The Age of Imperialism 1800-1914

Imperialism One country’s domination of the political, economic, and social life of another country.

3 Key Factors 1. nationalism prompted rival European nations to build empires in their competitive quests for power 2. the Industrial Revolution created a tremendous demand for raw materials and expanded markets, which prompted industrialized nations to seek new territories 3. both religious fervor and feelings of racial and cultural superiority inspired Europeans to impose their cultures on distant lands.

Social Darwinism- “survival of the fittest” –was used to express Western cultural superiority over Africans and Asians.

“Take up the White Man’s burden- Send forth the best ye breed- 1899: British writer Rudyard Kipling wrote “The White Man’s Burden”. In the poem, Kipling captures the essence of the imperialist attitude. In ONE paragraph write your interpretation of this poem. “Take up the White Man’s burden- Send forth the best ye breed- Go bind your sons to exile- To serve your captive’s need; To wait in heavy harness On fluttered folk and wild- Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child.”

P R I M A RY SOU R C E “Nor is violent physical opposition to abuse and injustice henceforth possible for the African in any part of Africa. His chances of effective resistance have been steadily dwindling with the increasing perfectibility in the killing power of modern armament. Thus the African is really helpless against the material gods of the white man, as embodied in the trinity of imperialism, capitalistic exploitation, and militarism.” EDWARD MOREL, The Black Man’s Burden