Consequences of Industrialization

Caleb Thomas
8 min read
AP World History: Modern - Unit 6: Consequences of Industrialization
Hey there, future AP World History master! Let's get you prepped for exam day with this super-focused review of Unit 6. We're going to break down the key concepts, trends, and vocab you need to know, all while keeping it chill and easy to digest. Let's do this! ๐ช
Unit 6 Overview: Consequences of Industrialization
If you remember nothing else: Industrialized countries in Europe, plus the US and Japan, controlled more territory overseas than ever before. This was good for investors in imperialist countries and bad for workers in the areas that they conquered.
Contextualizing the Unit
- Before this unit, European powers already had colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
- Industrialization ๐ญ provided the tools (mass-produced goods, steamships, railroads, better weapons) that allowed states to expand their power.
- The British abolition of the slave trade in 1807 led to a rise in indentured servitude.
- Charles Darwin's Origin of Species (1859) was later used to justify imperialism through racist ideologies.
Main Events
๐ก STUDY TIP: Dates aren't the main focus, but knowing the order of events helps with cause and effect. Here are the most important ones to remember:
- 1780-1782: Tupac Amaru II rebellion
- 1839-1842: First Opium War
- 1857: Great Rebellion in India (aka Indian Mutiny, Sepoy Mutiny)
- 1859: Charles Darwinโs Origin of Species
- 1868: Kimberley Diamond Strike, South Africa
- 1869: Suez Canal opens
- 1884: Berlin Conference divides Africa
- 1894-1895: First Sino-Japanese War
- 1898: Spanish-American War
- 1901: White Australia Policy begins
Major Trends
- Imperialism: European, American, and Japanese states expanded overseas. ๐
- Racism: Racist ideas were used to justify imperialism.
- Resistance: Indigenous people fought back against imperial powers. โ
- Armed resistance
- Religious movements
- Global Capitalism: State power supported a global capitalist system that benefited businesses in imperialist countries but impoverished workers in colonized areas.
- Deindustrialization: China and India experienced deindustrialization as factory-made goods from Europe and the US replaced their own.
- Economic Imperialism: Imperialist governments interfered in the economies of other countries for profit. ๐ธ
- British investments in the Suez Canal and the Port of Buenos Aires
- American investments in Hawaiian sugar cane
- Settler Colonialism: Imperialist settlers took land from indigenous people. ๐๏ธ
- Euro Americans in the United States
- British in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa
- French in Algeria
- Migration: New transportation tech and larger empires led to massive migrations. ๐ถโโ๏ธ
Key Concepts
AP World History: Modern Units 5 and 6 both cover the years c. 1750 CE - c. 1900 CE. This time period contains four Key Concepts. Imperialism and Migration are the most important in Unit 6. Industrialization is a key element of context.
- Industrialization: Changed production and consumption, impacting the global economy, social organization, and culture.
- Imperialism: Industrial states expanded overseas, creating new colonies and relationships.
- Revolutions: Revolutions and rebellions against existing authorities led to new nation-states.
- Migration: Global migration patterns changed dramatically, with more people moving across larger distances.
Key Questions
๐ก STUDY TIP: These questions are designed to help you summarize the key concepts of the unit. Use them to guide your review, but don't treat them as practice essay questions.
- How did racist ideas result from and contribute to imperialism?
- How did the global balance of power shift in the 1800s?
- How did indigenous people respond to and influence Imperialism?
- How did environmental factors affect the global economy in the 1800s?
- How did global capitalism provide advantages to some and disadvantages to others in the 1800s?
- Why did millions of people migrate in the years from 1750 to 1900?
- How did economic factors contribute to patterns of migration in the years from 1750 to 1900?
Vocabulary
๐ก STUDY TIP: Make a Quizlet deck to master these terms! These are the concepts and vocabulary from period 6 that would be most useful on the exam.
