Imperialism

“I think what God would like me to do is

paint as much of Africa British Red as

possible.”

-Cecil Rhodes,Founder of the De Beers

Mining Company.

"…They resemble us, but in appearance are the colour of pumpkin-porridge…They are rude of manners and without any graces or refinement. They carry a long stick of fire. With this they kill and loot from many nations."

-Zulu impression of first white men, taken from Zulu epic poem.

Imperialism

The extension of a nation’s power over other lands.

Why did Europe lead the way in imperialism in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s?

• Nationalism – Unified Euro Nations (France, G.B., Germany, Italy)– Build up nations through industrialization

• Industrialization –More natural resources to power industries! – Other continents = a fresh supply of resources

Forms of Imperialism• Colonies:

a settlement of people living in a territory controlled by foreign country by trade and direct government control.

-(example: the British in South Africa)

• Protectorates:a political unit that depends on another government for its protection.

-(example: Vietnam to France)

• Spheres of Influence:an area in which a foreign power has been granted exclusive rights and privileges, such as trading rights and mining privileges.

-(example: Germany in China)

What were the effects of New Imperialism?

1. Competition • European nations vie for control of Africa & Asia • Example: “Scramble for Africa”

2. Spread of European ideals • (language, religion, political and economic control) • Social Darwinism = an “excuse” for expansion.

• Social Darwinists argued that social progress came from “the struggle for survival” as the “fit”- the strong- advanced while the weak declined.

3. Resistance to imperialism • Inhabitants of colonized nations = angry!• Leads to armed conflicts • Rise of nationalism from original inhabitants

Other positive and negative impacts…

Positive• Many Asian, African, and

Latin American areas experienced infrastructure improvements– i.e. roads, railroads,

hospitals, etc.• Native populations had access

to European technology– Sometimes life saving

technology!• Agricultural Improvements

Negative• Native culture dies out

– Language, dress, food gets replaced with European versions

• European goods replace native goods– Native craft and production

dies out• European agricultural

techniques harm environment• Native populations exploited

Imperialism in Asia

What examples of “modern imperialism”

exist today?

Imperialism in Africa & Asia

• Dominated by Europe• Christianity missionaries sent to “civilize the

uncivilized” through Christianity• The Suez Canal was completed by the French in 1869

to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.• American opening of Japan to trade.• As European nations raced to claim land in Africa,

conflict arose. To settle these conflicts, European nations met in Berlin, Germany in 1884. This meeting became known as the Berlin Conference.