Age of Imperialism

Imperialism & Nationalism Imperialism---> essentially a different spelling of ‘empirialism’ (empire) Imperialism- -when one country dominates the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region. Nationalism : one’s greatest loyalty should be to a nation of people who share a common culture & history, not to a king or empire

Basic Terms of Imperialism Colony : territory governed internally by a foreign territory with its own internal government but under control of an outside power Sphere of influence : area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges Geopolitics : interest in or taking of land for its strategic location or products

Reasons for imperialism 1800s--European countries had gained economic & military strength, which led to a desire for expansion. Economics- -industrialization had created a need for raw materials & for new markets for goods. Military- -need for naval bases to protect trade Political- -Nationalist need to compete with other countries which were expanding

Reasons for imperialism Humanitarian- -missionaries & doctors wanted to spread Christianity & Western medicine Social Darwinism- -conquering & destroying ‘weak races’ was nature’s way of improving human species. (justification for imperialism)

The White Man’s Burden by Rudyard Kipling (1899) Take up the White Man’s burden-- Send forth the best ye breed-- Go, bind your sons to exile To serve your captive’s needs; To wait, in heavy harness, On fluttered fold and wild-- Your new-caught sullen peoples, Half-devil and half child. Take up the White Man’s burden-- In patience to abide, To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain, To seek another’s profit And work another’s gain. Take up the White Man’s burden-- The savage wars of peace-- Fill full the mouth of Famine, And bid sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest (The end for others sought) Watch sloth and heathen folly Bring all your hope to naught. Take up the White Man’s burden-- No Iron rule of kings, But toil of serf and sweeper-- The tale of common things. The ports ye shall not enter, The roads ye shall not tread, Go, make them with your living And mark them with your dead.

Take up the White Man’s burden, And reap his old reward-- The blame of those ye better The hate of those ye guard-- The cry of hosts ye humour (Ah, slowly!) toward the light:-- “Why brought ye us from bondage, Our loved Egyptian night?” Take up the White Man’s burden-- Ye dare not stoop to less-- Nor call too loud on Freedom To cloak your weariness. By all ye will or whisper, By all ye leave or do, The silent sullen peoples Shall weigh your God and you. Take up the White Man’s burden! Have done with childish days-- The lightly-proffered laurel, The easy ungrudged praise: Comes now, to search your manhood Through all the thankless years, Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom, The judgement of your peers. This poem shows racist attitudes of Europeans toward the people that they “conquer.” The “White Man’s Burden” is a belief among European nations that they had a duty to bring the benefits of western civilization to the native peoples of the rest of the world. It is used to justify taking land and control away from natives in Africa, India, and Asia.

The Imperialists and their Victims

The 1892 depiction of Cecil Rhodes, diamond merchant and promoter of British imperial power, as the "The Rhodes Colossus, Striding from Cape Town to Cairo," became an archetypal image of colonialism. Reprinted from Punch, Dec. 10, The Imperialist par excellence

“I contend that we [Britons] are the first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race.... It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.” - CECIL RHODES, Confession of Faith 1877

The 1898 American cartoon of Uncle Sam, "Colossus of the Pacific," clearly borrowed from the earlier image with the expectation that American newspaper readers would be familiar with the widely reprinted Rhodes cartoon. Reprinted from Chicago Tribune, August 24, 1898 Uncle Sam joins the party

Causes of the Spanish-American War The Cuban Rebellion - Gen. Weyler - “reconcentration camps” Yellow Journalism -Hurst vs Pulitzer -Jingoism The de Lo’me letter -from Spanish Ambassador bashing the Pres.

Causes of the Spanish-American War Explosion of the USS Maine - blamed on Spain Preparing in the Philippines -Roosevelt, McKinley, Dewey McKinley’s War Message -pay for the Maine,end reconcentration camps, Cuban independence - Spain accepted all but the last

“A splendid little war” Congress recognized Cuban Independence Dewey launched a surprise attack on Spain in Manila Bay US sank every ship in the spanish fleet in Cuba Rough Riders led by Teddy Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill.

Treat of Paris: 1898 Spain recognized Cuban independence US paid $20 million to Spain for the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico “unicorporated territories” Teller Amendment – US would not annex Cuba Platt Amendment -Cuban gov. couldn’t enter foreign agreements

American Imperialism Puerto Rican’s granted American citizenship Annexation of Hawaii Harbor at Pago Pago, Samoa

The Panama Canal 25 yr. Concession from Colombia to French Company -project abandoned Spooner Act (1902) - US had to lease land from Colombia -Roosevelt supports rebellion in Panama -US recognized Panamanian Independence

Hay-Banau-Varilla Treaty Gave US permenant grant of 10 mile Canal Zone US paid Panama $10 million Panama Canal finished in 1914

Teddy Roosevelt “Big Stick” theory Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine Open door Policy with China -gets Nobel Peace Prize