Transcript New Imperialism - cloudfront.net

New Imperialism
• Imperialism is the domination by one country of
the political, economic, or cultural life of another
country or region. Since the areas under control
are called colonies, the practice of imperialism
can be referred to as colonialism. There are two
distinct periods of imperialism– the “old
imperialism” (1500-1800) and the “new
imperialism” (beginning in the 1870s). In just a
few decades, beginning in the 1870s, Europeans
brought much of the world under their control.
• The old imperialism had the following
characteristics: concerned with establishing trade
routes and obtaining resources; carried on at first
by private individuals and companies; took place
mainly in the western hemisphere, the Americas.
• The new imperialism has these general
characteristics: concerned with establishing
trade and markets, obtaining resources, and
making large financial investments; carried on
by governments as official policy; took place
mainly in the eastern hemisphere, Africa, and
Asia.
Motives for New Imperialism
Economic• The Industrial Revolution created the need for
sources of raw materials and a need for
markets for finished goods. Colonies were seen
as sources for both.
• They were also seen as placed to invest in and
a outlet for Europe’s growing population.
Political and Military• Steam-powered merchant and naval vessels
needed coal refueling and supply bases around
the world.
• Western countries claimed that colonies were
needed for national security.
• Nationalism- Countries seized land to make sure
their rivals did not get it. They also felt that ruling
a global empire increased a nations prestige and
glory around the world. The nationalist desires
sparked nations to achieve a balance of power
with other nations that were seeking to build
colonial empires.
Humanitarian and Religious Goals• Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed
they had a duty to spread what they saw as the
blessings of Western civilization, including its medicine,
law, and Christian religion.
Social Darwinism• Behind the idea of the West’s civilizing mission was a
growing sense of racial superiority.
• They applied Darwin’s ideas about natural selection
and survival of the fittest to human societies. They
claimed that the European races were superior to all
others, and imperial domination of weaker races was
simply natures way of improving the human species.
• As a result, millions of non-Westerners were robbed of
their cultural heritage.
The Rapid Spread of Western
Imperialism
From 1870 to 1914, imperialist nations gained
control over much of the worlds. Leading the
way were soldiers, merchants, settlers,
missionaries, and explorers. In Europe, imperial
expansion found favor with all classes.
Reason Imperialism Expanded Rapidly
Weakness of Non-Western States• European countries grew stronger in the 1800s,
several older civilizations were in decline,
especially Ottoman Middle East, Mughal India,
and Qing China
• In West Africa, wars among African peoples and
the damaging effects of the slave trade had
undermined established empires, kingdoms, and
city-states. Newer African states were never
strong enough to resist the Western onslaught.
Western Advantages• European powers had the advantages of strong
economies, well organized governments, and
powerful armies and navies.
• Superior technology, including riverboats and
telegraph. Conquered nations had no match for
European military technology like Maxim
machine guns, repeating rifles, and steam-driven
warships.
• Medical advances like quinine allowed Europeans
to survive deadly tropical diseases.
Resistance to Imperialism
Resisting Imperialism• Although Africans and Asians strongly resisted
Western expansion into their lands they had
no weapons equal to the Europeans.
• The ruling groups in certain areas tried to
strengthen their societies against outsiders by
reforming their own Muslim, Hindu or
Confucian traditions. Many western-educated
Africans and Asians organized nationalist
movements to expel the imperialists from
their lands.
Criticism at Home• In the West a small group of anti-imperialists
emerged.
• Some argued that colonialism was a tool of
the rich.
• Others argued it was immoral.
• They pointed out that Westerners were
moving toward greater democracy at home
but were imposing undemocratic rule on
other places.
Forms of Imperialist Control
Imperialism took many different forms in the 19th
century.
1. Sphere of influence. A nation gained sole economic
power in a region and had exclusive rights to trade, to
invest, and to develop mines, railroads, or factories. It
could not be interfered with by other nations. This
form of imperialism was used in China, where each
foreign nation—for example Germany—had economic
control in a specific area.
