19th Century Imperialism
What is Imperialism?
The takeover of a
country or territory
by a stronger nation
with the intent of
dominating the
political, economic,
and social life of the
people of that
nation.
Why Imperialism??
Economic reasons
Sense of national pride- size
mattered!
Social justification
Economic Motivations
With
industrialization,
Europeans needed
new markets and
raw materials to
increase their profit
margin.
Sense of National Pride
Europeans viewed empire as a
measure of national greatness.
Competition for colonies amongst
Europeans (and later the United
States).
Ability to project military power aboard
increasingly became the role of navy.
Social Justification
Social DarwinismHerbert Spencer and
others used Charles
Darwin’s idea of
Survival of the Fittest
and applied it to race
coming to the
erroneous conclusion
that some races
(Europeans) are better
than others.
Scientific(NOT) Racism
White Man’s Burden
Take up the White Man’s Burden-Send forth the best ye breed-Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captive’s need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild-Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
White Man’s Burden
Take up the White Man’s Burden-The savage wars of peace-Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
Te end for others sought,
Watch Sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to naught.
Rudyard Kilping, @1890’s
Christian Missionaries
Missionaries wanted
to “civilize” and
“westernize” the
peoples of Asia,
Africa and the
Pacific.
Many tried in the
process to end
practices such as
slavery and sati.
Where in the World?
How?
Military Force
Technological superiority
Maxim Gun -world’s first automatic
machine gun
How?
Means to Control Empire
Use of steam engine
Trade
How?
Cures for tropical diseases such as
malaria (quinine) made interior
exploration possible.
How?
Took advantage of African rivalries
and disunity. Over 75 ethnic
groups and over 100 languages.
Resistance to Imperialism
Eleven major uprisings against colonial
powers including:
Samori Toure - Mandinkan kingdom in
west Africa(French west Africa)
Maji Maji uprising in German East Africa
(Tanzania)
Ethiopia (Menelik II and the Battle of
Adowa 1896.)
Resistance to Imperialism
Defensive Modernization
In places such as Ethiopia, Siam and
Japan, nations decided to modernize
and emulate the west before they were
taken over.
Resistance to Imperialism
“… The African is really helpless against
the material goods of the white man, as
embodied in the trinity of imperialism,
capitalistic exploitation, and militarism.”
Edward Morel, a British journalist
Examples of Imperialism: Africa
Scramble for Africa
Consequences of Imperialism
Loss of political autonomy (control)
Spread of disease
Exploitation of land, resources and
people
Conversions of Christianity
Roots of modern day conflicts (Rwanda,
Middle East, Vietnam…)
Colonial Legacy
Education
Laws
Language
Architecture
Sports
Rise of Western Dominance
Economic, Political, Social, Cultural, & Artistic
Conclusions…