The Age of New Imperialism
1800-1914
Imperialism
• A policy where stronger nations dominate the political, economic, or cultural life of weaker nations.
• New wave began in the 1800s. Original wave started in the 1400s.
• Born out of the new industrial society of the 1800s. Countries were richer and more powerful.
Causes
1. Economic Interests ($$$)2. Political/Military Interests (Nationalism)3. Humanitarian/Religious Goals4. Social Darwinism
Economic Interests
• The Industrial Revolution – natural resources • Ex: rubber, petroleum, manganese for steel, palm oil for
machinery
– new markets to sell factory goods to– colonies were outlets for overpopulation in home
countries (emigration)
Empire
Emigrants
Finished Goods
Colony
Raw Materials
Political/Military Interests
• Naval bases– Seized islands and harbors
• Competition/maintaining balance of power– Empire = prestige and greatness– Ex: when France gained colonies in West Africa,
Great Britain and Germany did too to prevent France from becoming too powerful
Humanitarian/Religious Goals
• Westerners believed they had a moral duty to spread their “superior” way of life– Western technology, law, medicine, education
• Also felt they needed to “Christianize” the “barbarians” in other parts of the world
• Very ethnocentric…but…many well-meaning missionaries and doctors accompanied the imperialists
• Two arguments: western advances did benefit natives; natives were denied their culture
Social Darwinism
• Imperialism was based on feelings of racial superiority; this theory justified colonies.– Racism: the belief that one race is superior to
others• Social Darwinists applied Charles Darwin’s
ideas about natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies.
• Imperialism was nature’s way of improving the human race.
What made Imperialism possible?
• Weakness of conquered areas– Africa was weak because of slave trade– Lack of weapons/technology
• Western strengths and advantages– Strong economies and governments– Powerful armies and navies– Superior technology• Steam-powered ships, Maxim machine gun (1889),
repeating rifles, the telegraph, quinine
Meeting in Berlin
• Berlin Conference, 1884– A gathering of
European powers held in Berlin.
– This was a means of avoiding war between the powers.
– It established ground rules for staking claims in Africa.
Forms of Imperialism
• Colony – direct control, most intrusive• Protectorate – local rulers left in place, but still
under control of European advisors• Sphere of influence – exclusive investment or
trading privileges
Impacts
• Positive: medical advances, hospitals, schools– Life expectancy and literacy rates increased
• Negative: Africans lost control of land and their independence– Forced to mine or plant cotton and other cash
crops instead of their own food crops– Famine– Loss of traditional culture
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