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Examples of Imperialism . Geopolitics. An interest in or taking of land for its strategic location or products. Examples: Crimean War (Russia vs Ottoman empire) Russia wanted a warm water port Egypt (Suez Canal) British wanted control of shipping Afghanistan (the great game)
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Geopolitics • An interest in or taking of land for its strategic location or products. • Examples: • Crimean War (Russia vs Ottoman empire) • Russia wanted a warm water port • Egypt (Suez Canal) • British wanted control of shipping • Afghanistan (the great game) • Russia wanted a piece of India, Britain defended its colony
India • A British Colony starting in 1600’s that grew in size as the Mughal empire fell apart • Controlled by the East India Company using • Sepoys • East India Company private army of Indian soldiers led by British officers.
India Cont. • Britain’s “Jewel in the crown” (Most valuable colony) • British got cheap raw materials and were able to sell products back to Indians
Pros and Cons PROS Cons • Built Railroads • Brought unity to India • Modernized India • Improved sanitation/public health • British troops ended local warfare • British held all the economic/political power • Restricted Indian owned industries (textiles) • Move to cash crops (tobacco, cotton) made India lose self-sufficiency • Caused famines • Threatened Indian culture
Sepoy Mutiny • Background • Discontent about British trying to convert them to Christianity (Change their Culture) • Discontent over being a colony • Final Spark • Sepoys found out that Pig and Cow fat was used to grease their rifles and refused to use their weapons • British Response was to jail them. (Big Mistake)
Sepoy Mutiny • Violence of the rebellion was ferocious • Both sides committed atrocities • Sepoys killed British officers, as well as wives, children • Captured mutineers strapped to cannons and shot; villages burned • Fighting continued two years
Sepoy Mutiny Results • Britain had to send troops to help East India Company regain control • Britain took direct control of India • Increased racism of British toward Indians • India remains a colony of Britain until 1947