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New Imperialism

New Imperialism. Definition of Imperialism. A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically and socially

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New Imperialism

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  1. New Imperialism

  2. Definition of Imperialism A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically and socially Take up the White Man's burden-Send for the best ye breed-Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild-Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.-Rudyard Kipling

  3. Early Cause: Slave Trade • Slave Trade • 7th century onward, slave trade is principal export • (Trans-Saharan, between Islamic and indigenous Africa and between E. Africa and Asia) • Trans Atlantic • 15th Century, Portugal then Spain • Slave trade picks up with conquest of New World, plantation system • Late 16th century: English, Dutch, French, Danish • 1700-1870: 80% of all slave trade

  4. Results of the Slave Trade • Decreased population • Disrupted agriculture, manufacturing, trade • Cities, villages abandoned • Development suffered: Locally produced goods replaced by European made goods • Fostered stereotypes of racial superiority • Slave Trade ends by 1870 (1807, England)

  5. Europeans and Africa:1800-1900 • 1800: Africa away from the coast is virtually unknown • 1900: Europeans explored nearly every part of the continent • 1783: GB discovered source of Blue Nile • 1800s: Discoveries • White Nile, Lake Victoria, Victoria Falls (1855) • Funded by scientific and geographical societies

  6. Europeans and Africa:1800-1900 • Livingstone: missionary, “civilizing mission” • Slave trade must end, schools, commerce, spread the gospel • Europeans develop the idea that colonialism is a charitable undertaking • Europeans are morally and technologically superior

  7. Immediate Causes of Imperialism • Industrial Revolution strengthens the West • New industrial nations seek new markets and raw materials • European nations compete for power and prestige • Europeans feel duty to spread Western culture • Missionary spirit

  8. More Causes for the Imperialist Impulse • Need for military and naval bases to protect interests against other European powers • Tension between the “haves” (British Empire) and the “have-nots" (Germany & Italy) who came in late to the imperialistic competition.

  9. Social Darwinism • White Man's Burden: “Superior” Westerners had an obligation to bring their culture to “uncivilized” peoples in other parts of the world. Other races are naturally “inferior.”

  10. Nationalism • Used in Germany and Russia • Imperialism diverted popular attention from the class struggle at home, created false sense of national unity.

  11. Cultural Impact • Europeans convinced they have a mission to “civilize” the world • “The more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race . . . If there be a God, I think what he would like me too do is to pain as much of the map of Africa British red as possible.” – Cecil Rhodes

  12. Westernization • Modernization = Westernization • Belief in Western superiority • Language, clothing, traditions • Western medicine replaces indigenous healing methods • Western schooling is seen as superior, the only way to get ahead • Languages: European languages are language of business, education, and politics • Religion: Christianity enforced, in some places there is a blend between Christianity and indigenous religions

  13. Impact on Western Culture • Exotic goods no longer so “exotic” • Coffee from Brazil • Tea from Sri Lanka • Banana from Honduras • Pineapples from Hawaii • More knowledge gained about ancient civilizations • Eastern art and other designs becomes popular in the West

  14. New Political Tensions • Rival peoples united under colonial government • Western-educated elites in colonies begin to question western dominance • Competition amongst European nations • Example: Sudan 1898 • British expanding south fro Egypt and French pushing east met at Fashoda. • Crisis nearly leads to war between England and France. Diplomatic solution. • Common Enemy

  15. Forces Enabling African and Indian Imperialism • European technological superiority • Steamboats • Automatic machine gun • Locomotive • Telegraph • Europeans had the means to control their empires • Easy travel • Wide spread communication • African and Indian disunity • Huge variety of cultures • Fighting among cultures

  16. Scramble for Africa

  17. The Scramble • 1880: 90% of Africa ruled by Africans • 1900: only Ethiopia and Liberia are independent • How did it begin? • Portuguese maintain original trading regions • French angered by GB’s annexation of Egypt, claim western Africa • British extended control inland from Cape of Good Hope • Congo: King Leopold (Belgium) annexed the entire region as his personal estate in Africa

  18. The Conference: 1884-85 • Rules for carving up the continent • No annexation without occupation • Sponsored by Bismarck and Jules Ferry

  19. Results of the Berlin Conference • French move inward to the east and south • British secure areas on western coast, move northward from the southern coast (“Cape to Cairo”) • Germans want control over East Africa (Tanganyika, Kenya) • Italy: Eritrea, Somaliland, but not Ethiopia • Boundaries were ill conceived • Division of ethnic groups/traditional political units

