Objective
Compare the processes by which state power shifted from 1750 to 1900 in Southeast Asia
Reading Questions
The Dutch
Siam
What allowed Japan to become an Imperial power the Meiji Restoration?
What were the causes and consequences of the Sino-Japanese War?
What were the causes and consequences of the Russo-Japanese War?
Oceana
- How do they keep control over the colony?
- What are the major resources drawn from the colony by the West? What was the economic relationship between the Western power and the people in the colony?
- Why did power shift from private control of the Southeast Asia to state control?
- How did they gain control? How do they keep control over the colony?
- Why did some choose to cooperate/adopt western ways?
- What are the major resources drawn from the colony by the West? What was the economic relationship between the Western power and the people in the colony?
- How did they gain control? How do they keep control over the colony?
- What are the major resources drawn from the colony by the West? What was the economic relationship between the Western power and the people in the colony?
- What was the result of French policies in Southeast Asia?
Siam
- Why did Siam manage to maintain independence? list as many reasons as you can
- What was the result of state sponsored industrialization in Siam?
What allowed Japan to become an Imperial power the Meiji Restoration?
What were the causes and consequences of the Sino-Japanese War?
What were the causes and consequences of the Russo-Japanese War?
Oceana
- What were some of the reasons for European Exploration of Oceana?
- Why was Australia initially established as a colony?
- What were some of the consequences of European Imperialism in Oceana?
- What were the causes and effects of the New Zealand Wars?
South East Asia and Imperialism
Context
For centuries, Southeast Asian kingdoms like Srivijaya and the Chola had been involved in transregional trade with merchants from East Asia (China), South Asia (India), and West Asia (the “Middle East”). In the Early Modern period of 1450 to 1750, the Spanish had colonized the Philipines. The British East India Company was also engaged in trade to a smaller extent. By the 19th century, Europeans were ready to carve up Southeast Asia as they did Africa.
For centuries, Southeast Asian kingdoms like Srivijaya and the Chola had been involved in transregional trade with merchants from East Asia (China), South Asia (India), and West Asia (the “Middle East”). In the Early Modern period of 1450 to 1750, the Spanish had colonized the Philipines. The British East India Company was also engaged in trade to a smaller extent. By the 19th century, Europeans were ready to carve up Southeast Asia as they did Africa.
The Dutch
In the early 18th century the Dutch East India Company (VOC) had a monopoly on the spice trade coming out of Southeast Asia. They were a transnational corporation that minted its own currency, hired its own armies, negotiates treaties, and executes its own convicts. At the height of its valuation in 1637, the VOC was worth roughly $8.28 trillion in 2021 dollars—more than Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and fifteen more of the world’s most important modern companies combined. “Embezzlement, nepotism, and illegal private trade” would lead the Dutch government to revoke the company’s charter and take over in Southeast Asia similar to the way the British East India Company lost its charter after the Sepoy Rebellion in India.
In the early 18th century the Dutch East India Company (VOC) had a monopoly on the spice trade coming out of Southeast Asia. They were a transnational corporation that minted its own currency, hired its own armies, negotiates treaties, and executes its own convicts. At the height of its valuation in 1637, the VOC was worth roughly $8.28 trillion in 2021 dollars—more than Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and fifteen more of the world’s most important modern companies combined. “Embezzlement, nepotism, and illegal private trade” would lead the Dutch government to revoke the company’s charter and take over in Southeast Asia similar to the way the British East India Company lost its charter after the Sepoy Rebellion in India.
Europeans were drawn to Southeast Asia for its abundance of natural resources. After being conquered, the West transformed the colonies’ economy to focus primarily on the production and extraction of raw materials as well as the continuing cultivation of cash crops like coffee, cocoa, sugar, bananas, pineapples, and rubber. For this reason, the Dutch opened up many plantations. The Dutch forced the locals to work through coerced labor in this case called corvee labor similar to the Inca and Spanish in the last units. Locals were given two choices. Either they worked for the Dutch-owned plantations for 66 days without pay or they used part of their land (20%) to grow cash crops for the Dutch at reduced prices. Many became indebted to money lenders when they could not meet their obligations. Many no longer farmed food for themselves because they grew cash crops leading to famines similar to India.
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British in Southeast Asia
British troops entered Mandalay on 28 November 1885. Thus, after three wars gaining various parts of the country, the British occupied all the area of present-day Myanmar, making the territory a Province of British India on 1 January 1886. The British took the Malayan Peninsula to compete with the Dutch, the British sought a trading base that would serve as a stop for their ships that traveled the India-China sea routes. |
The British invested in Southeast Asia’s infrastructure. They built irrigation facilities and railroads to facilitate trade. They also established laws protecting private ownership of farms. This encouraged local farmers in Burma to grow cash crops for profit. All over the area huge plantations to grow sugar, rubber, tea, tobacco, and sial (used for making rope) began to sprout. Under these conditions, the area’s standard of living increased for large landowners. Many were able to purchase imported industrialized goods from Britain. However, for low-income peasants life did not improve because they were forced to grow cash crops that interfered with their own food production. Like in many places in the Global South, Burma’s economy became dependent on the Global North's industrialized economy.
The opening of the Suez Canal and the increased demand for tin and rubber combined to make Singapore one of the world’s busiest ports. Britain also gained colonies in Malaysia and in Burma (modern Myanmar). Malaysia had large deposits of tin and became the world’s leading rubber exporter.
Needing workers to mine the tin and tap the rubber trees, Britain encouraged the Chinese to immigrate to Malaysia. Chinese flocked to the area. Appalling living conditions, disease, and accidents meant very high death rates. Additionally, as a result of such immigration, the Malays soon became a minority in their own country. The conflict between the resident Chinese and the native Malays remains unresolved today.
