Pressures for ExpansionImperialism – one country’s domination of the political, economic and social life of another country.
Three key factors:•Nationalism prompted rival European nations to build empires in their competitive quest for power.•Industrial Revolution created a tremendous demand for raw materials and expanded markets.•Religious fervor and feelings of racial and cultural superiority inspired Europeans to impose their cultures on distant lands.
Political Rivalries
Actors on the world stage Continuing enterprise that seemed
to have no limits Communication
Slow – governors and generals take matters into their own hands▪ Armies to expand borders▪ Conflict over territories arose – remote
battlefields
Desire for New Markets
Raw materials and manufactured goods
Search for new sources of raw materials and new markets Rubber, copper and gold – Africa Jute – India Tin – Southeast Asia
▪ European and American industries and financial markets
▪ Colonies – also provided markets
Seeking New Opportunities
Needed loyal people to rule countries Leaders urged citizens to move to
colonies Cecil Rhodes
British adventurer who made a fortune from gold and diamond mining in south Africa
Went on to find Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe
“Civilizing” Mission
Religious and humanitarian impulses Spread western technology, religion,
customs and traditions Catholic and Protestant missionaries
Built churches and taught Christian doctrine Superiority
Impose western civilization Learn European languages and encouraged
western lifestyles Social Darwinism
Forms of Imperialism
Treaties, bought land, or conquered Territorial control
Colony – a territory that was ruled directly▪ Direct or indirect rule
Protectorate – had its own government, but officials of a foreign power guided its policies, particularly in foreign affairs
Sphere of influence – held exclusive investment or trading rights
North Africa
Most live on a strip of land north of the Sahara
1800s Muslim Arabs under Ottoman ruler governed large territories west of Egypt Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco
▪ Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria
The French in North Africa
1830 – King Charles X of France ordered an invasion of Algiers
Resistance from Abd al-Qadir 10 years to subdue Next Tunis in 1881 Morocco in 1905
▪ I million French settled
Britain and Egypt
Egypt ruled under Muhammad Ali Carried out building projects with
European assistance Debt rose and European political and
economic influence rose 1859-1869 – Suez Canal
▪ Sold holdings to Great Britain▪ 1882 – British force moved in – defeated Ahmed
Arabi▪ Egypt became a protectorate▪ 1898 – the Sudan – dispute between Britain and France
Italy Seizes Libya
Entered race late – wanted a African empire
Declared war on Ottoman Empire in 1911 Easily defeated the Ottoman Turks Took Tripoli as a colony, renamed it Libya
Central and East Africa
Henry M. Stanley King Leopold II – Congo region
1908 – gave Congo to Belgian government for large loan
Only country to remain independent in this region was Ethiopia Menelik II 1896 – when Italians attacked crushing
victory deterred others
5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul.)It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official
West Africa
Trading posts Salt, gold, iron wares and slaves
▪ Econ0mies declined when slave trade abolished▪ Reliance on cash crops – cotton and cacao beans▪ Palm, ivory, and rubber
European nations push inward 1890s Samory Toure, ruler of a kingdom in
present-day Senegal led armies against the French, other joined▪ By 1900s, reluctantly accept European rule▪ Liberia – only remaining independent state (1822) –
support from US
West and Central Africa
1800s – slave trade illegal Sought out West Africa’s gold, timber,
hides, and palm oil Britain, France, and Germany took over
the areas along the Atlantic coast 1847 – African Americans freed created
the republic of Liberia By 1900, only Libya remained free 1911 – Italy defeated the Ottoman
Empire and given control of Tripoli
Southern Africa
The Afrikaners – Dutch settlers who conquered lands around Cape Town Cape Colony
British seized during Napoleonic Wars Afrikaners resented British rule Boers
▪ Great Trek Zulu Nation – Shaka Zulu Union of South Africa
Effects of Imperialism
Mines, plantations, building factories and ports Hired Africans with low wages and imposed taxes Men housed in dormitories away from families,
treated brutally Schools
Taught European ways were best Missions – reject African customs and beliefs
Learned to read European books and wear European clothes
Some▪ Entire villages broke up, families came apart, ancient
traditions disappeared.
What is imperialism?
Domination by one country or people over another group of people
Changed the world during the later half of the century
How is Old Imperialism and New Imperialism different?
Old Looking for a direct trade route to Asia
▪ Established colonies in the Americas, India, South Africa, the East Indies, and territory along Africa and China
▪ Mercantilism▪ Cost of colonies outweighed the benefits▪ Colonialism became less popular
New Driven by Industrial Revolution
▪ Economic, military, political, humanitarian, religious, social Darwinism, and western technology
What was the Boer War?
Race for the continent led to a war in South Africa
Fought between the British and the Boers
Beginning 1600s – Dutch settle Cape Town (Boers) 1800s – British seized the Dutch territory
– renamed Cape Colony Boers moved inland
What were the economic reasons?
Wanted to expand global markets Need for cheap labor and a steady
supply of raw materials Directly controlled these areas Problem
New colonies were too poor to buy European goods
What were the military and political reasons?
Colonies crucial to military power, national security, and nationalism
Needed naval ports to take on coal and supplies
Britain needed to protect the Suez Canal
Possession of colonies was an indication of a nation’s greatness
What were the humanitarian and religious goals?
Should civilize “The White Man’s Burden” – Kipling
Civilize the uncivilized Spread Christianity
Why was Social Darwinism a reason?
Charles Darwin’s – survival of the fittest Applied to human societies and nations
White race was dominant and only natural to conquer the inferior
Why was Western Technology a reason?
Better medicine Could survive tropical diseases and
mosquito-infected interior of Africa and Asia
Steamboat and telegraph Quick response
Machine gun Military advantage
What were the motives?Economic Military/Political Humanitarian/
ReligiousTechnology
Need for markets Need for military bases
White man’s burden
New medicine
Raw materials National security Spread of Christianity
New weapons
Source of investments
Source of pride-nationalism
Social Darwinism Transportation
What did Great Britain’s control of the Suez Canal lead to?
Bought shares from Egypt, France owned others
1882- established a protectorate over Egypt
Set off “African fever” in Europe Great Britain extended its control over
the Sudan as well
What impact did the exploration of the Congo have?
Raised questions about the political fate of Africa south of the Sahara
European nations were fearful that Leopold II of Belgium would want to extend control over the entire area
What factors led to the scramble for Africa?
Congress of Berlin (1884-1885) Established the principle that European
occupation of African territory had to be based on effective occupation that was recognized by other states, and that no single European power could claim Africa
Between 1878-1914, European powers divided up the entire African continent except for the independent counties of Ethiopia and Liberia