  20. Tensions Develop

  21. Fashoda: 1898 • Sudan is the meeting ground between France and England • Egyptian Question: France had chosen to vacate Egypt in 1882. they want a strong military presence on the Nile to thwart British influences. • Results • French withdraw • Potential bigger threat with Germany • British position in Africa strengthened • 1904: Anglo-French entente

  22. Battle of Omdurman (1898) • British defeated Sudanese tribesman and killed 11,000 (use of machine gun) while only 28 Britons died

  23. Imperialism: Post WWI • Germany forced to relinquish colonies • Other European powers get trusteeship over German territory • No other significant changes until 1960s

  24. The Colonial State • Extension of the European state • Policy developed in Europe, reflects Euro ideology, not needs of Africa • Colonial officials: interpret, implement policy to each particular situation • Goal: maintain law and order, promote development that benefits Europe • Not a goal: fostering development of a self-reliant nations • Africans are seen as incapable of self-government

  25. The Colonial State • Different styles of government • Kenya, Rhodesia: settlers have more power, used to enhance their privileges • Example: some crops can only be raised by settlers • British Colonies: Indirect Rule • Local authorities given unpleasant tasks (tax collection, recruitment of labor for state projects) • Indigenous rulers really had no power, handpicked puppet governments • End result: no development of local interests, no local power

  26. European Development • Evidence of the “Civilizing Mission” • Railroads and roads • Plantations and Mines: cocoa, rubber, coffee, palm oil, tropical woods, copper, diamonds, gold • New cities: admin and commerce centers • Western style education, health care

  27. Economic Policy • Direct Investment • Development of Mining regions (“copper belt” of Rhodesia and the Congo) • Commercial plantations in East Africa (“white highlands”) • Success has 3 elements: • Control of desirable land • Supply of cheap African labor • Access to markets

  28. Economic Policy • Displaced People: • Land: moved to reserve lands, located in over-crowded, less fertile areas • Because they can no longer rely on farming, they must hire themselves out as laborers • Taxes and restrictions on what can be grown increase likelihood of becoming a low-wage laborer • Nigeria, Ghana: cash crops for export (cotton) • Positive: cash economy, money to pay taxes, can purchase consumer goods, food • Negative: Must rely on cash, no incentive to be self-sufficient

  29. Human Cost of Colonial Development • Railway from Congo to West Africa: 1921-1934 • 12 hour days in sweltering heat (Nov. to May) and torrential rains (May-Oct) • Construction accidents due to rough terrain • Epidemics: malaria, sleeping sickness • Death toll: 60,000 • recruitment quotas • Unwilling recruits were forced to walk from home village to construction site • 1 franc per month in 1921; 1930, 100 franc per month (still extremely low)

  30. Evaluating the Colonial Legacy • The idea that Africa was a “blank map” is wrong • The introduction of modern medicine in Africa is significant; however, minor compared to the overall destruction • Nationalism: Africans began to create stronger regional identities in reaction to European influence • 1960: independent countries increased from 5 to 22 • South Africa, 1994: majority rule

  31. British Colonies Britain had managed to get some of the most valuable land in Africa. The most important gain was Egypt because of the Suez Canal. This provided a much quicker and safer route to India – the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire. EGYPT SUDAN NIGERIA BRITISHEAST AFRICA RHODESIA BECHUANALAND SOUTH AFRICA

  32. French Colonies Goal: Uninterrupted access from Niger River to the Nile to control all Saharan trade. Creates tension between Britain and France. ALGERIA TUNIS MOROCCO FRENCH WEST AFRICA FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA MADAGASCAR

  33. French Reasons for being in Africa • British motivation was to safeguard passage to India and to profit from economic opportunities. • French motivation was different • France annexed huge areas of unprofitable desert and jungle • wanted to block British expansion in West Africa • Some economic reasons • Enhance the French economy to help pay the Prussian indemnity • Recover from the Great Depression of the 1870s

  34. France in Africa • Idealism: Promote Enlightenment and Revolutionary ideals • Convert Africans into citizens • Policy of Assimilation: mimic French culture, “become French” • Benefit: not likely to revolt, less need for military garrisons ** Assimilated Africans served in the lower levels of administration, saving the cost of bringing Europeans to Africa to fill their positions.

  35. German Colonies Germany did not enter the race for colonies until very late and, as a result, much of the land gained was not very valuable. Despite this, Kaiser William II was determined that Germany should have a major empire. KAMERUN GERMANEAST AFRICA GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA

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