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The French
In the 1840s, during the rule of an anti-Christian Vietnamese emperor, seven French missionaries were killed. Capitalists wanted a larger share of the transregional trade in the area and Christian Church leaders demanded military intervention. Emperor Napoleon III invaded southern Vietnam. Later, the French invaded Laos, Cambodia, and northern Vietnam. The entire area would eventually be called French Indochina.
In the 1840s, during the rule of an anti-Christian Vietnamese emperor, seven French missionaries were killed. Capitalists wanted a larger share of the transregional trade in the area and Christian Church leaders demanded military intervention. Emperor Napoleon III invaded southern Vietnam. Later, the French invaded Laos, Cambodia, and northern Vietnam. The entire area would eventually be called French Indochina.
The French used direct control meaning that the French themselves filled all important positions in the government bureaucracy. They did not encourage industrialization in French Indochina. Four times as much land was devoted to rice production. However, the rice was meant for consumption in France. Consumption of rice for the locals decreased because much of the rice was exported. Anger over this reduction set the stage for Vietnamese resistance against the French. In fact, anger over Chinese immigration and the French occupation led to many nationalist movements. The most notable one would be in the 1950’s with Ho Chi Min who would also lead the resistance again the US in Vietnam.
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Siam
Like Ethiopia in Africa, Siam (present-day Thailand) remained independent throughout the colonial period. Siam is located between British- Burma and French Indochina. France and Britain each wanted to prevent the other from gaining control of Siam. Knowing this, Siamese kings skillfully promoted Siam as a neutral zone between the two European powers. Siam modernized itself under King Mongkut and his son Chulalongkorn. The king knew it was important to industrialize. The following is a proclamation by the king
As the times and the course of things in our country have changed, it is essential to promote the advancement of all our academic and technical knowledge and to prevent it from succumbing [giving in] to competition from the outside. In order to achieve this, it is imperative to make haste in education so that knowledge and ability will increase. KING CHULALONGKORN, “Royal Proclamation in Education” |
The King started schools, reformed the legal system, and reorganized the government. The government built its own railroads and telegraph systems and ended slavery. Because the changes came from their own government, the Siamese people avoided the racist treatment, and economic exploitation that occurred in other countries controlled by foreigners.
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Japan's Empire
The Meiji Restoration included modernization of the army and navy. This allowed Japan to become an imperial power. In 1894 Japan fought The First Sino-Japanese War of 1895 against China over its control of Korea, which China claimed. Japan won the war and gained control over Korea. Japan also gained the Liaotung peninsula and Taiwan making it a colony (see map below). Japan's victory over China surprised the European powers. You can watch a 4 min video showing some battle and naval scenes. |
At this time the European nations were carving up China. The Russians, who were building a railway through Siberia and Manchuria, were interested in North China as well. Within a week of Japan’s victory, France, Russia, and Germany combined to pressure Japan to give up rights on the Liaotung peninsula. Russia took the Liaotung peninsula that Japan had been forced to return.
The Japanese government was angered by this incident and knew that it was necessary to strengthen it's military even more. By 1904, the Russians were trying to establish control over Korea. However, this time Japan was much stronger. It declared war on Russia and, won the Russo Japanese War in 1905. Japan achieved dominance over Korea and established itself as a colonial power in East Asia.
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Oceania
European exploration began in the 16th century when the Portuguese landed on the Mariana Islands. European colonization was fueled by nationalism, increasing trade opportunities, and spreading Christianity. England, France, Germany, and Spain became the most important colonial powers in the region. Today, many countries, have the majority of European populations. English is the dominant language throughout most of Oceania.
European exploration began in the 16th century when the Portuguese landed on the Mariana Islands. European colonization was fueled by nationalism, increasing trade opportunities, and spreading Christianity. England, France, Germany, and Spain became the most important colonial powers in the region. Today, many countries, have the majority of European populations. English is the dominant language throughout most of Oceania.
Australia was first established as a penal colony because the other penal colony the British had in America was no longer available since the American independence of 1776. Once the British realized the climate was great for raising sheep and harvesting their wool, more settlers colonized Australia.
Like in other places where Europeans established settler colonies, they implemented their own systems of governance, land management, and trade. These efforts had severe consequences that continue to affect indigenous groups and their cultural systems today.
Because the population of Australia quickly gained a European majority, racial distinctions became more pronounced. Aboriginal Australians and African descendants became subjects of objectification, oppression, marginalization, and exclusion from society, which in turn, affect their employment, income, including access to good work, housing, health, and career progression. Consequently, they continue to experience poor socioeconomic outcomes. Additionally, disease and massacres would kill 90% of the population in Australia. Smallpox, measles and influenza, which spread ahead of the colonists, cleared the land.
"In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosive sublimate in their damper and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with diseases which have rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation."
Edward Wilson (Editor), The Argus, 17 March 1856
"In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosive sublimate in their damper and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with diseases which have rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation."
Edward Wilson (Editor), The Argus, 17 March 1856
New Zealand
New Zealand’s first Europeans were whalers and traders. They interacted with the indigenous Maori of New Zealand through trade. Initially, the Maori traded for weapons that they used to wage war against their traditional enemies within New Zealand. Europeans soon founded colonies in unsettled regions. Christian missionaries quickly followed. Anglicans, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics set up missions By the mid-19th century most Māori were Christian. Like all places in Oceana, diseases took a major toll on the population. The Maori in New Zealand did choose rebellion when possession of their ancestral land became challenged by European colonists. Watch the video below to answer the last question. |