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The Age of New Imperialism

The Age of New Imperialism. 1800-1914. Imperialism. A policy where stronger nations dominate the political, economic, or cultural life of weaker nations. N ew wave began in the 1800s . Original wave started in the 1400s.

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The Age of New Imperialism

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  1. The Age of New Imperialism 1800-1914

  2. Imperialism • A policy where stronger nations dominate the political, economic, or cultural life of weaker nations. • New wave began in the 1800s. Original wave started in the 1400s. • Born out of the new industrial society of the 1800s. Countries were richer and more powerful.

  3. Causes • Economic Interests ($$$) • Political/Military Interests (Nationalism) • Humanitarian/Religious Goals • Social Darwinism

  4. Economic Interests • The Industrial Revolution • natural resources • Ex: rubber, petroleum, manganese for steel, palm oil for machinery • new markets to sell factory goods to • colonies were outlets for overpopulation in home countries (emigration)

  5. Political/Military Interests • Naval bases • Seized islands and harbors • Competition/maintaining balance of power • Empire = prestige and greatness • Ex: when France gained colonies in West Africa, Great Britain and Germany did too to prevent France from becoming too powerful

  6. Humanitarian/Religious Goals • 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 • Very ethnocentric…but…many well-meaning missionaries and doctors accompanied the imperialists • Two arguments: western advances did benefit natives; natives were denied their culture

  7. 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.

  8. What made Imperialism possible? • Weakness of conquered areas • Africa was 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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

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