WHAT IS IMPERIALISM &

WHY DO NATIONS DO IT?

Introduction to Imperialism

What is imperialism?

Imperialism is a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially.

Types of Imperialism

1. Colony: A country or a region governed internally by a foreign powerExample: Somaliland in East Africa was a French colony

Types of Imperialism

2. Protectorate: A country or territory with its own internal government but under the control of an outside powerExample: Britain established a protectorate over the Niger River Delta

Types of Imperialism

3. Sphere of Influence: An area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges

Example: Liberia was under the sphere of influence of the United States

Types of Imperialism

4. Economic Imperialism: Independent but less developed nations controlled by private business interests rather than by other governments.

Example: The Dole Fruit company controlled pineapple trade in Hawaii

WHAT THINGS MIGHT MAKE A

PERSON OR GROUP WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF

OTHERS?

Thought Question-Answer on Note Sheet

EmPIRE

Motives for Imperialism

Exploratory

GOALS: -map new territory-to locate indigenous (native) people

-to identify natural resources available (i.e. animals, plants, coal, etc)

Sketch map of Central African, showing Dr. Livingstone’s exploration

Exploratory(interest in unexplored territories, mapping geographic features of Africa)

POLITICAL

GOALS: -to claim land for the “mother country”

-to make sure their country had more resources than other countries (competition)

-to control another country’s government

British cartoon “The Rhodes Colossus” showing Cecil Rhodes’ vision of making Africa “all British from Cape to Cairo” 1892

POLITICAL (desire to control African territory, desire to boost national pride and gain power by winning colonies, desire to have military presence) or

EXPLORATORY (exploring or venturing into unknown territory)

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IDEOLOGICAL

GOALS:-to “improve” non –Europeans’ way of life

-to make others more like Europeans-to make them adopt a European perspective

Racism: the idea that one race is superior to others

Social Darwinism

-Came from Charles Darwin’s ideas on evolution & “the survival of the fittest.”

-Was applied to social change/ situations

-Those who were fittest enjoyed wealth & success & were

superior to others

Social Darwinism

-Non-Europeans were considered lower than Europeans because they did not

have the technology Europeans had

-Eur0peans felt it was there job to bring European ways elsewhere

RELIGIOUS

GOALS:-to convert native people to the Christian religion

-to convince native people that their religion is wrong/ “evil”

-to change the beliefs of the next generation

ECONOMIC

GOALS:-to obtain raw materials to produce goods-supply

-to get the native people to purchase European goods and services-demand

-to make money

British cartoon showing the Chinese being savaged by European powers, and the poem The Partition of China 1897

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MOTIVES

POLITICAL (Europeans depicted as animals competing for piece of China) or

ECONOMIC (desire to trade in China to make cash) or

RELIGIOUS (Chinese depicted as heathen, calls on Christian duty to preach in China) or

IDEOLOGICAL (belief that foreigners should be “civilized” by Europeans)