James Cook
"James Cook was an explorer who successfully navigated Australia and New Zealand. He helped chart accurately their position and even seized territory by placing a flag of Britain on the land. His significance was that he proved that circumnavigation could be successful without losing any members of his crew based on his random discovery of the use of Vitamin C in diet and its relevant cure of scurvy."
or
"Captain who found Australia and New Zealand in the 1770s. When he went, the president of the Royal Society told him to respect the natives. In Australia, Cook claimed large tracts of land, while telling the natives that the flags were just telling people that the British had been there. The trip also charted large parts of Australia. On the trip, Joseph Banks said that Botany Bay would make a good place to settle and the British later sent prisoners there. After the first trip, Cook made another one where he further mapped out Australia and proved that there was no large southern continent. He continued on and circumnavigated the globe. Cook then had a third voyage but was killed by the natives in Hawaii. The significance of Cook is twofold. First he gave the British claims to Australia and New Zealand, which they would later colonize. Second, on all his voyages, no one died of scurvy. This was attributed to him giving his crews limes. As a result, the British navy could go on longer trips and rise to worldwide power without losing troops to scurvy."
“Mutiny”/“Rebellion” of 1857
"This rebellion was disastrous for Britain because of took them by surprise. Sepoys (British trained Indian soldiers) rose up against the East India Company, using the ammunition, training, and strategy of the British military. The significance is that these events prompted the British parliament to transfer rule of India from the East India Company, with India being a formal colony."
Maori
"The indigenous people of New Zealand. Initially a peaceful people, they were later to show the British settlers what a formidable enemy they could be. They brought travesty to the settlers not only in their fighting but [European impact] also devastated them [the Maori] with venereal disease. In addition, they were highly receptive of the missionary effort of the Anglican Church. The Maori were considered by many to be the more intelligent of the indigenous peoples who had been previously encountered."
Cecil Rhodes
"Cecil Rhodes made his fortune in the diamond industry and was eventually named prime minister of Southern Africa (South Africa). He was involved in the Jameson Raid, an attempt to overthrow the Boer government in the Transvaal. Rhodes eventually took all the blame for this incident and resigned, however the Jameson Raid sparked the Boer War."
Cinchona Bark
"Cinchona bark is a very valuable natural resource discovered in S. America and smuggled to British colonies because of its ability to cure malaria (is refined into quinine). This is significant because with a cure for malaria, the British were able to penetrate into and annex more tropical regions (such as India and Africa)."
“New” Imperialism
"“New” Imperialism is a concept discussed in the Robinson and Gallagher article. It is the wave of formal imperialism (annexation, economic and political ties) taking place in the late Victorian era (1860-1880 [correction: 1875 on]). It is significant in that it describes late-Victorian expansion, yet controversial in that it claims lesser imperialism in the Victorian age (when really it was present but informal)."
or
"“New” Imperialism began around 1875. This idea was introduced and began really because of the “scramble” for Africa. “New” imperialism was different from previous imperialism because more countries were involved and the ideas/beliefs of imperialism differed a bit. Because of “new” imperialism the Berlin Conference met. Mainly France, Germany and Britain (but also including 11 other states) met to split up Africa in an attempt to ward off battle in Europe. The “new” imperialism also brought about many new ideas and theorists such as Lenin, Hobbes, Schumpeter, Marxist to name a few. So far Gallagher and Robinson are the only two this class has seen argue against “new” imperialism."
Treaty of Waitangi
"Signed in 1840 this was an extremely controversial treaty reached between Hobson (prospective Governor) and the Maori. It placed the Maori under the sovereignty of Queen Victoria. It was controversial because the translations of the seceding of Maori lands were different and these lands might not have been that Maori’s tribe to give (i.e. not theirs)."