AP Imperialism & Colonial Empires Flashcards
6 cards from real AP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AP Imperialism & Colonial Empires flashcards as text
Which 1884–1885 conference divided Africa among European powers without African participation?
Answer: Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference established rules for European colonization of Africa, carving the continent into spheres of influence.
What economic theory justified imperialism by arguing that colonies provided raw materials and markets for industrial goods?
Answer: Mercantilism
Mercantilism held that colonies existed to enrich the mother country by supplying raw materials and absorbing manufactured exports.
Britain's control of the Suez Canal after 1875 was primarily significant because it:
Answer: Shortened the sea route to India and East Asia
The Suez Canal dramatically shortened the voyage to India, making it the strategic linchpin of the British Empire.
The concept of the 'White Man's Burden,' popularized by Rudyard Kipling, was used to justify imperialism by claiming:
Answer: Europeans had a racial duty to 'civilize' non-Western peoples
Kipling's poem portrayed imperialism as a selfless civilizing mission, masking economic and political motives with racial paternalism.
Which Indian rebellion of 1857 against British East India Company rule led Britain to assume direct imperial control of India?
Answer: Sepoy Mutiny
The Sepoy Mutiny (Indian Rebellion of 1857) ended Company rule and resulted in the British Crown directly administering India via the Raj.
Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War (1905) was historically significant primarily because it:
Answer: Demonstrated that a non-Western nation could defeat a European power
Japan's defeat of Russia shocked the world and inspired anti-colonial movements by proving European military dominance was not inevitable.