The Age of New Imperialism
1800-1914
What is imperialism?
(hint: look at the root of the word)
The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters
Imperialism
• A policy where stronger nations dominate the
political, economic, or cultural life of weaker
nations.
• A new wave began in the 1800s. Original
wave started back in the 1400s.
• Born out of the new industrial society of the
1800s. Countries were richer and more
powerful.
Map of Colonial Empires in 1914
Causes
1. ECONOMIC INTERESTS (MONEY!)
2. NATIONALISM
political and military needs
3. SOCIAL DARWINISM
4. “SOCIAL GOSPEL”
religious
humanitarian
Economic Interests
• The Industrial Revolution
– Industrialized countries needed natural resources
• Ex: rubber, petroleum, manganese for steel, palm oil for
machinery
– Also wanted new markets to sell factory goods to
– Colonies were valuable outlets for overpopulation
in home countries
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJe1W_
HIWmA
Raw
Empire
Materials
Colony
Emigrants
Finished
Goods
Political/Military Interests
• Industrialized nations needed naval bases
around the world
– Seized islands and harbors
• Competition/maintaining balance of power
– Empire = prestige and greatness
– Ex: when France got colonies in West Africa, GB
and Germany did too to prevent France from
becoming too powerful
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.
The “Social Gospel”
Humanitarian/Religious Goals
• Many 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.
• It was very ethnocentric…but…many wellmeaning missionaries and doctors
accompanied the imperialists
• Two arguments: western advances did benefit
natives; natives were denied their culture
What made imperialism possible?
• Weakness of conquered areas
– Africa 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
Chalk Talk
• Come up and write what is good and bad
about imperialism.
GOOD
BAD
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
• Economic Imperialism – most politically
independent, but LDC’s indirectly controlled
by large businesses
Answer “The
in your
notes:
What do
you think
this
political
cartoon
is saying?
What is
the
“white
man’s
burden?”
White Man’s Burden”
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
Two arguments: western advances did benefit natives;
natives were denied their culture