ImperialismImperialism

Imperialism (what is it?)Imperialism (what is it?)• Takeover by a strong country with the intent of Takeover by a strong country with the intent of

dominating the political, economic, and social life dominating the political, economic, and social life of the people of another landof the people of another land

• Why Do It?Why Do It?

• 1. Sense of a national pride1. Sense of a national pride

• 2. Economic competition2. Economic competition

• 3. Cultural superiority (belief that they’re better) – 3. Cultural superiority (belief that they’re better) – based on “based on “RacismRacism” – grew out of theory of ” – grew out of theory of Social Social DarwinismDarwinism– Survival of the fittest was applied to social change – Survival of the fittest was applied to social change –

if you were fittest to survive, you enjoyed wealth and if you were fittest to survive, you enjoyed wealth and success – that meant you were superior to otherssuccess – that meant you were superior to others

– Non-Europeans were lower culturally and physically Non-Europeans were lower culturally and physically because they didn’t have Europe’s technology. It because they didn’t have Europe’s technology. It was Europe’s right to bring the progress to new was Europe’s right to bring the progress to new countries via expansion countries via expansion (Christianize/Westernize/Civilize)(Christianize/Westernize/Civilize)

The idea of ImperialismThe idea of Imperialism

• Term dates from Term dates from mid-19mid-19thth century century

• In popular In popular discourse by 1880sdiscourse by 1880s

• Military Military imperialismimperialism– Later, economic Later, economic

and cultural and cultural varietiesvarieties

– US imperialismUS imperialism

Forces enabling ImperialismForces enabling Imperialism– Technological Technological

superioritysuperiority - - (Maxim Gun – (Maxim Gun – machine gun)machine gun)

– CommunicationCommunication - - Steam engine, Steam engine, railroads, cables railroads, cables (controlling empire (controlling empire easily)easily)

– Drug Quinine Drug Quinine (control malaria)(control malaria)

– African disunity in African disunity in culture (language, culture (language, people, wars); people, wars); rivals vs. rivalsrivals vs. rivals

Nations Begin to CompeteNations Begin to Compete

– Minster David Livingstone traveled to find Minster David Livingstone traveled to find source of Nilesource of Nile

• No one heard from him / presumed deadNo one heard from him / presumed dead• Found by American reporter Henry Stanley in 1871Found by American reporter Henry Stanley in 1871• Contact made connections with local chiefs on the Contact made connections with local chiefs on the

CongoCongo• Treaties gave personal control to Belgian King Treaties gave personal control to Belgian King

Leopold IILeopold II• Licensed companies that exploited Congolese to Licensed companies that exploited Congolese to

work in rubber plantswork in rubber plants• Forced labor, high taxes, abuseForced labor, high taxes, abuse

• Belgian Congo was 80 times larger than Belgian Congo was 80 times larger than Belgium Belgium

Effects of Imperialism – Effects of Imperialism – Belgian CongoBelgian Congo

Rubber TreesRubber Trees

African Lands Become African Lands Become European ColoniesEuropean Colonies

Berlin Conference Divides AfricaBerlin Conference Divides Africa• Tensions over those seeking African coloniesTensions over those seeking African colonies• 14 European countries & the U.S. meet to set ground rules 14 European countries & the U.S. meet to set ground rules

for colonization of Africa (no African representation)for colonization of Africa (no African representation)• 1. Any Euro could est. African colony after notifying others of 1. Any Euro could est. African colony after notifying others of

intention & it being previously unclaimedintention & it being previously unclaimed• 2. Be able to govern it2. Be able to govern it• 3. Must recognize existing claims3. Must recognize existing claims• RESULT: By 1900 – Ethiopia and Liberia are the only RESULT: By 1900 – Ethiopia and Liberia are the only

independent African nationsindependent African nations

Demands for ProductsDemands for Products• European goods were not bought by Africans like expectedEuropean goods were not bought by Africans like expected• cash-crop plantations (peanuts, cocoa, rubber) – displaced cash-crop plantations (peanuts, cocoa, rubber) – displaced

farmers’ crops farmers’ crops • Huge wealth discovered in the Congo’s copper and tin; AND Huge wealth discovered in the Congo’s copper and tin; AND

gold and diamonds in South Africagold and diamonds in South Africa

Jewel in the CrownJewel in the Crown

• Traders had always Traders had always focused on coastline focused on coastline cities (Muslim cities (Muslim merchants for merchants for centuries)centuries)

• Most important of all Most important of all colonies for Britain colonies for Britain (cotton & pepper (cotton & pepper esp)esp)

• India produced raw India produced raw materials – materials – manufactured them manufactured them in Britain – sold back in Britain – sold back to Indiato India

• Process worked well Process worked well with new railroadwith new railroad

Home of a Wealthy Family Home of a Wealthy Family in Calcuttain Calcutta

Indians RebelIndians Rebel– Indians not happy Indians not happy

with attempts with attempts toward conversion toward conversion / racist attitudes/ racist attitudes

– Sepoy RebellionSepoy Rebellion• Indian soldiers Indian soldiers

heard that rifle heard that rifle cartridges were cartridges were sealed with sealed with beef/porkbeef/pork

