Question 1

Though originally a lucrative target for the new imperialists, by the end of the nineteenth century this country was actively seeking colonies of its own.

Accepted Answer

Japan underwent a period of rapid modernization and industrialization in the late 19th century, and sought colonies in Asia and the Pacific as a means of acquiring resources and asserting its power.

Question 2

In the nineteenth century, European nations exploited areas of Asia and Africa for the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because in the nineteenth century, European nations primarily exploited areas of Asia and Africa for raw materials, markets for their manufactured goods, cultural expansion, and missionary activities, rather than importing manufactured goods from Asia to Europe.

Question 3

Among the first British colonies in West Africa was

Accepted Answer

The Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) was one of the first British colonies in West Africa, established in 1867. Libya and Senegal were never British colonies, and Liberia was established by freed American slaves, not the British. Zanzibar was a semi-autonomous territory under the control of the Sultanate of Oman until it became a British protectorate in the late 19th century.

Question 4

Who described colonialism as a redistribution of wealth that would result in a better life for the colonizers and those they colonized?

Accepted Answer

Albert Sarraut, a French colonial administrator, described colonialism as a redistribution of wealth that would supposedly benefit both the colonizers and the colonized, though this perspective is widely criticized.

Question 5

Whose last will and testament left a massive estate to be used to create a worldwide British Empire?

Accepted Answer

Cecil Rhodes, a British businessman and politician, left his vast estate to create a scholarship program for students from former British colonies to study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship program played a significant role in promoting British imperial interests and influence around the world.

Question 6

In the nineteenth century, imperialism

Accepted Answer

Imperialism in the nineteenth century was driven by a desire to control markets and raw materials. European countries, particularly Britain, sought to expand their territories to acquire new sources of cheap raw materials and to establish new markets for their manufactured goods. This was particularly evident in Africa and Asia, where European powers established colonies and protectorates to obtain resources for their industries.

Question 7

One of the worst incidents of the Middle Passage happened at

Accepted Answer

The question is asking for the location of one of the worst incidents of the Middle Passage, which was a part of the transatlantic slave trade. The incident in question is known as the Zong Massacre, where enslaved Africans were thrown overboard the slave ship Zong in Caffard Cove, off the coast of Africa, in order to claim insurance money for lost cargo.

Question 8

Within the context of Western economic expansion into the regions of Africa and Asia during the nineteenth century, the term imperialism means the forceful appropriation of all except

Accepted Answer

The term imperialism refers to the forceful acquisition of territories, resources, and markets for the economic and political benefit of the imperial power. Of the options given, the only one not related to economic gain or acquisition is the adoption of non-European cultural norms, making D the correct choice. A, B, and C are all examples of economic motivations for imperialism, while E refers to a specific type of investment opportunity.

Question 9

"New" products that European nations sought to obtain from colonies in Africa and Asia in the nineteenth century included

Accepted Answer

In the nineteenth century, European nations sought to obtain new products from colonies in Africa and Asia, including oil, tin, and rubber. These products were important for industrialization, transportation, and military reasons. Gold and silver were already known to the Europeans and had been obtained from other regions long before. Cloves and pepper were also known commodities and had been obtained from Asia for centuries. Tea, silk, and porcelain were luxury items that the Europeans had been trading for many years, but were not new products. Ivory and rayon were not widely used or sought after in the nineteenth century.

Question 10

What was the general idea of Thomas Babington Macaulay's educational policy for Britain's Indian subjects?

Accepted Answer

Macaulay's educational policy aimed to create a class of Indians who would be, in his words, "Indian in blood and color but English in taste and intellect." He believed that western education, particularly in English language and literature, was the key to producing this class and advancing British interests in India.

Question 11

Thailand's ability to escape imperialism was the result of

Accepted Answer

Thailand was used as a buffer state between British and French colonial territories, which allowed it to maintain its independence.

Question 12

The individual who said that "My ruling purpose is the extension of the British empire throughout the world" was

Accepted Answer

The quote is commonly attributed to Cecil Rhodes, a British businessman, mining magnate, and politician who played a major role in the colonial expansion of Africa.

Question 13

Who asserted that British colonialism had a moral purpose to promote Christianity and build a better world?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Who asserted that British colonialism had a...

Question 14

Which statement about nineteenth-century Western expansion in Southeast Asia is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Burma did not retain its independence, as stated in option B. The British established their control over Burma.

Question 15

The term 'neocolonialism' refers to European colonial tactics

Accepted Answer

Neocolonialism refers to the continuation of colonial power dynamics even after former colonies have gained independence. It can be seen in economic and political domination of ex-colonial powers over their former colonies and is not restricted to Africa or any particular time period.

Question 16

In his famous poem "The White Man's Burden," Rudyard Kipling expressed the idea that whites

Accepted Answer

In "The White Man's Burden," Kipling argues that whites have a moral obligation to help uplift people in non-western societies who are regarded as "lesser breeds." He believes that the white race is inherently superior and that the task of bringing civilization to other cultures falls to them. This is what he means by "the white man's burden."

Question 17

The slave trade

Accepted Answer

Britain established settlements in Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast to settle freed slaves, indicating that they were actively working towards ending the slave trade. Options A, D, and E are incorrect as they suggest that the slave trade was still prevalent after its abolition in various countries. Option B is incorrect as France abolished the slave trade in 1804, not 1803.

Question 18

Which of the following was not one of the justifications European nations used for colonialism?

Accepted Answer

Improving the economic status of the colonized countries was not a justification for colonialism. Rather, colonialism was often driven by a desire for economic gain and to access resources that were not available in the colonizing country. Justifications for colonialism often included promoting Christianity, expanding the influence of the empire, and succeeding in the struggle between nations. The notion of improving the intellectual and emotional life of colonized people was also sometimes used as a justification for colonialism, although this was typically based on a belief in the superiority of Western culture and values.

Question 19

Muhammad Ali

Accepted Answer

Muhammad Ali was an Ottoman Albanian who became the Wali (governor) of Egypt and Sudan in 1805. He modernized Egypt by reforming its education system, economy, and military. He also extended Egypt's control over neighboring regions, such as Sudan and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Question 20

The Philippine guerrilla leader who failed to thwart the United States conquest was

Accepted Answer

Emilio Aguinaldo was the Philippine guerrilla leader who failed to thwart the United States conquest. He led the resistance against the American takeover but ultimately surrendered in 1901.

Quiz 21: The High Tide of Imperialism