2. Concession. In this form, a foreign nation obtained
special privileges. An underdeveloped area gave
permission to a technologically advances nation to do
something of economic value in the area. (for
example, the Arabs let the British drilled for oil and
built railroads in the Middle East)
3. Protectorate. A colonial nation allowed the
native ruler of an area to remain in office as a
figurehead, while in reality the colonial
power made all the major decisions (France
in Tunisia). The former Eastern European
satellite nations controlled by the former
Soviet Union after World War II can be
thought of as protectorates.
4. Colony. An imperialist nation takes control
over an area and makes it part of its empire(
France Indochina, the Netherlands in
Indonesia, Britain in India)
Colonial Policies
The major imperialist nations followed different policies in
ruling their empires. These policies influences the patterns
of independence that took place after 1945.
1. England. Its policy of indirect rule permitted local rulers
to retain some power in an area. Nevertheless, because
the British felt that their democratic values were
superior and should be spread, they sought to educate
selected Africans and Asians in English Schools. It was
hoped that these natives would plant British political
and social ideals in their native lands. People who
received such an education, such as Gandhi and Nehru in
India, eventually led their people to independence in
nonviolent ways, based on democratic ideas. Britain was
never involved in harsh colonial wars for independence
as were some other European nations.
2. France. Its policy of direct rule viewed colonies
as if they were actually parts of France.
Decisions for the colonies were made directly in
Paris. Since the French language and culture
were assumed to be preferable, all people
learned them in colonized areas. These attitudes
were the basis for France’s claim to carry out a
civilized mission and to accomplish assimilation
of native peoples. Since France viewed areas
such as Algeria and Indochina as much a part of
French territory as Paris, the French were
unwilling to give in to demands for
independence that grew after the end of World
War II. Consequently, France fought bitter,
unsuccessful colonial wars in these areas.
3. Portugal. Its policy of paternalism viewed
colonies as though they were children, and
Portugal did little to prepare its colonies for
independence. As with France, it looked on
its colonies as parts of Portugal.
Consequently, it too was unwilling to grant
independence to it colonies in Angola and
Mozambique without military struggle.
4. Belgium. It followed policies of paternalism
and exploitation in the Congo. Belgium did
little to pave the way for independence and
left the area amid much bloodshed in 1960.
Consequently, this former colony had severe
political problems in creating a stable
government when it became independent.
Independence and Decolonization
• During the period after World War II,
Independence came to almost all areas that had
come under European imperialist control. This
period of Decolonization saw the emergence of
over 50 new nations. The end of imperialism after
1945 was the result of many factors: nationalist
movements in the colonies grew more powerful,
gaining support from native people as well as
from some people in the imperialist nations; the
Western European nations were weary after
fighting World War II; the creation of the United
Nations was linked to global concerns for human
rights and recognition of the need for people to
achieve self-determination.
• Although decolonization was achieved in both peaceful
and violent ways, many former colonies retain ties
today to their former foreign rulers. Many of Britain’s
colonies, after independence, voluntary chose
membership in the British Commonwealth of Nations.
The organization meets to discuss matter of mutual
interest and provides certain economic privileges for
members. Although it no longer exists, the French
Community was an organization similar to the British
Commonwealth. It included France and several of its
former colonies. France’s interest in its former colonies
can be seen in its giving economic aid and in providing
military support when requested. For example , in
recent years, French forces were sent to the African
nations of Chad and Gabon to put down armed
opposition to the governments there.
Evaluation of European Imperialism
Consequence
Political
Economic
Social
Positive
Negative
Brought stability and
Colonial wars; discrimination;
unification; training for
drew boundaries without
independence; promoted the consulting native peoples
nation-state idea
Introduced modernization;
improved means of
transportation and
communication; created
industries; taught new skills;
improved the standard of
living; provided
employment.
Took wealth away from colony;
treated workers badly; did not
provide for advancement or
management by colonized
people; destroyed traditional
industries and patterns of trade.
Introduced Christianity and
other aspects of Western
culture; built schools and
hospitals; modern medicine.
Looked down on native
cultures; promoted racism and
cultural inferiority; introduced
Western vices and diseases.