• Many didn’t Many didn’t accept orders – accept orders – started rebellion started rebellion

• Uprising spreadUprising spread

Effects of the Sepoy Effects of the Sepoy RebellionRebellion

• Direct British ruleDirect British rule: : The RajThe Raj: 1857-1947 – : 1857-1947 – British rule controlled through provinces / British rule controlled through provinces / replaced the BEICreplaced the BEIC

• Rule by “few” British / enhancement of Rule by “few” British / enhancement of British racial superiorityBritish racial superiority– British hold all high positions / Indians low onesBritish hold all high positions / Indians low ones– Indian elites educated in EnglishIndian elites educated in English– Banned Indian customs that conflicted with Euro Banned Indian customs that conflicted with Euro

valuesvalues

Impact of Colonialism on Impact of Colonialism on IndiaIndia

• Pos: Railroad connected all areas of India Pos: Railroad connected all areas of India (also roads, bridges, dams)(also roads, bridges, dams)

• Pos: Schools founded – literacy improvedPos: Schools founded – literacy improved

• Neg: British held all political power / own Neg: British held all political power / own all businessesall businesses

• Neg: Too many cash crops / not enough Neg: Too many cash crops / not enough food alwaysfood always

• Neg: Cultural presence threatened Neg: Cultural presence threatened traditional life of Indianstraditional life of Indians

Scientific RacismScientific Racism

• Gobineau’s Theory: Essay on Gobineau’s Theory: Essay on inequality of the human race.inequality of the human race.

• Divided world into 4 race groups – Divided world into 4 race groups – – Africans – dumb and lazyAfricans – dumb and lazy– Asians – smart/docileAsians – smart/docile– Native Americans – dull/arrogantNative Americans – dull/arrogant– Euros – Intelligent, noble, morally Euros – Intelligent, noble, morally

superiorsuperior

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

• Took Darwin’s ideas – used them as a Took Darwin’s ideas – used them as a justification for dominance by justification for dominance by EuropeansEuropeans

• Certain people deserve their Certain people deserve their inferiorityinferiority

Imperialism and National Imperialism and National IdentitiesIdentities

• Imperialism led to Imperialism led to National IdentitiesNational Identities– Many areas in Africa/Asia that were Many areas in Africa/Asia that were

taken over felt the “desire” to split taken over felt the “desire” to split away, rid themselves of foreign away, rid themselves of foreign dominationdomination

– Imperialism oftentimes “unified” people Imperialism oftentimes “unified” people in this regardin this regard

Reactions to Imperialism in Reactions to Imperialism in IndiaIndia

• Ram RoyRam Roy– Father of modern IndiaFather of modern India– Wanted to build an India based on Euro Wanted to build an India based on Euro

science / tech AND Hindu traditionsscience / tech AND Hindu traditions– Sought social reforms (outlawed Sati ritual)Sought social reforms (outlawed Sati ritual)– Big movement for elite Hindus and Muslims Big movement for elite Hindus and Muslims

to be educated at British universities (many to be educated at British universities (many studied Enlightenment principles there) – studied Enlightenment principles there) – freedom/pop Sovereignty, etcfreedom/pop Sovereignty, etc

More Indian ReactionsMore Indian Reactions

• Indian National Congress [example of Indian National Congress [example of Indian Nationalism]Indian Nationalism]– Created in 1885 with British approvalCreated in 1885 with British approval– Created as a forum for educated Indians Created as a forum for educated Indians

to “air grievances” & communicate to “air grievances” & communicate views to the British (who still ruled)views to the British (who still ruled)

– By 1900, INC was calling for Self-Rule – By 1900, INC was calling for Self-Rule – joined with the All-India Muslim League joined with the All-India Muslim League in calling for independencein calling for independence

South AfricaSouth Africa • Originally Dutch Originally Dutch (1600s-1700s) known (1600s-1700s) known as Boers as Boers Afrikaners Afrikaners

• British take over after British take over after winning Napoleonic winning Napoleonic WarsWars

• Two sides coexistedTwo sides coexisted• Afrikaners migrated out Afrikaners migrated out

when faced with when faced with pressures (British pressures (British outlaw slavery, find outlaw slavery, find gold/diamonds)gold/diamonds)

• British win Boer War British win Boer War (1899) and create (1899) and create autonomous British autonomous British dominion in South dominion in South AfricaAfrica

Imperialism in Africa, c. Imperialism in Africa, c. 1914 1914

Imperialism in Asia, c. 1914 Imperialism in Asia, c. 1914

Short Answer / EssayShort Answer / Essay

• 1. Explain how patterns of nationalism and 1. Explain how patterns of nationalism and anti-colonialism movements emerged from anti-colonialism movements emerged from the 1870-1890 era in Africathe 1870-1890 era in Africa

• 2. Describe three of the four factors that 2. Describe three of the four factors that shaped the modern Imperial movement in shaped the modern Imperial movement in Europe AND explain the direct impact Europe AND explain the direct impact upon the conquered nationsupon the conquered nations

• 3. Were you fooled by this April Fools joke?3. Were you fooled by this April Fools joke?