Module 2 Chapter 18

In what ways did the Industrial Revolution shape the character of 19thcentury European imperialism?
The industrial revolution helped Britain expand overseas. Steam driven ships allowed Europeans to move through Asia, Africa, and Pacific Ports. The growth of massive nationalism in Europe made imperialism easier. Europeans no longer cared about religious superiority. Instead, Europeans judged themselves and the rest of the world with the following criteria: resources, military power, and wealth. Because of these standards, the Chinese no longer held the power that they once had when they were the leaders of trade during the 18th century. They were viewed as weaker to Europeans. Europeans used science to create racial preferences and prejudices. Phrenologists, craniologists, and sometimes physicians would classify white people as having bigger skulls which meant they were more advanced than other races. This created a hierarchy of races in which white people dominated the top.

Spend a few minutes studying the map titled “Conquest and Resistance in Colonial     Africa” on page 796. What is so striking about this map? If you were in a group discussion during class, what would be the observations you would share about this map?
There are a lot of uprisings that occurred in the southern portion of Africa. There were many insurrections close to the Atlantic Ocean, and France established themselves in a majority of the places in Africa as did Britain. It was surprising to see that there were two independent African states. Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Italy did not have a lot of control over Africa in contrast to their counterparts.  Britain was expanding a lot of their empire in this territory.

Read the poem on page 798 by Nguyen Khuyen, a Vietnamese official during French colonial rule. If you had the opportunity to share a glass of his “fine wine” (or a cup of tea) with Mr. Nguyen, what would you say to him? How might that conversation go?
I would definitely feel his frustration with everything that must have been dramatic to go through due to this French conquest. I would tell him that he isn’t alone and that many others have had to see their home get torn down due to conquest. I would tell him that I understand that losing homes, family members, and land is a traumatic experience and that I am sorry they had to undergo these ordeals. I know that right now everything may seem very hard for him. I would tell him that although right now nothing looks like it will get better, there will be better days. Assimilation will be hard, but he survived the hardest part even if his society got torn apart along the way. I would ask him if he had thought about going someplace else.

Module 1 Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Module 1

Question Number 2: 

In what respects did the roots of the Industrial Revolution lie within Europe? In what ways did that transformation have global roots?

The industrial revolution was a direct result of the lack of nonrenewable resources that were essential in producing power within Europe. The Industrial revolution began in Europe--specifically Great Britain, but soon spread to other places. Europe was the first to access energy resources that came from coal, oil, and gas. This became widespread when other places such as Japan and China were struggling to provide energy as their populations began to increase. The Industrial revolution was a response to the lack of nonrenewable resources such as charcoal and wood that became scarcer as populations began to increase. This is how this transformation had global roots. Everyone was attempting to find efficient ways to create energy for the increasing population. Some historians believe that Europe has been distinguished for its creative culture and it was a matter of time until they were the leaders to modern economics. Europes small and competitive states helped with their development of the industrial revolution. It was in the interest of the government to encourage trading commerce and innovations since royals were desperate to find revenue in the absence of an effective tax-collecting bureaucracy. Europe was not alone in developing market based economies as Japan, China, and India followed. In the Americas, Europeans found silver that allowed them to be a part of the Asian markets. They also obtained timber, fish, potatoes, and maize to feed the rapid growing populations. 

Question Number 3: 

What was distinctive about Britain that may help explain its status as the breakthrough point of the Industrial Revolution?

A series of agricultural innovation began in Europe. These consisted of crop rotation, selective breeding of animals, lighter plows, and higher yielding seeds. British political life encouraged commercialization and economic innovation. They were tolerant to other people's religious beliefs which ultimately allowed them to welcome people of different backgrounds for their technical skills regardless of their faith. This contrasted France's persecution of the Protestant minority. The British government put high tariffs on Indian goods and favored men of business that aided in keeping these cheap Indian textiles out. Britain also established laws that kept away workers unions and their science was more concerned with observation, experiments, precise measurements, mechanical devices, and practical commercial applications. This science allowed for innovations such as the steam engine to come to life. In continental Europe, entrepreneurs, scientists, and makers of scientific experiments were not as close in contact with them as they were with Britain. Additionally, accidents of geography aided in their industrial revolution. They are situated where there was a ready supply of coal and iron ore that was easy to access and within close proximity to each other. 

Question Number 5: 

How did Britain's middle classes change during the 19th century?

Britain's middle class consisted mainly of wealthy factory and mine owners as well as bankers and merchants. These men were able to buy country houses, obtain seats in parliament, and send their sons to prestigious colleges to continue their educational careers. Other people that were included in the middle class were lawyers, engineers, teachers, journalists, and scientists. This part of the middle class consisted of many livers that favored free trade, private property, a constitutional government, and social reform within limits. Women were viewed as domestic homemaking individuals and were viewed as "ladies" if their husbands were the sole providers of a household. Employing servants marked a middle class family as proud. By the late nineteenth century, women began to obtain greater roles in this society. Some obtained teaching jobs, clerical jobs, and nursing professions. When children were withdrawn from labor, a more skilled and educated workforce emerged. A lower middle class also emerged as Britain's economy expanded. This consisted of bank tellers, salespeople, clerks, telephone operators, secretaries, etc.