The Age ofImperialism(1850 – 1914)

Late Nineteenth Century European Imperialism

Objective

• To understand the causes of European imperialism of the late 19th century

• To understand the extent of European imperial expansion

• To understand the consequences of European imperialism for Europe and the developing world

Definitions

• Imperialism “extending a nation’s influence directly or

indirectly over weaker areas”

• Colonialism Taking direct control of an area and turning it

into a colony under a nation’s authority

• Nationalism Belief that an ethnic group should rule itself Belief that one nation is better than all the

others

IndustrialRevolution

IndustrialRevolution

Source forRawMaterials

Source forRawMaterials

Markets forFinishedGoods

Markets forFinishedGoods

EuropeanNationalismEuropeanNationalism

MissionaryActivityMissionaryActivity

Military& NavalBases

Military& NavalBases

EuropeanMotives

For Colonisation

EuropeanMotives

For Colonisation

Places toDumpUnwanted/Excess Popul.

Places toDumpUnwanted/Excess Popul.

Soc. & Eco.OpportunitiesSoc. & Eco.Opportunities

HumanitarianReasonsHumanitarianReasons

EuropeanRacismEuropeanRacism

“WhiteMan’sBurden”

“WhiteMan’sBurden”

SocialDarwinismSocialDarwinism

Motivations for Imperialism

• Money / Resources Raw materials

• Cotton, Oil, Rubber, Tea, Iron, gold, diamonds, silk, copper etc People (cheap workers)

• Markets Colonies with people who will buy your stuff

• Dumping Ground Send your excess population / criminals there

• Canada, Australia

• Strategic Control strategic seas and land areas to gain power Keep OTHER countries from gaining them

Causes of Late 19th Century European Imperialism

• Culture / Religion Belief in European / Christian superiority Desire to “spread civilization and Christianity to

the heathens”• Social Darwinism

• Prestige Whoever has the most must be the best

• “He who dies with the most toys wins!”

• The Industrial Revolution Industrialized nations took control of less

developed nations• To gain raw materials for industry

– Cotton, coal, metals, etc.• To gain markets for goods

– Manufactured goods could be sold in the colonies

Political and SocialOrigins of Imperialism

Nationalism• Competition between industrial nations led to a

race for overseas empires The “White Man’s Burden”

• Many believed it was their duty to “civilize” people of other nations by introducing Christianity and Western culture

Social Darwinism• Many claimed it was natural for “the weak to be

taken over by the strong”

Social Darwinism and Imperialism

Some thought the theory of evolution justified the exploitation of “lesser breeds” by “superior races.”•Europeans (and Americans) would suggest that they had evolved more than Indians, Africans and Asians

After all, our countries are more developed and richer – doesn’t that prove it?

Thus, nature gave them the right to rule others.

Social Darwinism• Social Darwinists – sounds rather racist.

They applied evolution to the social order. Europeans felt they must “save the savages” and

“civilize” them• Missionaries sought to convert “heathen”

unbelievers in faraway lands. • “The white man’s burden” – introducing

civilization to the “colored” races of the world.• In their view, war was nature’s way of

eliminating the unfit. Using terms such as “survival of the fittest”,

Social Darwinists insisted that nations and races were engaged in a struggle for survival in which only the fittest survive and deserve to win.

Social Darwinism: Lasting Implications

• It promoted the military build-up that led to World War I.

• It would become the core doctrine of the Nazi party before World War II. Holocaust and Eugenics

• Provided a “scientific” and “ethical” justification for genocides in the 20th century.

• What is being advertised?

• Where is this taking place?

• How can you tell?

• What is going on?

• What does it tell us about imperialism / colonialism?

• Who was the queen at the time?

