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Introduction to Imperialism

The Height of Imperialism 1800 -1914

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Definition of Imperialism

Process by which one state, with superior military strength and more advanced technology, imposes its control over the land, resources, and population of a less developed region

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What is New Imperialism?Imperialism: The political and economic control of one

country by another.

New Imperialism: A type of foreign policy practiced

by European nations

and Japan throughout the 1800s and early

1900s.

Slide 4

Motives for Imperialism

Capitalism required new markets and raw materials

Heated rivalries

Nationalism

Social Darwinism and racism

Moral responsibility of a Christian

Slide 6

The RationaleThink about the Industrial Revolution - how did we get here?Nationalism - large colonies meant powerIndustrialization - vast access to natural resources and cheap laborHumanitarianism - Europeans thought it was their duty to civilize and uplift African peopleSocial Darwinism - Survival of the fittest people

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Nationalism (1800-1914)French Revolution and Napoleon spread nationalism throughout EuropePride in one’s country was based upon industrial production, military strength, and size of empire

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Industrialization (1750-1900)Increased population in EuropeGreat technological advances - military, transportation, and communicationsContinued economic expansion requires more resources and markets

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Humanitarianism

Christian missionaries saw Africa and Asia as fertile ground for converts

Cultural superiority - Europeans must “save” the rest of the world

Must stop the Arab slave trade in Africa (still in practice in North/East Africa)

Social Darwinism

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•The strongest or fittest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die.•This theory is cross applied from biological to social/cultural concepts. Whole cultures should either advance or recede based on this theory.•Proponents heavily impacted by ideas of racial superiority that is marginally backed by the science of the day.

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Scramble for AfricaPrior to the Age of Imperialism, Europeans only controlled port towns (except for Portugal who had two larger colonies)

British took South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Gambia in the mid-1800s

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Scramble for AfricaBetween 1875 and 1900 European control of Africa went from 10% to 90%

Only two nations, Liberia (home to many freed American slaves) and Ethiopia remained independent

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What did this look like?

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SUEZ CANAL

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People in History: Cecil Rhodes

1892 cartoon

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The Berlin Conference

Tensions began to mount between rival European nations

Conference called in 1884 by Bismarck of Germany to defuse disputes and set guidelines for colonization

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The Berlin Conference

Conference in Berlin essentially divided up Africa – no African representatives were in attendance (or were even invited)

While dividing up the continent tribal territories and rivalries were not considered. Boundaries were drawn that divided tribes and coupled enemies together, leading to modern problems in Africa.

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Quick reviewThe main characteristic of new imperialism compared to earlier imperialism was that it was driven by

1. the need for raw materials and markets due to the Industrial Revolution

2. The desire to sustain trading posts in far-flung ports

3. a desire for colonies

4. an interest in converting people to Christianity

Which characteristics describe “nationalism?”

Slide 19

Quick Review

Which body of water connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean?

Why were Africans left out of the Berlin Conference?

Why did resistance movements fail?

Slide 20

Boer Wars 1899-1902

Fierce Guerilla resistance to British—angered BritsBrits respond with “scorched-earth policyEventually win and create South AfricaAppease Boer’s by agreeing that only whites with a few propertied Africans would vote (set-up for apartheid)

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IMPERIALISM

AFRICA ASIA

EUROPE INDIA

JAPAN CHINA

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MEIJI RESTORATION

SEPOY MUTINY

“JEWEL IN THE CROWN”

BERLIN CONFERENCE

BOER WAR

SHAKA ZULU

OPIUM WAR

TAIPING REBELLION

BOXER REBELLION

SINO-JAPANESE WAR

BRITISH EAST INDIA CO.

MATTHEW PERRY

WHITE MAN’S BURDEN

SUEZ CANAL

“OPEN DOOR POLICY”

•SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

•NATIONALISM•INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

CECIL RHODES

TREATY OF NANJING

•TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE

•RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

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IMPERIALISM

INDIA

AFRICAASIA

EUROPE

JAPAN CHINA

•BOER WAR

•MEIJI RESTORATION

•TAIPING REBELLION•BOXER REBELLION

•MATTHEW PERRY

•JEWEL IN THE CROWN

•SINO-JAPANESE WAR•SHAKA ZULU

•SEPOY MUTINY

•OPIUM WAR•TREATY OF NANJING

•WHITE MAN’S BURDEN.•BRITISH EAST INDIA CO.•NATIONALISM

•BERLIN CONFERENCE

•OPEN DOOR POLICY

•SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

•AMRITSAR MASSACRE

•INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

•CECIL RHODES

•SUEZ CANAL

•DIVIDE AND CONQUER

•SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

•EXTRATERRITORIALITY

•TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE

•RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

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Competition for Asia

Subjugation of Asia less violent and more diplomatic than in Africa (other than the French campaign for Indochina)

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Competition for Asia

British East India Company had long controlled large parts of India, but other areas were soon being sought after

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Administrative StylesColonies (Direct Rule)

French, German, PortugueseEuropean rule imposedHighly centralizedNo attempt to preserve African institutions

Protectorates (Indirect Rule)BritishGovernor appointed by British gov’tLocal leaders advised by BritishSupposed to preserve African institutions

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Administrative StylesSpheres of Influence

Local rulers maintain control of internal affairsEuropeans control port townsChina

Company RuleEuropean country grants economic and political control to trading companyIndia (revoked later)Belgium Congo (terrible abuses)

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Positive and Negative effects of British Imperialism

PositiveIn India stabilized society badly divided by civil warBuilt new schools and hospitals, roads, RRImproved infrastructures Modern medicine and sanitation people live longerNew farming techniques improved food productionLiteracy rate growsA select few learned government and Law—caveat-Knowledge of freedom led to calls for freedom from colonial rule

NegativeArbitrary boundaries led to civil wars among groups in AfricaIgnored culture, religion, and needs of other nationsEnforced European culture and made inhabitants learn EnglishPeople of Southeast Asia, Africa, and India were never considered equals of the BritishIn India forced to grow cotton instead of food leading to a food shortage.

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POSITIVE NEGATIVE POSITIVE NEGATIVE•European medicine & improved nutrition increased life span of Africans. This caused an increase in population.

•Modern transportation & communications; telegraphs, railroads, steamships, and telephones

•A small minority received improved education and economic opportunities.

•European domination led to an erosion of traditional African values and destroyed many existing social relationships

•African peoples were treated a s inferior. Forced to work long hours for low pay.•Europeans divided up Africa ignoring tribal, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. These divisions have led to ongoing tribal clashes

•New roads & railroads link parts of India•Telegraph & postal systems unite people•Irrigation systems improve farming•New laws mean justice for all classes•British schools offer education•Customs that threaten human rights are ended

•Indian resources go to Britain•British made goods replace local goods•Farms grow cash crops rather than food crops; Indians go hungry

•Top jobs go to British•Indians are treated as inferiors

•Britain tries to replace Indian culture with western ways

Slide 30

Why were the British so successful as imperialists?

Led the IR

Had political system that gave capitalists great freedom

Huge Hunger for profit

This was a time of peace in GB giving focus on expansion of empire instead of trying to protect it.