Imperialism ~ The Lasting Legacies
Imperialism is: the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly: the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence according to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperialism, the Merriam Webster online dictionary. But just what does that mean, and what is the impact? This lesson will look more closely at the legacy of imperialistic rule.
Open a Word document to record your answers. Send them to me when you are done.
1. Task 1: The story of King Leopold II of Belgium and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) truly shows the nature and impact of imperialistic and colonial rule. Read the excerpt and Watch the video clip at: http://www.enotes.com/king-leopolds-ghost and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1bL3R6cTSw. a. What was Belgium using the Congo region for? b. Is this happening today? c. What are your initial impressions to this practice?
2. Task 2: Rwandan Genocide: Another result of Imperialistic rule was the genocide in Rwanda. Why? Rwanda, a small African country, had two tribes; the Hutu and the Tutsi. The Belgians controlled Rwanda as a colony. They made the Hutu and the Tutsi aware of the minor differences between the tribes (ie: skin tone, nose width, height, body mass etc.) and gave more favorable jobs to the Tutsi tribes since there were fewer of them and therefore less chance of the Tutsi gaining power over the Belgian rulers. That is a simplified history, now take a look at the genocide, the result of this imperialistic rule. Quickly read this article to get a sense of what happened. Pay close attention to the Mass Murder section: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1288230.stm. Watch this YouTube clip on Rwanda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DvvB_uAFFw. Briefly describe your impressions of this event.
3. Task 3: Another event with ties to the Imperialist Era is the implementation of the "Kimberley Process" to prevent the mining of conflict diamonds. What are conflict diamonds? Look here and summarize: http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/business-and-human-rights/oil-gas-and-mining-industries/conflict-diamonds
4. Task 4: Now, look at http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/. and watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Z4K_WWeBA Click on the "About" tab and scan the description of this program. Summarize: a. What is the Kimberely Process? b. Has this process worked? Give evidence. c. What are your impressions of the "conflict diamond" issue and the implementation of the Kimbereley Process? Do you think it is working?
5. Task 5: Another instance of the legacy of imperialistic rule is the carving up of the Ottoman Empire after it collapsed. a. Do some research and determine which European country gained and controlled most of the Middle Eastern regions that once belonged to the Ottoman Empire. (Who was that country and where did they rule?) b. Do you think that imperialist rule over these regions has led to today's problems? If so, give an example. If not, how was a peaceful transition from colonial rule to self-independence achieved? (Hint: Look at History of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, etc.)
6. Task 6: The last example of Imperialistic rule is the French colony of Indo-China (aka: Vietnam). Look at this site for a quick overview of French relations with the Vietnamese. http://www.haivenu-vietnam.com/vietnam-history-colonialism.htm a. What did the Vietnamese think of the French? b. What was the goal of the French colonizers? (See the Oppression and Exploitation, Defiance, and Ho Chi Minh sections of this article). (No need to look, but this is another good source: http://www.iiipublishing.com/politics/asian_war/vietnam/vietnam_2.html). c. How did French rule come to an end? d. What was Dien Bien Phu? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUivfl-pTL4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3mifrpGp0 and http://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/DienBienPhu .
7. Task 7: What is your lasting impression of Imperial Era? Be sure to use specifics from the reading(s) to express your views.
________________________________
CCSS: Reading
2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
3. Anlayze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
8. Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.
9. Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.
CCSS: Writing
2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events...
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem....
demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
9. Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Open a Word document to record your answers. Send them to me when you are done.
1. Task 1: The story of King Leopold II of Belgium and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) truly shows the nature and impact of imperialistic and colonial rule. Read the excerpt and Watch the video clip at: http://www.enotes.com/king-leopolds-ghost and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1bL3R6cTSw. a. What was Belgium using the Congo region for? b. Is this happening today? c. What are your initial impressions to this practice?
2. Task 2: Rwandan Genocide: Another result of Imperialistic rule was the genocide in Rwanda. Why? Rwanda, a small African country, had two tribes; the Hutu and the Tutsi. The Belgians controlled Rwanda as a colony. They made the Hutu and the Tutsi aware of the minor differences between the tribes (ie: skin tone, nose width, height, body mass etc.) and gave more favorable jobs to the Tutsi tribes since there were fewer of them and therefore less chance of the Tutsi gaining power over the Belgian rulers. That is a simplified history, now take a look at the genocide, the result of this imperialistic rule. Quickly read this article to get a sense of what happened. Pay close attention to the Mass Murder section: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1288230.stm. Watch this YouTube clip on Rwanda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DvvB_uAFFw. Briefly describe your impressions of this event.
3. Task 3: Another event with ties to the Imperialist Era is the implementation of the "Kimberley Process" to prevent the mining of conflict diamonds. What are conflict diamonds? Look here and summarize: http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/business-and-human-rights/oil-gas-and-mining-industries/conflict-diamonds
4. Task 4: Now, look at http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/. and watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Z4K_WWeBA Click on the "About" tab and scan the description of this program. Summarize: a. What is the Kimberely Process? b. Has this process worked? Give evidence. c. What are your impressions of the "conflict diamond" issue and the implementation of the Kimbereley Process? Do you think it is working?
5. Task 5: Another instance of the legacy of imperialistic rule is the carving up of the Ottoman Empire after it collapsed. a. Do some research and determine which European country gained and controlled most of the Middle Eastern regions that once belonged to the Ottoman Empire. (Who was that country and where did they rule?) b. Do you think that imperialist rule over these regions has led to today's problems? If so, give an example. If not, how was a peaceful transition from colonial rule to self-independence achieved? (Hint: Look at History of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, etc.)
6. Task 6: The last example of Imperialistic rule is the French colony of Indo-China (aka: Vietnam). Look at this site for a quick overview of French relations with the Vietnamese. http://www.haivenu-vietnam.com/vietnam-history-colonialism.htm a. What did the Vietnamese think of the French? b. What was the goal of the French colonizers? (See the Oppression and Exploitation, Defiance, and Ho Chi Minh sections of this article). (No need to look, but this is another good source: http://www.iiipublishing.com/politics/asian_war/vietnam/vietnam_2.html). c. How did French rule come to an end? d. What was Dien Bien Phu? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUivfl-pTL4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3mifrpGp0 and http://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/DienBienPhu .
7. Task 7: What is your lasting impression of Imperial Era? Be sure to use specifics from the reading(s) to express your views.
________________________________
CCSS: Reading
2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
3. Anlayze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.
8. Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.
9. Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.
CCSS: Writing
2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events...
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem....
demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
9. Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.