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Seven Years War
The Seven Years War lasted from 1756 to 1763 and was started because several major European powers, Britain, France, and Spain, fought over colonies. Britain was the victor. -
Declaration of Independence
This declaration was signed by the Second Continental Congress and freed the American colonies from British rule. -
Colonization of Australia
Although already discovered, Australia was not colonized until 1788, when a fleet of British ships arrived and founded a penal colony. It remained a penal colony for several years until a gold rush drastically increased the population. Australia was then split into six colonies. Australia was not competely united until 1901. -
French Invasion of Egypt
After Napoleon invaded Egypt, the Egyptians were influenced by French ideas and began to industrialize. -
Britain Creates Cape Colony
Britain establishes the first major hold on Africa by occupying Cape Colony. -
Slave Trade Act of 1807
Abolished slave trade in British Empire, but did not abolish slavery itself. This influenced several other major powers to end their slave trade as well. Britain enforced this law and fined anyone trading slaves across the Atlantic as well as liberating the slaves on the boats. -
Founding of Liberia
Freed black slaves, many from america, traveled to Africa and colonized an area that would become Liberia. Many of these slaves were also slaves that had been liberated by British patrols enforcing the Slave Trade Act. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine, a policy instituted under James Monroe, former president of the United States, demanded that European nations no longer colonize the Americas. Any infraction of this law would be viewed as acts of aggression and would instigate U.S. intervention. -
Liberia established as a country
This new country became the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on the United States and naming its capital city Monrovia after James Monroe, a prominent supporter of the colonization. The colonists, known as Americo-Liberians, led the political and economic sectors of the country. -
Sepoy Rebellion
Sepoys, indian soldiers in British military, mutinied after British officials disregarded the beliefs of both the hindu and muslim soldiers. Rebellion had been slowly building up due to cruel and unjust British rule. The rebellion was put down, but not after it posed a very serious threat. Because of this event, the British East India Company, who had previously controlled India, was dissolved and many reforms were put in place including the crown’s direct control -
Britain Directly Controls India
British rule of India brought colonial exploitation to a new level as they were able to utilize the huge indian population to produce massive amounts of resources for British use. At first starting out as only controlling Indian ports, Britain was slowly able to take over the rest of India as well as surrounding areas. -
Construction of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal was proudly opened by Egypt after ten years of construction. It allowed for ships to cut from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, slashing the original time drastically, which required the navigation around all of Africa. Because this was such an important strategic location, The British Empire seized control and oocupied Egypt in order to guarantee the continued use of the passage way. -
Dissolution of British East India Company
After 274 years of trading in India, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia the British East India Company was dissolved mostly due to its loss of use after the crown assumed direct control of India in 1858. Its functions were assumed by the government and its army became nationalised. -
American Pacific Colonies
In 1878, The United States obtained the harbor of Pago Pago in Samoa as a coaling and naval station, and in 1887 it secured the use of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for the same purpose. Settlers deposed the Queen of Hawaii and offered the islands to the U.S.but was not annexed until 1898. The U.S. moved further west to the Philippines and took control there as well. These various colonies were used as a stpping stone to the vast market of Asia. -
Rubber Boom
This event was an important part of the economic and social history of Brazil and Amazonian countries, being related with the extraction of rubber. This boom was centered in the Amazon, facilitating a large expansion of colonization, attracting wealth and causing cultural,social, and economic transformations. -
Boer Wars
The Boer Wars from 1880-1881 and 1899-1902 were fought between the British Empire and two independent Boer nations. Boers rebelled against British rule that re-established their independence. -
Scramble for Africa
The Scramble for Africa was a process of invasion, occupation, colonization and annexation of African territory by European powers during the New Imperialism period, between 1881 and World War I in 1914. As a result of the heightened tension between European states in the last quarter of the 19th century, the dividing of Africa was a way for the Europeans to eliminate the threat of a war over Africa. The second half of the 19th c -
British Control of Egypt
Shortly after the completion of the Suez Canal, which allowed much faster shipping as well as much cheaper shipping, Britain invaded and occupied Egypt to maintain control of the Suez Canal. Britain, whose power came from maritime superiority required the use of the Suez to continue to be powerful and rich. Britain only intended to stay for a few years in order make sure the region would be stable and not fall into enemy hands, but they ended up staying for -
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period, and coincided with Germany's sudden emergence as an imperial power. Called for by Portugal and organized by Otto von Bismarck, first Chancellor of Germany, its outcome, the General Act of the Berlin Conference, can be seen as the formalization of the Scramble for Africa. The conference ushered in a period of heightened colonial activity by European powers, wh -
U.S. Control of Philippines
The U.S. first arrived in the Philippines as they joined in a common struggle against Spain. Soon after helping the Philippines, the U.S. took control and disregarded filipino requests for independence. Almost instantly hostilities broke out between the U.S. and the Philippines, but was put down after a 2 year conflict. -
Boxer Rebellion
An anti-foreign movement by the Righteous Harmony Society in China. It was caused by tension formed by opposing imperial influences and pressure by christianity. The boxers were defeated by eight foreign powers and china was forced to pay huge sums to each of the foreign nations.
