Introduction: Chapter 25

Chapter 25 is about the age of new imperialism, and western expansion. With the industrial revolution, both Europe's strength and need for natural resources rapidly increased. As Europeans set out to acquire resources and open new markets, they conquered and "civilized" other peoples, leaving very little of the world untouched.

Chapter Objective:

Understand the causes and effects of new imperialism.

Essential Question: What were the three causes of imperialism?

New imperialism was motivated by commerce, civilization, and Christianity. Europeans involved themselves in foreign continents to pursue economic interests and take up the "white man's burden", or civilize and Christianize foreign peoples they saw as inferior savages.

Self Reflection Chapter 22

There was a lot going on in this chapter. I think I had a decent grasp of everything at the end, but digesting all of the information was a but overwhelming at first. The content seemed to be all over the place. Overall, it was a decent chapter. It wasn't especially exciting, but it wasn't especially dull either.

2 US Events (Chapter 22)

Battle of the Alamo

In 1835, Texas began fighting for its independence from Mexico, beginning the Texas Revolution. The Battle of the Alamo is one of the most famous battles in the fight between Texas and Mexico. Texans were in possession of the Alamo, a former mission, and were attacked and defeated by Mexican forces. But while the Texans lost the battle, they were inspired by their defeat, and went on to successfully fight of Mexico and become the Republic of Texas before being annexed by the United States. Texas, like some nations in Europe during this period, was fighting for its sovereignty.

The Tariff of Abominations

In 1828, the US Congress passed a protective tariff, designed to protect industry in the northern US. Industry in the north was struggling to compete with cheaper, imported goods. The tariff taxed imported goods, eliminating some of the north's competition, and forcing southerners to pay higher prices for their manufactured goods. Naturally, southerners despised the tariff, and dubbed in the Tariff of Abominations. The Tariff of Abominations was similar to the Corn Laws passed in Britain. Both limited the role certain imported goods could play in the economies of their respective nations, and both faced a fair amount of backlash,

Picturing the Past

Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix

Eugene Delacroix was one of the greatest Romantic painters. He was well known for his dramatic, emotional, and colorful scenes, but he was also known to be a passionate advocate for freedom. In Liberty Leading the People, he paints a powerful picture of the 1830 revolution in France.

Self Reflection Chapter 21

This wasn't an especially interesting chapter. Learning about water frames, steam engines, and the beginnings of the railroad wasn't particularly exciting. A lot of the information we covered seems important, and I'm happy that I now understand it, but we didn't cover anything that I could be enthusiastic about. Digesting information about organizations of industrial workers and different tariffs and labor laws gets to be a bit dull. It's interesting, though, that different inventions and technologies can have such a great impact on the economy. Different industries are constantly changing due to advances in technology. The spinning jenny and steam engine revolutionized industry in the late eighteenth century, and today changes in technology are still constantly altering different industries.

Significant People Chapter 21

Richard Arkwright

Richard Arkwright was an English entrepreneur during the Industrial Revolution. He is credited with inventing the water frame, which was a machine that spun fibers into thread or yarn using water power. Before Arkwright's invention, yarn was made by hand using a spinning wheel. Due to Arkwright's invention of the water frame, the manufacturing of yarn moved from the cottage to the factory, and was able to occur on a much larger scale.

James Watt

James Watt was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer during the industrial revolution. Watt made significant improvements on the steam engine that had been developed by Thomas Newcomen. He was able to make Newcomen's engine much more efficient, and went on to make the steam engine a practical and commercial success. The improved steam engine was the greatest advance in technology during the industrial revolution.

Thomas Malthus

Thomas Malthus was an English economist during the industrial revolution. He examined the dynamics of population, and argued that populations would always grow faster than their food supplies. Malthus's dismal assessment was eventually proven wrong, but during his lifetime, his view was generally accepted.

Introduction: Chapter 21

Chapter 21 is about the era of industrialization that occurred in Europe from 1750 to 1850. The industrial revolution led to profound change in European society. The industrial revolution began in Britain, and solidified Britain's status as a dominant world power. During this period industrial workers emerged as a political force, organizing and advocating for political change, and new attitudes emerged on child labor.

Chapter Objective: 

Understand the causes and effects of the industrial revolution.

Essential Question: Why did the industrial revolution begin in Britain?

The industrial revolution was able to begin in Britain because of the nation's wealth of natural resources, many harbors, abundance of cheap labor, and its colonial system.