The Highway to India

The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, it also separates Asia and Africa.  Construction on the canal began in 1859 and opened in November 1869.  It is 120 miles long, 79 feet deep, and 673 feet wide.  The canal uses no locks.  The Suez Canal Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt owns and maintains the canal.  The Suez Canal is significant because it most importantly saves time and distance.  With water as the number one mode of trade transport, the Suez Canal is very convenient.       

Tunisian Revolution

The Tunisian Revolution sparked a series of uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.  On December 17, 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi acted as the catalyst to the revolution by setting himself on fire.  Mohamed Bouazizi was a Tunisian street vendor who protested the confiscation of his merchandise.  His death sparked violence across the nation.  Many were fed up with the high unemployment, inflation, corruption, a lack of rights, and the poor living conditions.  Twenty eight days following Mohamed Bouazizi's death on January 14, 2011, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resigned.  The successful results of the Tunisian Revolution inspired other Middle Eastern and North African countries to rebel, like Egypt for example.   

The Maji Maji Rebellion

The Maji Maji Rebellion was an uprising in German East Africa.  When Germany obtained Tanganyika as a territory in 1898, they put in place a violent regime to keep the African colony in control.  By 1905 the African people could not tolerate the oppressive German regime any longer.  With spears and arrows in their hands, the rioters destroyed cotton crops.  The rebellion soon spread to involve twenty different ethnic groups.  In August of 1905, Maji Maji warriors attacked a German stronghold but failed to overrun it.  Germans retaliated in October killing hundreds of Ngoni people.  By 1907, 75,000 Maji Maji warriors were estimated to be killed.  The rebellion was very much unsuccessful, however it did inspire other African rebellions in the 20th century.   

Is the United States Imperialistic?

Yes the United States is imperialistic.  One of the first examples of American imperialism was the annexation of Hawaii in 1898.  After several discussions over a treaty of annexation, Hawaii became a territory.  In the same year the USS Maine exploded.  The explosion forced the United States to fight in the Spanish-American War in which we gained the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.  Winning this war put America ahead in the race for land.  Lastly, what makes the United States imperialistic are the vast number of military bases we have around the world.  

Current Political Cartoon on US Imperialism

This cartoon is an example of US imperialism in Iraq.  Though we have not technically taken over Iraq, there are many people who strongly believe we are in Iraq for the oil.  The artist is obviously bias towards the fact that we are in Iraq for the oil.  I disagree that we are there solely for the oil.    

Imperialism in Africa Political Cartoon

This cartoon clearly depicts the rush for land in Africa.  With so many western nations eager to obtain land, the Berlin Conference was held to establish basic rule on occupation of land in Africa.  The artist of this cartoon is saying that Europe was selfish.  Europe was running out of natural resources in the homeland and needed more.  Belgium, for example, was out for the rubber.  They used slaves to collect it and severely distreated them.  Most Europeans were forcing the natives to adapt to the mother country's culture.  I agree with the artist.  Europeans tore Africa in several different directions.  They were out to better their own country and did not care about the needs of the colonies.  

England and Imperialism Political Cartoon

This cartoon depicts England as an octopus because of the major role England played in imperialism during this time period.  England had a great deal of terroitory in Africa as well as Asia.  The cartoon perfectly illustrates the quote, "The sun never sets on the English Empire." For this particular cartoon, I don't believe the artist had an opinion.  His goal was most likely to show that England was a powerful nation that had territory in most of the world.  I actually really like this cartoon because it is so true.  The artist of this cartoon is unknown.