity to become a world

The people of China began to recognize how they were not only being westernized but losing their culture. Therefore, the secret society and others retaliated, driving foreigners and major European powers from China. Rather than lessening foreign influence, the rebellion increased foreign influence. The Qing dynasty was greatly weakened due to forced acceptance of foreign military assistance to put down the uprising. As the last imperial dynasty of China, they turned to a Republic. Through the East India Company, Britain also came to control India. Through the course of the 19th century, the British government ruled India, known as the British Raj. During this time, the people of India began to revolt. One example being the Sepoy Rebellion was due to Sepoys unhappiness with the pay inequality compared to British soldiers as well as the suspicion of rifle cartridges with animal fats, which conflicted their religion. Despite the thousands of killed Sepoys, the Sepoy Rebellion opened a new council for Indians in government and removed the East India Company. However, direct rule of the British would continue to exist into the 20th