Balkans | Berlin Conference | Boxer Rebellion | British Raj |
---|---|---|---|
Cecil Rhodes | Chinese Exclusion Act | Colonialism | Commodity |
Congo Free State | Convict labor | Cotton | Dutch East Indies |
Economic imperialism | Ethnic enclave | French Indochina | Ghost Dance |
Guano | Hawaii | Ideology | Imperialism |
Indentured Servitude | Industrial crops | Kimberley Diamond Strike | King Leopold II |
Mahdist Revolt | Meiji Restoration | Nationalism | Opium |
Opium Wars | Palm Oil | Railroads | Rubber |
Samory Tourรฉ | Settler Colonialism | Sino-Japanese War | Social Darwinism |
Sokoto Caliphate | Spanish-American War | Suez Canal | Treaty of Nanjing |
Tupac Amaru II | Urbanization | White Australia Policy | Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement |
Yaa Asantewaa War | Zulu Nation |
Memory Aids
Remember the order of major events:
Tupac Opium Great Darwin Kimberley Suez Berlin Sino Spanish White
(Tupac, Opium, Great Rebellion, Darwin, Kimberley, Suez, Berlin, Sino-Japanese, Spanish-American, White Australia)
Visualize Imperialism: Think of a giant octopus (representing industrialized nations) with its tentacles reaching out to grab resources and control territories around the world.
Connect Migration to Opportunity: Remember that people often migrate in search of jobs, land, or freedom. The push-pull factors of migration are key here.
Final Exam Focus
- Highest Priority Topics: Imperialism, its causes and effects, and migration patterns, including both forced and voluntary movements.
- Common Question Types:
- Multiple-choice questions focusing on the causes and effects of imperialism, as well as the responses of indigenous populations.
- Short-answer questions (SAQs) that require you to analyze primary or secondary source documents related to imperialism or migration.
- Free-response questions (FRQs) that ask you to compare and contrast different forms of imperialism or analyze the impact of industrialization on global migration.
- Time Management:
- Don't spend too long on any one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.
- For FRQs, plan your response briefly before you start writing.
- Common Pitfalls:
- Avoid vague statements. Use specific evidence to support your claims.
- Don't just describe events; analyze their significance.
- Pay close attention to the wording of the question.
Practice Questions
Practice Question
Multiple Choice Questions
-
Which of the following was a major cause of the Opium Wars? (A) The British desire to spread Christianity in China (B) The Chinese government's attempt to ban the import of opium (C) The Chinese desire to establish trade relations with Britain (D) The British desire to acquire Chinese territory
-
The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 was significant because it: (A) Established a system of free trade in Africa (B) Formalized the division of Africa among European powers (C) Ended the practice of slavery in Africa (D) Created a unified African government
-
Which of the following best describes the economic relationship between industrialized nations and their colonies in the 19th century? (A) Colonies primarily served as sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods. (B) Colonies were equal partners in trade with industrialized nations (C) Colonies primarily focused on developing their own industries (D) Industrialized nations were primarily dependent on colonies for food
Short Answer Question (SAQ)
Using the image below, answer all parts of the question.
(a) Briefly explain ONE historical context that led to the situation depicted in the image. (b) Briefly explain ONE way the situation depicted in the image affected African societies. (c) Briefly explain ONE way the situation depicted in the image was justified by imperial powers.
Free Response Question (FRQ)
Analyze the social and economic effects of imperialism on BOTH the colonizers and the colonized in the period from 1850 to 1914. Scoring Breakdown:
- Thesis (1 point): Presents a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning.
- Contextualization (1 point): Describes a broader historical context relevant to the topic of the prompt.
- Evidence (2 points): Provides specific examples of social and economic effects of imperialism on both colonizers and colonized. (1 point for 2 examples, 2 points for 4 or more examples)
- Analysis and Reasoning (2 points): Explains how the examples demonstrate the social and economic effects of imperialism. (1 point for 1 explanation, 2 points for 2 or more explanations)
- Complexity (1 point): Demonstrates a complex understanding of the topic by considering nuance, contradiction, or alternative perspectives.
Okay, you've got this! Review this guide, take a deep breath, and go ace that AP exam! You're more than ready. ๐

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