Methods of Imperialism: 1. Forcing Countries to Open their Economies (but they remain mostly politically independent) China, Japan (at least initially)

Methods of Imperialism: 2. Taking Control of a Country’s Finances then Sticking Around to Run the Country

The Special Case of South Africa – Europeans fight each other to control a colony

“I contend that we are the finest race in the world and the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race” – Cecil Rhodes

“If there be a god, I think what he would like me to do is to paint as much of Africa British red as possible” – Cecil Rhodes

Methods of Imperialism 3. If you can’t beat them... Join them Japan

Methods of Imperialism: 4. Taking Countries Over

Leopold II: Belgian Congo Sent an agent to trick the natives out of the land Ran it as his own private plantation treating the natives with incredibly barbaric brutality

Britain: “Y axis” of Africa One defeat at Khartoum British revenge at Omdurman Allow an “elite” group of natives to assist in running the colony

It was “like a pantomime scene” in a play. “These extraordinary foreign figures... March up one by one from the darkness of Barbarism to the footlights of civilization... And their conquerors, taking their possessions, forget even their names.” – Winston Churchill “It was not a battle but an execution. The bodies were not in heaps... But they spread evenly over acres and acres.”

French: “Y axis” of Africa After much sword rattling, let British have Fashoda

French tried to make every- one in their colonies “French” But the natives could never be equal to the French

Why Imperialize?

Gain Money Money Makers: Looking for new markets since tariffs were closing off European markets Counterarguments: Few profits before 1914 Wealthy elite from European countries just need an outlet for their surplus profits Europeans are just savage, selfish brutes

Increase Power/Prestige Colonies needed for national security and military power – place to station troops and refuel ships Colonies seen as a source of pride/nationalism “There has never been a great power without colonies” and “Every virile power has established colonial power... All great nations in the fullness of their strength have desired to set their mark upon barbarian lands and those who fail to participate in this great rivalry will play a pitiable role in time to come.”

Chance to use new technology Machine gun Quinine Steamship Telegraph

Distraction from Domestic Social Tensions Leaders bragged about colonial conquests in order to keep citizens’ minds off of class conflict and economic troubles at home

Belief in Social Darwinism The idea that “superior” people had the right to take over “inferior” people. “The path to progress is strewn with the wreck... Of inferior races. Yet these dead peoples are, in very truth, the stepping stones on which mankind has risen to the higher intellectual and deeper emotional life of today.” “O Evolution, what crimes are committed in your name?” “Blessed are the strong, for they shall prey on the weak”

Duty of the White Man’s Burden European’s could and should “civilize” more primitive, non-white peoples Native peoples should be encouraged to develop modern economies, cities, medicine and standards of living THEN they might be ready for self-government

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

Pile on the Brown Man’s burden And if ye rouse his hate, Meet his old-fashioned reasons With Maxims up to date, With shells and Dum-Dum bullets A hundred times plain The Brown Man’s loss must never Imply the White Man’s gain