Ryan Thomas

Global History II

Chapter 25, Section 5 Notes

Vocabulary (Shown in italics in notes)

Trade Surplus – Importing more than you export with a certain country; good for the
economy.
Trade Deficit – Exporting more than you import with a certain country; bad for the
economy.
Indemnity – Payment for losses in a war; usually unfairly slanted towards the victor
Extraterritoriality (Extra-territory-al-ity) – “The ability to be governed by one’s native
laws and tried by one’s own courts even though one is residing in another country.”
(Found online)

The Trade Issue

Chinese rulers used rigid trade regulations to achieve a trade surplus with the west,
giving the westerners a trade deficit. However, in the 1800s China entered a period of
decline while the West underwent the Industrial Revolution. These contrasting events
forever changed China’s relations with the West.
∆ The Opium War:
• Britain began to make huge profits by selling opium to the Chinese; because the
drug was so addictive, they were able to charge nearly anything for it and still get
a very high demand
• The Opium War began when the Chinese, fearing an economical collapse, tried to
stop Britain from importing opium. Britain refused, and when the Chinese
decided to use military force to prevent the trading of opium, Britain used its
superior military, developed during the industrial revolution, to easily beat down
the resistance.
∆ Unequal Treaties:
• The Treaty of Nanjing was the first of a series of treaties forced upon China after
the Opium war. It gave Britain a huge indemnity, and all British citizens in China
extraterritoriality.
• Further pressure from the West during the mid-1800s forced China to open more
trade ports to the West and allow Christian ministers to preach in China.

Internal Problems
∆ The Taiping Rebellion:
• Poverty and misery were on the rise in China, as natural, social, political, and
economic disasters and scandals were eroding the Chinese way of life. This
ended up causing rebellions.
• The Taiping rebellion is often referred to as the most devastating peasant revolt in
history. Started by a schoolteacher with aspirations at glory, the rebels wanted to
achieve a nation that would be a “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”, or Taiping.
 • The rebels won control of large parts of China for 14 years; however, the
government overthrew them eventually.
∆ Effects: The rebellion’s most lasting effect was to severely cripple the Qing dynasty.

Reform Efforts
∆ Self-Strengthening Movement: Though hindered by the disapproval of the
government, the movement allowed the westernization of China, for the most part.
∆ War With Japan: The Sino-Japanese war resulted from Japan’s shift to western
ideology in almost every aspect of their culture. China lost miserably, and during
peace negotiations showed their still-present preference of their traditional ideology
by wearing flowing robes while the Japanese dressed in western clothes.
∆ Spheres of Influence: China’s crushing defeat left it vulnerable to western attack, and
the western imperialists carved China up in the same manner as Africa. The U.S. did
not participate for fear of being shut out from trade with either Europe or China in the
aftermath.
∆ Hundred Days of Reform: Unrest among the Chinese citizens due to their situation
led to the need for a scapegoat. Blame settled on conservatives in the government.
Guang Xu, who became emperor in 1898, tried to initiate reform, but was revolted
against by conservatives and imprisoned. His policy was known as the “Hundred
Days of Reform”

The Qinq Dynasty Falls

∆ Boxer Uprising: A secret society nicknamed the “Boxers” by Westerners launched an
anti-foreigners riot; they were quelled.
∆ Aftermath of the Uprising: Westerners made China give in to more reforms, which
led to its economic growth
∆ Three Principles of the People: Soon, a constitutional monarchy was set up in China.
Sun Yixian, a politician, launched a reform campaign based on his “Three Principles,”
which were nationalism, democracy, and livelihood.
∆ Birth of a Republic: The current empress died, and revolts began again. 37 years
passed before Chinese civil and defensive wars ceased.

Chapter 33, Section 1 Excerpt Notes

Europe: The Cold War and After

∆ The Berlin Wall: Built in 1961 by East Germany to keep people from escaping their
communist state; this showed the world the true feelings of communist workers.
∆ The Nuclear Threat: Arms race ensued due to cold war, to the dismay of Eisenhower,
who said that the money being spent on weapons should be spent on the poor.
∆ Disarmament and Détente: Leaders on both sides of the conflict tried to solve their
disputes peacefully, and in the 1970s, détente, the relaxation of tensions, was
achieved
∆ End of the Cold War: The U.S.S.R. loosened their grip on Eastern Europe, which led
to the collapse of most communist governments and the end of the Cold War.
∆ Troublesome Issues: Eastern Europe needed loans, which America lent.
Disarmament talks continued, though most weapons were held onto.
∆ NATO’s New Role: NATO allowed former communist nations to join, and eventually
became a European peacekeeper.
Chapter 33, Section 3 Excerpt Notes

The United States: A Global Superpower

∆ Global Commitments: The U.S. built military bases around the world to police
communism, and provided economic aid to Europe.
∆ Korea and Vietnam: The U.S. fought two embarrassing and unnecessary wars here,
as communist paranoia continued. The Vietnam War was especially devastating, as
millions of people protested it, and America’s hands were tied so that if we tried to
win, it would cause WWIII. It is like the war in Iraq today.
∆ The Only Superpower: The U.S. became the only world superpower after the fall of
the U.S.S.R., and tried to exercise its power in several global endeavors. These
succeeded in the short run, but left anti-American sentiments in their wakes.

Fascism Q’s

1. What is Fascism?

A form of government in which the national interest is placed above the interest of
anything or anyone else. Due to its nature, it often leads to totalitarianism.

2. Why was freedom bad?

Freedom was “bad” in Russia, Germany, Italy, etc., because people in power misused it,
leading to the collapse of the economy and the country’s many problems; at least, this
was what Russians, Germans, Italians, etc., thought, and it is why they were willing to
give up their freedom in exchange for a fascist state where “the trains are always on
time.”