The “New” Imperialism – 1869 - 1914

MOTIVES for Imperialism

• Political Motives– Status and

Competition between nation-states

• E.g. France after humiliating loss of Franco-Prussian War

• British Protection of India, the “crown jewel” of the British Empire

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives– Missionaries – spread

Christianity through missionary work

– Result: Loss of native cultures

– Sometimes good?• Child Brides• Suttee• Arranged Marriage• Human Sacrifice

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives– Exportation of

“Civilization”• Abolition of

slavery• Western

Education• Hygiene and

medicines

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives– Technology and “Progress”

• Humans as Masters over Nature

• Technology as proof of superiority of West

• “Savages” vs. “Civilized”: Eurocentricity

• Easy military victories, use of newspapers to soften public opinion, e.g. Omdurman (1898)

Motives for Imperialism

• Economic Motives– Industrialization: Demand for raw materials

• Merchants wanted reliable sources• Military used as backup

High Demand for Crops

New Imperialism – Motives and Methods

• Seizure of Africa and Central Asia

– 10 Million square miles, 150 million people

Reorganization of Colonies in Asia and Africa

King Leopold of Belgium demands the Congo

“The Scramble For Africa”

Domination of Latin America

• US’s Monroe Doctrine

• Intervention in Latin America lead to economic imperialism

• US in Philippines

Economic Dependencies

• Latin America: supplier of foodstuffs and raw materials and consumers of manufactured products

• Similar to old colonial relationships, but technically politically independent

• Western corporations controlled economies, western armies defended their interests

The Imperialist’s Toolkit

• Naval and Steam power

• Suez Canal

• Telegraph cables

• Breech-Loading rifles– Smokeless powder = better visibility– Repeating rifles – 15 rounds in 15 seconds

Gatling Guns