Views of ImperialismEuropean imperialism extended to the continents beyond Africa. As imperialism spread,the colonizer and the colonized viewed the experience of imperialism in very differentways. Some Europeans were outspoken about the superiority they felt toward thepeoples they conquered. Others thought imperialism was very wrong. Even theconquered had mixed feelings about their encounter with the Europeans.

Using Primary and Secondary Sources

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D

J. A. HobsonHobson’s 1902 book, Imperialism, madea great impression on his fellow Britons.

For Europe to rule Asia by force forpurposes of gain, and to justify that ruleby the pretence that she is civilizingAsia and raising her to a higher level ofspiritual life, will be adjudged byhistory, perhaps, to be the crowningwrong and folly of Imperialism. WhatAsia has to give, her priceless stores ofwisdom garnered from her experienceof ages, we refuse to take; the much orlittle which we could give we spoil bythe brutal manner of our giving. This iswhat Imperialism has done, and isdoing, for Asia.

Jules FerryThe following is from a speech Ferrydelivered before the French NationalAssembly on July 28,1883.

Nations are great in our times only bymeans of the activities which theydevelop; it is not simply ‘by the peacefulshining forth of institutions . . .’ that theyare great at this hour. . . . Somethingelse is needed for France: . . . that shemust also be a great country exercisingall of her rightful influence over thedestiny of Europe, that she ought topropagate this influence throughout theworld and carry everywhere that shecan her language, her customs, her flag,her arms, and her genius.

Dadabhai NaorojiDadabhai Naoroji was the first Indianelected to the British Parliament. In1871, he delivered a speech about theimpact of Great Britain on India.

To sum up the whole, the British rulehas been—morally, a great blessing;politically peace and order on onehand, blunders on the other, materially,impoverishment. . . . The natives callthe British system “Sakar ki Churi,” theknife of sugar. That is to say there is nooppression, it is all smooth and sweet,but it is the knife, notwithstanding. Imention this that you should knowthese feelings. Our great misfortune isthat you do not know our wants. Whenyou will know our real wishes, I havenot the least doubt that you would dojustice. The genius and spirit of theBritish people is fair play and justice.

This 1882 Americanpolitical cartoon, titled“The Devilfish in EgyptianWaters,” depicts Englandas an octopus. Notice thatEgypt is not yet one of theareas controlled by theBritish.

1. According to Hobson (Source A),what mistake did Europeanimperialists make in Asia?

2. What position on imperialismdoes Jules Ferry take in Source C?

3. In Source D, what does therepresentation of England suggestabout the cartoonist’s view ofBritish imperialism?

4. In what way does the view ofimperialism in Source B contrastwith that in Source D?

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