Imperialism: International Economic Organizations

Economic Opportunities for

Profit and Jobs

Finding Economic OpportunitiesProblems•Governments felt increasing pressure to respond to the demands of their citizens for economic opportunities, for security, and for prestige.• Standard of Living is a measure of the consumption of goods

and services that individuals and collectives can achieve.• The perception of a Standard of Living depends upon the

social expectations of the people.• Individuals began to hold the state responsible for the level of

Standard of Living• In a capitalistic/market economy the search for jobs and

investment opportunities is a fundamental concern for all individuals.

•As more and more nations industrialized, the competition for resources and markets increased.

Finding Economic OpportunitiesProtectionism and Trade Tariffs•Nations had built up business enterprises which were intended to maximize profits.•By the late 1870’s France, Germany, and the United States were industrializing rapidly in a determined effort to compete with the United Kingdom (Britain).•These countries began to erect tariff barriers which changed Britain’s trade• In 1820 Europe bought 50% of Britain’s goods and India

bought 6%• In 1850 Europe bought 16% and India bought 25%

List several possible jobs you may be interested in pursuing. Then make a list of some of the factors that these jobs are dependent on to be viable in our economy.

Ask yourself: Why does this job exist? Who does this job service? What does this job depend on? Create a cause/effect web for one of the jobs.

Job Factors which influence job viability

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Job

Finding Economic OpportunitiesNational Power•Britain wanted to protect the position of power she held in the world.•Preserving this power was considered a strategic goal and in the national interest.•Britain realized her old colonial possessions (Canada and India) were increasingly valuable as a source of resources and markets.

Create a web displaying some of Britain’s options to maintain this power and the potential outcomes if these options are pursued.

Britain

Finding Economic OpportunitiesProtecting Self-interest•One way of increasing profits was to use the state as a means of seizing more economic power•German and French industries found that their sources of resources and secure markets were not as good as those of England and the United States.•These countries became increasingly interested in finding colonies to supply the resources and markets which would allow their economies to continue to grow.

Finding Economic Opportunities• Countries must be able to move their resources

from the place of origin to the place of manufacture and then to a market.

• Without an efficient and inexpensive transportation system this process would not be possible.• Hinterland is a tributary region which may be rural

and/or urban. It is connected by a transportation system and is used to supply resources or markets for an urban centre.

• Economic Growth occurs when a nation has the ability to produce surplus wealth which can in turn be used to develop more productive capacity.

Finding Economic OpportunitiesInternational Trade•Germany, France, the United States, and Britain all concentrated their efforts on securing both markets and resources.•This global land grab resulted in conflict among the industrialized powers.•Control over the major world trade routes was deemed essential.•These countries and others competed for control over the waterways and ports along major trading routes.

• Suez Canal• Malta• Hong Kong• Panama Canal• Straits of Gibraltar• Straits of Dardanelles

Where is the location? What is the importance? Who monopolized control? Etc.

Jigsaw Activity: Work in groups of 6 to locate and share information of the following trade routes.

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