New Imperialism (1800-1914)

1. New Imperialism(1800-1914)

2. What is Imperialism? • Domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region.

3. 4 Major forms of Imperial Rule: • Colonies = A country or territory governed internally by a foreign power. • Direct Rule = Officials from the imperial nation are actually present in, and rule the colony themselves. - French • Indirect Rule = Use of local rulers to manage the colonies. Encouraged the education of local leaders so colony could eventually run itself. - British • Protectorates • Country with it’s own government, but under the control of an outside power. • Sphere of Influence • Region claimed by imperial nation for exclusive investment or trading privileges. • Economic Imperialism • An independent but less developed country controlled by private business interests

5. Causes: • Industrial Revolution: • Need for raw materials • Need for foreign markets • Nationalism: • Build pride in the ‘Mother Country’ • Balance of Power: • Once the race for colonies began, nations were compelled to enter the race for fear of being left in the dust. • Humanitarian: • Missionaries – Spread of Christianity • Social Darwinism – “White Man’s Burden”

7. Reasons Given vs. Actual Reasons • “White Man’s Burden” • Desire to make the world a better place • Duty to spread Christianity • Wish to civilize lesser races • Responsibility to spread medicinal knowledge/aid • Desire to obtain more land • Need for raw materials • Convenience of cheap labor • $$$$ • Nationalism • Glory • Need for strategic trade and market ports

8. Western Advantages Vs. Nonwestern Disadvantages • Strong economies • Well organized governments • Powerful military • Superior technology and weaponry • New medicines • Older civilizations already in decline: Ottoman in Middle East, Mughal India, Qing China. • In West Africa, the slave trade and local wars left kingdoms and city-states weakened = unable to resist the Imperialists.

9. Extent of Colonialism (1939) SOURCE: Mary Evelyn Townsend, European Colonial Expansion Since 1871 (Chicago: J.P. Lippincott Company, 1941), p. 19 http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/pol116/colonies.htm

10. Africa • “The Dark Continent” • 800-1000 different language groups, and 2000 cultural groups • Diverse geography = diverse cultures • Great Rift Valley  Home to the world’s oldest artifacts and human remains.

11. Early African Empires(Review!) • Ghana & Mali = Gold and Salt Trade • Mansa Musa = Pilgrimage to Mecca • Songhai = Timbuktu, Trade, University

12. Transatlantic Slave Trade • Africans, Americans, Arabs, Europeans involved in slave trade • Middle Passage = 50 million dead • Result = African tradition and culture undermined, racism promoted • Left many empires and city-states weakened and vulnerable to Imperialist conquests

13. The Scramble for Africa(1850-1914) • From the 1500s – 1800s, European traders sold African slaves and traded along the coast • In the 1870s, the Belgian King Leopold sent emissaries to establish trade with native Africans in the Congo. This single act began a flurry of imperialistic activity as the other nations of Europe, including: France, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. • Christian missionaries tried to convert African people and replace native culture with their own • “White Man’s Burden”

14. The Partition of Africa • In ____ King Leopold of Belgium forms a trading company in the Congo, and soon other European nations join the quest for land • 1884 Berlin Conference – meeting to set up rules for colonizing Africa. (No Africans were invited)

15. The Berlin Conference 3 Major Accomplishments: • Any sovereign power which wanted to claim any territory should inform the other powers “in order to ... make good any claim of their own.” • Any such annexation should be validated by effective occupation. • Treaties with African rulers were to be considered a valid title to sovereignty.

16. Within 20 years of the Berlin Conference the entire continent, with the exception of Liberia and Ethiopia, was partitioned among the European powers.

17. Percentage of Africa Controlled by European Countries in 1913

19. Effects: Positives • Population growth due to European medicines and improved nutrition = increase in life span. • Improved transportation and communication systems • Small percentage of population benefits from improved education and economic opportunities • Nationalism – United against foreign (Western) nations Negatives • New boundary lines – “Scramble for Africa” • Tribes divided/combined – Berlin Conference • Traditions lost, cultures disregarded • Resulting tribal clashes continue into present • Taxes – Africans forced to pay • Exploitation of colonies and people = Workers subjected to long hours, low pay, mistreatment (human rights violations) • Best land taken by Europeans • Africans become economically dependent on European nations • Africans treated as inferiors = racism promoted • Tribalism

20. Tribalism = Feelings of loyalty to individual tribes • Because European nation carved Africa up without regard for traditional tribal boundaries, Africa still suffers from tribalism. • Modern African nations often contain several different tribes that harbor ill feelings towards one another. • Inter-tribal conflict is common in Africa, often leading to civil wars and power struggles within national governments.

21. The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire

24. Task • Write a 4-5 person conversation about imperialism. • Must include the following: • Definition of imperialism • Justification for imperialism – give specific reasons • Outrage against imperialism – give specific reasons • Prediction of what imperialism will do to our global community.