Global Studies II
Mr. Mintzes
Unit Outline - European Imperialism in the 19th Century
Essential Questions to be addressed:
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WHAT IS IMPERIALISM?
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HOW DID IT DEVELOP IN EUROPE IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY?
WHY?
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RACISM: HOW DID MOST EUROPEANS EXPLAIN THEIR ABILITY
TO CONQUER LARGE AREAS OF THE WORLD?
Imperialism is empire building.
Expansion occurs when one state is more powerful than are the
obstacles to expansion. The obstacles may be other states or peoples, or
they may be geographic or physical or technological obstacles.
The central core of the empire may be a nation-state as it was in the 19th
century, or in ancient times, a city-state or a tribe.
European civilization experienced a period of unprecedented rapid
expansion around the globe during the last third of the nineteenth
century. European nation-states had become very powerful because
of industrialization and because of the organizational efficiency of
the nation-state.
European global expansion had actually begun in the fifteenth century
(The Age of Exploration), but the process greatly accelerated in the
nineteenth century.
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Latin America and the seaports of Asia and Africa were the first to
be colonized by Europeans. Seaports set up on the African coast
were used to ship slaves to the Americas and to Europe
Native Americans were liquidated, died from disease or were
thoroughly subjugated to European rule.
Most Latin American descendents (Latinos) of the Spanish
conquerors gained independence from Spain by the early 19th
century, while many indigenous peoples remained subject.
Large Scale Imperialism in Africa & Asia Delayed until 19th Century:
Africa:
African climate, disease and geography delayed most European
colonization until the 19th century.
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Early Dutch settlers, known as Afrikaans or Boers, came to South
Africa as early as the 16th century.
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Slavery took a heavy toll on African development ever since the 16th
century. Millions of young people of working age were taken away.
Great conflict ensued.
Asia:
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Asia's population was too great.
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Asian civilization too firmly established for Europeans to rule it
directly.
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Europeans did establish control over seaports and trade.
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In places like India and Indonesia, Europeans ruled indirectly
through their domination of the local aristocracy.
Attraction of Africa:

Africa was divided – numerous tribal cultures – powerful African
kingdoms of earlier centuries had not survived
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Without central government or centralized control could not
effectively mount resistance to Europeans.
Strong tribal leaders did make life hard for England – Shaka led
Zulu uprising against British – bloody war for several years
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Vast unexplored areas promised untapped natural resources for
European industries – easily subjugated population promised large
and cheap labor supply to access resources
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Growing population would serve as a market for European goods
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Discovery of vast diamond and gold deposits added to the
attractiveness
Attraction of Asia:
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Government/Empires in India were divided – powerful Mogul
Empire had not survived

Asian military was markedly inferior to European (except for
Japanese), particularly with respect to organization and weapons.
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Manchu Dynasty in China was weakened by a number of factors
that made it vulnerable to European bullying and threats. Also
needed money trading with Europe would bring in.
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India, in particular, had untapped natural resources British wanted
for its mills and factories, particularly cotton and silk.
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Large population of Asian countries was viewed as a huge market
for European goods.
European Imperial Powers:
England was the leading European colonial power.
Had already established much of its overseas empire by the
beginning of the 19th century.
France was second
Large holdings in Southeast Asia and in North Africa, both
of these being established during the 19th century.
Portugal, Spain and Holland
Retained some colonies because they had been the earliest colonial
powers (during the Age of Exploration), and still retained some of
them in the 19th century.
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Portugal: Angola in Africa – Goa in India – Macao in China
Spain: Cuba, Puerto Rico, The Philippines (until they lost all three
to the US in the Spanish-American War
Spanish Morocco in Africa
Holland: Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Virgin Islands (bought by
US in 1917
Germany and Italy:
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Germany and Italy were late arrivals on the colonial scene because
they had only unified themselves in the 1860's.
United States:
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Became a colonial power at the end of the 19th century.
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Defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War led to the
establishment of American colonies in the Caribbean and in the
Philippines.
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The Hawaiian Islands were conquered/annexed at the same time.
(1890's)
Japan:
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First Asiatic nation to become a colonial power.
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Long isolated and refusing to trade with Europeans
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Forced to trade by a United States naval squadron in 1845.
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Japan experienced a political revolution.
The new leadership modernized rapidly
by adopting European technology and organization.
China: A country at the mercy of foreign powers
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England forced China to open itself to the Opium trade in the
1840's.
China also experienced social upheaval (The Tai Ping rebellion)
Was unable to prevent foreign domination of its trade.
By the end of the 19th century, England, Germany, Russia, Japan,
and the United States had all compelled China to trade with them.
Russia occupied Manchuria and Port Arthur, Japan was in Korea,
Germany was in the Shantung peninsula, and the British were in
Hong Kong.
Competition for Africa:
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England, France, Germany & Italy competed for territory in Africa in
last third of 19th century.
Belgium also claimed the Congo
The only remaining areas of Africa not colonized by the end of the
century were Ethiopia in the horn of Africa and Liberia on the
Atlantic coast.
Emigration and Colonization:
Another aspect of European expansion in the last half of the 19th
century involved the emigration of large numbers of Europeans to other
parts of the world.
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European population had been increasing rapidly.
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Population pressure and improved overseas transportation led huge
increase in migration of Europeans to new possessions.
Promise of free or cheap land
Chance for better life for worker class
Aristocratic life in “colonies” for wealthy Europeans
Feeling of racial superiority over Africans and Asians
Why was it so easy for the European countries to dominate?
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Power they had resulting from industrialization
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Military superiority and modern weapons.
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Discipline and organization of the nation-state over tribal cultures
Racism and Social Darwinism:
Europeans believed they were superior to non-European peoples.
Racist ideas widely believed by Europeans:
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Whites were superior to non-whites.
Rudyard Kipling: “The White Man's Burden”
The white race had the burden and responsibility of bringing the
blessings of their superior civilization to the savages of the nonEuropean world.
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Social Darwinism: White Europeans were considered more fit in the
struggle for survival. Survival of the fittest race.
Missionary and Religious Beliefs: the belief that Christianity was
the only true religion and it was the responsibility of the white
Europeans to bring the “word of God” to the savages.
Racism in Europe:
Racist attitudes in Europe divided the continent
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northern Europeans from southern Europeans
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Anglo-Saxons, Nordics and Teutons from Latins
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Aryans from Jews. A new anti-Semitic concept of Jews as an inferior
race, which endangered the purity of Aryans, developed in the late
19th century, particularly in Eastern Europe.