ch. 14. seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country stronger country controls...
DESCRIPTION
Raw materials New markets National pride ◦ Empire = national greatness Religion ◦ End evil practices ◦ Slave tradeTRANSCRIPT
Ch. 14
The Height of Imperialism
ImperialismSeizure of a country or territory by a stronger country
Stronger country controls political, economic and social life of weaker country
Reasons for ImperialismRaw materialsNew marketsNational pride◦Empire = national greatness
Religion ◦End evil practices ◦Slave trade
RacismWhite Europeans believed they were better
Social Darwinism◦Superior people should rule◦Non-Europeans seen as inferior
Duty of Europeans to “civilize,” “Westernize”
White Man’s Burden
Divided AfricaMid-1800s◦Hundreds of ethnic groups◦1,000s of languages
Europe controls 10%◦Could not travel in-land◦Disease
Africans control own trade networks
Factors Promoting Imperialism
Technological superiority◦Steam engine and ships◦Railroads◦Telegraph cables◦Machine guns◦QuanineProtected Europeans from malaria
The Congo Sparks interestKing Leopold II of Belgium◦Claimed wanted end to slave trade Increase Christianity
◦Real goal was rubber 10 million die because of abuse
Other nations alarmed by Belgian control
The Division of AfricaScramble for territory begins in 1880◦Discovery of diamonds in 1867
◦Gold - 1886
Berlin Conference14 European countries1884-1885Rules for division of Africa◦Notify others of claim◦Show they could control it
No African rulers invited1914 – only Ethiopia and Liberia independent
Demand for Raw Materials Shapes Colonies◦Countries think Africans will buy goodsWrong
◦Main source of wealth is rich mineral resourcesBelgian Congo contains copper and tin
Small compared to diamonds and gold in South Africa
◦Businesses develop cash-crop plantationsPeanuts, palm oil, cocoa, rubber
Displaces food grown by nativesLeads to starvation