European Imperialism

Benchmark C: Imperialism 1. Since ancient times rulers have built empires by Imperialism which is conquering other lands by gaining political and economical control by one country by another stronger country. 2. Although the independence of the Americas in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s was a setback for European imperialism interest began again in place like India, and South Africa in the 1880’s.

Benchmark C: Imperialism The 3 main reason for imperialism include: a.Political Roots: The desire to gain power and military bases over seas along with a desire not to be out done by other countries. b.Economic Roots: The need for more raw materials because of the industrial revolution caused bigger countries to find these resources in the smaller countries. c.Social Roots: Nationalism or the feeling that your countries beliefs and culture were superior to all others especially the countries who were being controlled. Many felt it was their duty to extend Christianity and European civilization to the rest of the world.

Benchmark C: Imperialism 4. Imperialism had a dramatic impact on the countries that were over run. The Europeans would use their own language and would control the natural resources and labor of the native country. The European nations would also create new boundaries to establish their political control over the area. In addition all of the new technologies like railroads, telegraphs and modern medicines would bring these regions into the modern world.

Benchmark C: Imperialism 5. Africa and China were two areas that were greatly affected by imperialism with the Europeans forcing themselves on these areas. In China the Europeans had carved out Spheres of Influence which provided exclusive rights to those countries. Many times the native people would rebel against the countries as some Chinese did in the Boxer Rebellion.

Benchmark C: Imperialism 6. U.S. Imperialism really never amounted to dramatic takeovers however we did exert our influence in places like Japan which became the first non-Western country to adopt Western ways. The Spanish-American War (1898) America inherited the Philippines, Puerto Rico and informal control of Cuba. In the Pacific the U.S. gained possession of several islands including the Hawaiian Islands.

Spanish-American War