Common advertisement during Imperialism

Major Imperial Powers

• Great Britain• France• Germany• Russia• The United States• Japan

Imperialized Areas

• Powerful industrial nations established empires in: Africa Asia Oceania (Australia, New Zealand,

and surrounding islands)

Imperialism in 1914

Britain (United Kingdom)Includes England, Scotland, Wales,

Ireland

• Largest colonial empire “Sun never sets on the British Empire” Colonies established to protect trading

interests in Africa and Asia Two kinds of colonies

• “White” Colonies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) Populated mainly by people that moved there from Britain– Given self-rule

• “Non-white” Colonies (India, Africa) – Under indirect rule– Populated mainly by people who are native to the area– Few people from Britain actually live there – but control

the government

All the territories the British ever ownedNote: They also had a “sphere of influence” in China as well

France

• Northwest Africa and Southeast Asia• Took colonies to make up for loss of

Alsace-Lorraine in 1870• Tended to use “Direct Rule”

Control all aspects of the colony from Paris.

French Colonial Empire - 1905

•Ignore these parts

Germany

• Bismarck originally opposed colonial expansion Unnecessary for Germany Did not want to threaten

France or Britain

• Germany eventually took colonies in 1880s for status symbols In Africa and Asia

United States

• Did not get involved in European affairs • Became colonial power after 1898

Spanish-American War• U.S. gains control of Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines

• Monroe Doctrine allows US to extend influence into Latin America

The United States’ Empire (1900)

The Spanish-American War (1898)• Causes

U.S. wanted to help Cuba win independence from Spain• U.S. had economic interests in Cuba• U.S. saw Spain’s control of Cuba as a test of the Monroe Doctrine

– Monroe Doctrine: stated that the Americas were off limits to further European colonisation

U.S. wanted to build an empire• U.S. needed raw materials and markets for its goods• Strong nationalism

– Americans wanted their nation to be powerful, wealthy, and competitive with the European powers

U.S. newspapers blamed Spain for explosion of USS Maine

• Effects U.S. quickly defeated Spain and became a world power U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam

• U.S. temporarily occupied Cuba and set up a military government• Cuba and the Philippines eventually gained independence

Intervention in Latin America

• Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine Declared the U.S. as the police power of the

Western Hemisphere Established U.S. “economic imperialism”

throughout Latin America

• Panama U.S. supported Panama’s independence from

Colombia in exchange for the right to build and control the Panama Canal

Panama Canal

Japanese Imperialism

• Since the 1600’s, Japan had practiced a policy of isolationism, in which it cut itself off from the outside world

• In the 1850’s, the United States Navy forced Japan to open its ports to trade

• Modernized economy and military Japan built factories and needed raw materials to make

manufactured goods Japan quickly built a modern navy

•War with China Japan and China competed for trading rights in

Korea Japan defeated China and took control of Korea

and Manchuria

•Russo-Japanese War Russia tried to step in and take control of

Korea and Manchuria Japan defeated Russia and became a world

power

Japanese Empire (1905)

Case Study

EuropeansColonize Africa

Scramble for Africa• Europe had been interested in Africa for

centuries Through the slave trade

• Much of Africa still unexplored until 1880s• European influence restricted to

coastline• Initially difficult to get to interior due to

geography• Diseases made exploration difficult.

(malaria, yellow fever etc)

The Scramble for Africa

• During the late 1800s Europeans began exploring the interior parts of Africa

• By the 1880s, European nations were racing to colonize African lands

Scramble for Africa

• By 1914, 90% of Africa is under European control France Northwest Africa Britain from Egypt to South Africa Belgium in the Congo (central Africa) Italy in Libya and Eastern Africa Portugal in southern Africa Germany in scattered areas

• Berlin Conference in 1885 sets ground rules for European colonisation of Africa

The Berlin Conference• The scramble threatened European stability. • Bismarck called an international conference in Berlin in 1884

to lay some ground rules for the development of Africa. • European nations met to settle arguments over African lands• European powers divided all of Africa (except Ethiopia and

Liberia) and drew up new borders They made the Congo a free trade zone Outlawed slavery and the slave trade that the Arabs and

Africans were still practicing Did not consider ethnic or language differences of African

tribes Africans had no say in the decisions

Scramble for Africa

• Consequences Traditional way of life disrupted Economic exploitation of Africans European racism imported into Africa Spread of European culture Spread of Western technology

Africa 1914

Technology Encourages Europeans to explore African

interior• Steamboats• Advances in medicine

• Quinine – stops malaria

• Suez Canal

Geographical Impact of the Suez Canal, 1869

•16,000 KM

•10,000 KM

See why the Suez canal is a “strategic” location?

