The Age of New Imperialism

1800-1914

The Devilfish in Egyptian Waters

Imperialism

• A policy where stronger nations dominate the political, economic, or cultural life of weaker nations.

• A new wave began in the 1800s. Original wave started back in the 1400s.

• Born out of the new industrial society of the 1800s. Countries were richer and more powerful.

Map of Colonial Empires in 1914

Causes

1. Economic Interests ($$$)2. Political/Military Interests (Nationalism)3. Humanitarian/Religious Goals4. Social Darwinism

Economic Interests

• The Industrial Revolution – Industrialized countries needed natural resources • Ex: rubber, petroleum, manganese for steel, palm oil for

machinery

– Also wanted new markets to sell factory goods to– Colonies were valuable outlets for overpopulation

in home countries

Empire

Emigrants

Finished Goods

Colony

Raw Materials

Political/Military Interests

• IN’s needed naval bases around the world– Seized islands and harbors

• Competition/maintaining balance of power– Empire = prestige and greatness– Ex: when France got colonies in West Africa, GB

and Germany did too to prevent France from becoming too powerful

Humanitarian/Religious Goals

• Many Westerners believed they had a moral duty to spread their “superior” way of life– Western technology, law, medicine, education

• Also felt they needed to “Christianize” the “barbarians” in other parts of the world.

• It was very ethnocentric…but…many well-meaning missionaries and doctors accompanied the imperialists

• Two arguments: western advances did benefit natives; natives were denied their culture

Social Darwinism

• Imperialism was based on feelings of racial superiority; this theory justified colonies.– Racism: the belief that one race is superior to

others• Social Darwinists applied Charles Darwin’s

ideas about natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies.

• Imperialism was nature’s way of improving the human race.

What made imperialism possible?

• Weakness of conquered areas– Africa weak because of slave trade– Lack of weapons/technology

• Western strengths and advantages– Strong economies and governments– Powerful armies and navies– Superior technology• Steam-powered ships, Maxim machine gun (1889),

repeating rifles, the telegraph, quinine

Meeting in Berlin

• Berlin Conference, 1884– A gathering of

European powers held in Berlin.

– This was a means of avoiding war between the powers.

– It established ground rules for staking claims in Africa.

Forms of Imperialism

• Colony – direct control, most intrusive• Protectorate – local rulers left in place, but still

under control of European advisors• Sphere of influence – exclusive investment or

trading privileges • Economic Imperialism – most politically

independent, but ldc’s indirectly controlled by large businesses

Impacts

• Positive: medical advances, hospitals, schools– Life expectancy and literacy rates increased

• Negative: Africans lost control of land and their independence– Forced to mine or plant cotton and other cash

crops instead of their own food crops– Famine– Loss of traditional culture