The Height of Imperialism

1. The Height of Imperialism Ch. 14

2. Imperialism Seizure of a country or territory by a stronger country Stronger country controls political, economic and social life of weaker country

3. Reasons for Imperialism • Raw materials • New markets • National pride • Empire = national greatness • Religion • End evil practices • Slave trade

4. Racism • White is right • Social Darwinism • Superior people should rule • Non-Europeans seen as inferior • Duty of Europeans to “civilize,” “Westernize” • White Man’s Burden

6. Divided Africa • Mid-1800s • Hundreds of ethnic groups • 1,000s of languages • Europe controls 10% • Could not travel in-land • Disease • Africans control own trade networks

8. The Congo Sparks interest • King Leopold II of Belgium • Claimed wanted end to slave trade • Increase Christianity • Real goal was rubber • 10 million die because of abuse • Other nations alarmed by Belgian control

9. Factors Promoting Imperialism • Technological superiority • Steam engine and ships • Railroads • Telegraph cables • Machine guns • Quanine • Protected Europeans from malaria

10. The Division of Africa • Scramble for territory begins in 1880 • Discovery of diamonds in 1867 • Gold - 1886

11. Berlin Conference • 14 European countries • 1884-1885 • Rules for division of Africa • Notify others of claim • Show they could control it • No African rulers invited • 1914 – only Ethiopia and Liberia independent

14. Demand for Raw Materials Shapes Colonies • Countries think Africans will buy goods • Wrong

15. Main source of wealth is rich mineral resources • Belgian Congo contains copper and tin • Small compared to diamonds and gold in South Africa

16. Businesses develop cash-crop plantations • Peanuts, palm oil, cocoa, rubber • Displaces food grown by natives • Leads to starvation