Conquest of Africa

• The consequences of European partitioning (dividing up) of the continent were devastating to Africa newly drawn borders don’t match up

with ethnicity, language, culture of people living there.

• In the decades before World War I, opposition to European colonial rule in Africa gathered strength.

•

                                                                                               

                                                 

How do you control your empire??

South Africa

British in South Africa• Dutch had first settled

the Cape Colony in South Africa Dutch settlers called

Boers (Dutch word for “farmer”)

• Early 1800s -British take over South Africa from Dutch

• Boers move north into the Transvaal Area to get away from British

•Transvaal

“The Great Trek”

British in South Africa

• Native Zulus and Dutch fighting

• British push into Zulu’s lands Dutch Boers ally

with Brits•Zulu

•land

The Zulu WarThe British and the Zulus (a native tribe of

Southern Africa) fought a war over landThe Zulus put up fierce resistance and won

a major battle even though they were fighting with spears against guns

Eventually the British overwhelmed and defeated the Zulus and took control of their lands

The Zulu Wars• British pick a fight

with Zulus• You lose some, you

win some

Isandlwana

Rorke’s Drift

Discovery of Gold!

• 1880s Boers find gold and diamonds on their new lands in the “Transvaal” area

• Brits want that gold and diamonds• The “Boer War”

New methods of warfare• Boers use guerrilla tactics

Hit and run Operate in small units called “commando’s”

British counter this by rounding up Boer in “concentration camps” to keep an eye on them

Remember this one – it will come back again

End of the Boer War• British win and consolidate their lands in South Africa• Eventually South Africa is given autonomy• Most of the white settlers in South Africa are Dutch,

but the land is owned by Britain.• Most of the population is black• Minority, white dominated, government establishes

system of “Apartheid” Complete separation of the races Non-whites made into second class citizens in their own

land Stays in place until 1996 when international pressure forces

South Africa to eliminate Apartheid

Resistanceto Imperialism

Resistance to Imperialism• Natives of Africa, Asia, and Oceania

Liked improvements made by imperialist rulers• roads, railroads, schools, peace, etc.

Disliked the way they were treated by rulers• Wanted to rule themselves• Disliked racism of imperialist nations• Felt foreign culture was being forced on them

Sometimes fought against imperialism• Most natives were easily defeated

– Industrialized nations were more united and had better weapons and technology

• Some natives put up fierce resistance

Map of Imperialism in Asia

• India Britain trading in India since 1600s

• British East India Co. gradually took over parts of India British government gradually took over India in

the 1800s• Sepoy Mutiny– Indian soldiers revolt against British East India Co– Rebellion put down by British army– British government takes over control from British East

India Co.

European Imperialism in India

• Consequences of British Imperialism in India British educational system established Spread of English language Railroads tie India together Rise of Indian middle class

Growth of British Power in India

India

“The Jewel of the Crown” for the British Empire

British India• The British East India

Company was given permission by the British government to run the colony of India Indian soldiers called Sepoys were

hired by the East India Company to protect their business

• Most Sepoys were Muslim or Hindu

• Indians did not have same rights as British

• Many British looked down on Indians because of their race

Growth of British Power in India

The Sepoy Rebellion• Sepoys were ordered to use rifle cartridge

that was rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat They refused to follow orders and were being

thrown in jail• Hindus believe cows are sacred animals• Muslims believe pigs are unclean

• Sepoys rioted and captured part of India It took over 1 year for the British to regain

control

Sepoy Rebellion

• Results: Rebellion was unsuccessful British government took full control of India Indian nationalism and desire for independence

grew British mistreatment Indians grew

European Imperialism in Asia

• China Potentially huge market Closed to European trade until 1800s Opium War (1840)

