If the United States took
over any country in the
world, which one would it be
& why?
Imperialism
Darwin’s theories were
interpreted by Social
Darwinists to indicate that
• a) select human groups would dominate
those less fit.
• b) European countries were more
nationalistic
• c) non-White groups were better adapted
to tropical climates
• d) imperialism went against the theory of
natural selection
• e) education would lead to equality
Social
Darwinism
Social Darwinism
• In reference to an
economic & political
environment
• Social Darwinism:
• Natural Selection +
Survival of the Fittest
Social Darwinism
• Those most
fit for
survival were
most evolved,
or most
“civilized”
Social Darwinism
• According to the Europeans who
were the most “civilized?”
• Christian,
wealthy,
industrial
nations
Social Darwinism
• The poor, or
“uncivilized,”
were that way
because they
were less
evolved
Social Darwinism
• According to the Europeans who
were the most “uncivilized?”
• Non-Christian nations (Africa,
Asia & Pacific Islands)
From the 1500s through the 1700s,
Western European imperialism in
Africa and Asia resulted mainly in
the
• a) establishment of colonies in the interior.
• b) cooperation of European, African and
Asian governments.
• c) increase in trade between Asia and the
Americas.
• d) establishment of European trading sea
ports from Africa to Asia.
• e) increase in understanding between the
different cultures
Russia in the 1700s and Japan in
the 1800s were similar in that both
countries
a) began the process of modernization after
a long period of isolationism.
b) developed democratic governments after
years under absolute monarchies.
c) refused to accept western technological
ideas.
d) adopted socialist economic systems after
capitalism failed.
e) turned to the United States as a model of
nation-building
Defining
Imperialism
What Is Imperialism?
• Definition:
• A policy in which a strong
nation seeks to dominate other
countries politically,
economically or socially
Which of the following best describes
the most significant aspect of relations
between China and European nations
during the 19th century?
• a) China’s relations with the outside world were
characterized by its claim to cultural superiority.
• b) Western nations applied pressure to force
China to make concessions.
• c) China, under pressure, granted Western nations
a series of unequal treaties that gave them mostfavored nation trading status.
• d) Europeans living in China were given the right of
extraterritoriality
• e) Great Britain lost the Opium War to China.
Forms of Imperialism
• COLONY:
• A foreign region that
is under the direct
control of a mother colony
• The mother colony sends
people to settle on the land
Forms of Imperialism
• PROTECTORATE:
• A foreign region in which
the mother colony allows
native rulers to maintain
their position of power,
but controls them
Forms of Imperialism
• SPHERE OF
INFLUENCE:
• A foreign region
in which an outside nation has
control over trade and other
economic activities
Forms of Imperialism
• CONCESSION:
• A country is granted the
exclusive right to exploit a
specific resource in a given
region
Two different management
methods to control an area
After 1880, European
nations sought colonies in
Africa because
The Sepoy Mutiny in India &
the Boxer Rebellion in China
were similar in that
Motives For
Imperialism
Motives For Imperialism
a) P: Political (Gain New Territory)
• Prestige, strategic locations,
greed, ethnocentrism
(Nationalism)
• Lost New World Colonies
Motives For Imperialism
B) Intellectual (“Civilizing”):
• The desire to spread Western
technology, customs & traditions
Motives For Imperialism
C) Economic:
• The IR created a
higher demand for
new sources of raw
materials & new
markets for
products
Motives For Imperialism
D) Religious:
• Spread the Christian message
Motives For Imperialism
E) Exploratory:
• Searching for New Land
• Adventure is Out There
th
18
th
19
During the
and
centuries, increased contact
between Europe and the
continents of Africa, Asia,
and South America resulted
in…
Justification
Justification???
•
•
•
•
How was Imperialism Justified?
European superiority
Inferiority of non-white cultures
Europeans MUST civilize the
world
• Only the strongest nations will
survive
An analysis of the RussoJapanese War and the Boer
War shows that one reason
nations go to war is to…..
Gaining
Control
Gaining Control
• Military
Invasion:
• Claim that the area is a threat
• Claim that disorder threatens
business in the region
Gaining Control
• Indebtedness:
• A ruler loans money from
another country
• Falls under the control of
the loaning country
Gaining Control
• Concession:
• Gain a concession
and then send the military in to
protect the concession
Gaining Control
• War:
• Invade &
conquer
the
territory
Treatment of
Native People
Treatment of
Native People
• Enslavement:
• Forced labor
• Segregation:
• Separation of races
• Example?
Treatment of Native
People
• Assimilation:
• The forced adoption of
a “mainstream” culture
• Example?
Problems for Natives??
• Loss of traditional culture
• Loss of traditional leadership
• Division of tribal groups
• Population decline
• Depletion of natural resources;
loss of good farmland