• Define the term imperialism and Define the term imperialism and relate it to events in the late 1800’srelate it to events in the late 1800’s—early 1900’s —early 1900’s

• Explain the motivations of Explain the motivations of imperialist nations for adopting this imperialist nations for adopting this foreign policyforeign policy

• Evaluate justifications for Evaluate justifications for imperialismimperialism

OBJECTIVE(S):OBJECTIVE(S):

I. BackgroundI. Background

A. Imperialism (the belief in A. Imperialism (the belief in building empires) is a foreign building empires) is a foreign policy in which a strong nation policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other seeks to dominate other countries politically, countries politically, economically, and/or socially.economically, and/or socially.

Age of ImperialismAge of Imperialism

B.B.The colonization that took The colonization that took place during the Age of place during the Age of Exploration is sometimes Exploration is sometimes called the called the Old ImperialismOld Imperialism..

C.C.The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution help cause a renewed help cause a renewed interest in establishing interest in establishing colonies, sometimes called colonies, sometimes called the the New ImperialismNew Imperialism..

II. Causes of ImperialismII. Causes of ImperialismA.A. Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

a.a. large quantities of large quantities of cheap raw materialscheap raw materials

1.1. Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution caused European caused European countries to want countries to want colonies for:colonies for:

b.b. Markets to sell their Markets to sell their manufactured goods.manufactured goods.

c.c. A source of making money A source of making money with high profit for little risk with high profit for little risk (since they exploited their (since they exploited their colonies with mercantilistcolonies with mercantilist policies)policies)

B.B. NationalismNationalism1.1. The other motives for The other motives for

imperialism are tied to imperialism are tied to nationalism—the nationalism—the belief in the belief in the superiority of your superiority of your nation (people with a nation (people with a common culture and common culture and history) over others.history) over others.

b.b. Colonies were also strategic, Colonies were also strategic, providing important military providing important military bases and convenient coaling bases and convenient coaling stations for steam ships.stations for steam ships.

a.a. In addition to the money In addition to the money made from imperialism, made from imperialism, European countries also European countries also wanted colonies as a matter wanted colonies as a matter of prestige and national prideof prestige and national pride

c.c.Missionary motivesMissionary motives

1) European Christians 1) European Christians believed that they had a believed that they had a duty to spread Christianity duty to spread Christianity to people in Africa and to people in Africa and Asia.Asia.

2) Missionaries—people who 2) Missionaries—people who go abroad to convert people go abroad to convert people to their religion—were often to their religion—were often the first Europeans to settle the first Europeans to settle in Africa and Asia.in Africa and Asia.

3) Often after missionaries 3) Often after missionaries came, more Europeans came came, more Europeans came for other reasons.for other reasons.

2. Europeans had several 2. Europeans had several justifications for imperialism justifications for imperialism that made them think they that made them think they had good reasons for what had good reasons for what they were doing.they were doing.

a. “White Man’s Burden”a. “White Man’s Burden”

Check out this political Check out this political cartoon and make some cartoon and make some

guesses as to what guesses as to what “white-man’s burden” “white-man’s burden”

meant:meant:

1)White Man’s Burden came 1)White Man’s Burden came from a famous poem written from a famous poem written by the same guy that wrote by the same guy that wrote the Jungle Bookthe Jungle Book. .

2)2)It was the belief that it was It was the belief that it was the duty of white, European the duty of white, European countries to “civilize” people countries to “civilize” people in Africa and Asia by bringing in Africa and Asia by bringing European technology and European technology and culture to them.culture to them.

b. Social Darwinismb. Social Darwinism 1) Another justification of 1) Another justification of

imperialism was the idea of imperialism was the idea of “Social Darwinism.”“Social Darwinism.”

2) Scientist Charles Darwin 2) Scientist Charles Darwin observed that in nature, observed that in nature, species adapt to their species adapt to their environment for survival. environment for survival. Those that don’t adapt, die off. Those that don’t adapt, die off. This is the theory of evolution. This is the theory of evolution.

3) Social scientists applied this idea 3) Social scientists applied this idea to society. The said that people to society. The said that people that were successful were better that were successful were better adapted and that people who adapted and that people who weren’t successful were inferior.weren’t successful were inferior.

4) To Europeans, this meant that 4) To Europeans, this meant that the people who got taken over the people who got taken over through imperialism deserved to through imperialism deserved to be taken over because they were be taken over because they were weaker and inferior.weaker and inferior.

c. Paternalismc. Paternalism 1) Another key idea Europeans 1) Another key idea Europeans

used to justify imperialism was used to justify imperialism was paternalism.paternalism.

2) Paternalism is treating a group of 2) Paternalism is treating a group of people like they are dependants people like they are dependants (in other words, children).(in other words, children).

3) Europeans believed that they 3) Europeans believed that they were like parents to the native were like parents to the native people in Africa and Asia. They people in Africa and Asia. They thought they knew what they thought they knew what they needed better than they do.needed better than they do.