• Britain forces China to open trade to opium– Millions of addicts– Unequal Treaties (Treaty of Nanking) – China forced

open

By 1900, China divided into European “spheres of influence”• Parts of China under European control

Chinese monarchy seriously weakened

China

China

• In the early 1900’s China’s government was very weak and could not keep other countries from taking control of its ports

• Open Door Policy: the policy of allowing all nations access to trade in China Foreign countries controlled trade and had a

great deal of influence in China Missionaries spread Christianity to Chinese

The Boxer Rebellion• Righteous and Harmonious Fists: a group of

Chinese warriors (called “Boxers” by Europeans) who wanted to end foreign influence and the spread of Christianity in China

• Boxers attacked Chinese Christians and foreigners Several nations sent soldiers to protect their interests The foreigners defeated the Boxers

• Results Foreign powers gained even more control of China Growth in Chinese nationalism

Reaction to Imperialism -1

• Rise of Nationalist Movements India

• Indian National Congress (1885)• Group of middle class Indians begin to demand

independence (Mohandas Gandhi) China

• Boxer Rebellion (1900)• Nationalist Party

Reaction to Imperialism -2• Japan

Long isolated from Western trade U.S. opens Japan to trade in 1854 Meiji Restoration (1868)

• Faction overthrows Shogun and restores Emperor to power

• Japan imports Western ideas and technology Defeats China in 1895

• Takes over Taiwan Defeats Russia in 1905

• Gains control of Korea

• Japanese imperialism worries Europeans “Yellow Peril”

Conclusion

• Different reasons for European imperialism during late 19th century

• European imperialism causes reactions in Africa and Asia

• European imperialism disrupts traditional way of life and continues to affect the world today

Nations gaining independence post-WWII

Decolonisation

A troublesome experience

1. The economic problems they inherited

2. The need to find political systems that work for the individual nations.

Popular perceptions of Colonialism(arguments for and against)

Impact of ImperialismImperialism did:• Created infrastructure in colonies – e.g. British railway systems • Increase levels of formal education (albeit not universally) • Gave people access to Western medicines and hospitals (but

sometimes only after introducing Western viruses) • Bring with it ideas of freedom and liberty in the sense that the

European colonial countries were almost all liberal democracies.

• Plunder natural resources • Create of dual economies • Create the loss of independent political power • Eventually bring about ‘imperial over-reach’

Criticisms of imperialism

Colonialism as a Theory of oppression: • Colonialism is a distinctly western evil• The West became rich and the colonies

became impoverished. • The descendants of colonialism are worse off than

they would’ve been if colonialism had never occurred.• Walter Rodney : “White hoards have sallied forth from

their western homelands to assault, loot, occupy, rule and exploit the world. Even now the fury of their expansionist assault on the rest of us has not abated”

• Activists such as Jesse Jackson have called on the West to pay repatriations for slavery and colonialism to minorities of the third world.

• The West is in possession of the ‘stolen goods’ of other cultures and has a moral and legal obligation to make some form of repayment.

The above notions suggest that the West became dominant because it was oppressive.

Arguments In Defence of Colonialism

• There is nothing uniquely Western about imperialism E.g. India was preceded by at least six colonial powers.

• Those who identify imperialism with the West have no sense of history.

• The West did not become rich and powerful through colonial oppression.

In Defence of Colonialism• Science

It is a basic shared human trait. But science, requiring experiments, labs, the scientific method, induction, verification – THE INVENTION OF INVENTION – is a western institution.

• DemocracyTribal participation is universal but democracy involving free elections, peaceful transitions of power, and separation of powers is a western idea

• CapitalismAgain the impulse to trade is universal, and there is nothing western about the use of money, but capitalism – which requires property rights, contracts, courts to enforce them, corporations, stock exchanges, patents, insurance -, this practice was developed in the west.

Colonialism and imperialism are not the cause of the west’s success;

they are the results of that success.

THE END

DON’T BE COLONISING ANYONE!!!