Age of Imperialism

The Age of Imperialism Imperialism = a policy of conquering and ruling other lands

British power from its industrialization … and competition The Industrial Revolution made Britain most powerful nation in the world in 1800s. By late 1800s, U.S. challenging its economic leadership. So Britain looked increasingly to its colonies for markets and resources.

Nations competed for overseas empires Increasingly, Europeans viewed an empire as a measure of a nation’s importance, prestige: Competition for colonies was not just for economic gain, but for power and influence. So the race for colonies grew out of a strong sense of national pride and desire for power and influence in the world, as well as from economic competition.

European Motives for Imperialism: 3 Main 1.Economic  Raw materials in interior Africa: Gold, diamonds, rubber, copper, tin, oil …  Markets: Sell goods to Africans, others Rubber tree In Liberia

2.Political -- National pride  Power in the world  Measure of nation’s superiority

3.Social – Religious, Moral 3.Social – Religious, Moral  Some wanted to spread Christianity throughout the world …  … and to spread Western ideas and customs of white, Anglo-Saxons, to “civilize” “savages” in other areas of the world. Some said this was a moral “duty,” a “white man’s burden” -- phrase written by British poet Rudyard Kipling: A racist belief, that some races superior to others.

3.Social, cont’d – Social Darwinism 3.Social, cont’d – Social Darwinism ► Some believed it was natural for the wealthier, stronger Western nations to control and lead people in weaker nations, using Darwin’s evolutionary theory – Social Darwinism  “Only the strong survive”  People in non-industrialized areas “wasting” natural resources

The “scramble for Africa”.

Africa Continent – not a country Three times larger than Europe Northern Africa: desert; other areas diverse climates, topography

Africa populated by diverse groups of people, with own cultures, languages, religions ethnic groups The many languages, ethnic conflicts, and low level of technology, made resistance to European moves difficult. Distribution of African language families

The Berlin Conference (1884). Germany hosted meeting of Western countries to decide on ways to divide up Africa among them without fighting each other.

The Berlin Conference But had said main focus was to control end of the slave trade and promote humanitarian work.

Berlin Conference agreements 1.Any nation that got control of an African coast had to inform others. 2. “Sphere of influence” doctrine: A nation’s control of an African coast would include control far into the distance from that coast.

Berlin Conference agreements, cont’d 3. “Effective occupation” doctrine: A nation occupying a coastal area had to prove it had enough control to protect existing rights – freedom of trade and transit. The nations did not make any considerations for the people of Africa.

1914 In just 36 years … Europeanna tions gained control of most of Africa *(Ethiopia independent – fought off Italy)*

British Imperialism: 19 th -20 th C.

The Suez Canal British Egypt Egypt gave control of the Suez Canal to Britain in 1882, in return for Britain forgiving debt (loans) Egypt owed. Britain controlled Egypt for about 40 years. The Suez Canal opened in 1869.

Britain’s benefits from the Suez Canal 1.“Lifeline of the British Empire” 2.Fast access to colonies. 3.Saved 4,000 miles; 2 weeks time.

The Suez Canal

Cecil Rhodes ► British businessman a major promoter of British imperialism in South Africa ► Made fortune from African diamond mines ► Believer in Social Darwinism.

British South Africa “I think what God would like me to do is to paint as much of Africa British red as possible.” - Cecil Rhodes, 1896.

Boer War ( ) War sparked by discovery of gold and diamonds British beat the Boers (Dutch settlers), created union of created union of South Africa. South Africa.

Diamond Mining, South Africa 1872

Warm up ■ Which countries had the most control of territories in Africa by 1914? ■ How did Britain gain control of key areas in Northern Africa and Southern Africa? ■ ■ HW: 1. Write responses to reading questions in text p 348 & 349 … in 2-4 complete sentences. 2. Write 3 writing prompts for questions that you consider the most important for Ch. 6 Sec 3 (British rule in India)

First European to explore Africa’s interior David Livingstone, Scottish minister (1860s) Goals to bring “Christianity, commerce, and civilization” to the continent

The Congo: Belgium Henry Stanley, American explorer of central Africa, helped King Leopold get control of Congo River Valley (1882) – signed treaties with local chiefs * This set off European scramble for colonies in interior Africa. “Found” David Livingstone in “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” - Henry Stanley

Belgian Congo ► “Belgium is a small country, with a small people” and needs a colony to boost its image… King Leopold II ► Forced native people to labor … collecting sap from rubber plants

French Colonies ► France colonized much of North & West Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and French W. Africa. ► Most people living there were Arab Muslims. ► French used direct control over colonies, used policy of paternalism in ruling. ► French wanted colonial peoples to assimilate to French culture.

European Military Advantage Hiram Maxim, an American, invents “Maxim Gun” in 1889 … The 1 st automatic machine gun.

How Were Europeans Able to Conquer? European Advantages :  Maxim gun made it easier to keep people from resisting  Steam engine made it possible explore and colonize deep into Africa. African Disadvantages :  Ethnic diversity of population, conflicts of made it difficult to unite to fight.  Low technology against Europe’s advanced weaponry.

African Resistance: Ethiopia Ethopia’s Menelik II was the only African leader to defeat Europeans. Defeated Italians in 1896, using modern military technology supplied by France and Russia.

► By 1914, Ethiopia and Liberia were the only two African countries that remained independent.

Types of Imperialist Control Indirect Rule: (Britain) 1. Used customary law. 2. Sometimes allowed local person to rule, while accepting British authority. But British made all major decisions. 3. Relied on traditional elites, chiefs. Few chances for other Africans to become new leaders 4. Belief: in time, local population would govern itself

Direct Rule: (France) 1. A French official led government. Might allow African leaders who spoke French to serve in government … helped put down rebellion 2. Policy of “assimilation”: Goal to have people accept French culture, not traditional ways. 3. Provided legal, political rights. Schools, government modeled after French. Types of Imperialist Control

African Nationalism Over time, some Africans educated in Western schools admired Western ways more than those of their own countries. But Africans weren’t allowed leading roles or good jobs, were expected to accept colonists as superior. Segregation, racism by colonists fed resentment. Some Africans began to organize to end foreign rule – beginnings of nationalist movement. Why were many African intellectuals frustrated by colonial policy? -- Western colonizers praised, preached democracy, equality, political freedom, but didn’t apply these values in the colonies

The Legacy of Imperialism NEGATIVE EFFECTS ► Africans lost control of their land & independence. ► Thousands died resisting Europeans. ► Deaths from resistance to new diseases (smallpox, for example) ► Famines resulted in switching to cash crops. ► Breakdown of traditional culture. ► European establishment of boundaries.

The Legacy of Imperialism POSITIVE EFFECTS ► Reduced local warfare ► Improved sanitation; built hospitals, schools ► Built infrastructure: Railroads, dams, telephone lines, roads… ► Life spans, literacy rates improved

Forms of Imperialism Colony: Europeans seize a territory & rule it directly by sending governors to the colony Protectorate: Local gov’t exists, but Europeans make all real decisions in order to protect their trade Sphere of Influence: Nations gain exclusive trading rights in territory, dominate all trade, but allow the local gov’t to make other decisions

Why did the industrialized nations of the world imperialize? This turned into an all-out race for the best & most numerous colonies in Africa & Asia Having a lot of overseas colonies showed power Nationalism in Europe meant that each nation wanted to become the most powerful

The Industrial Revolution led to a huge demand for raw materials so countries could make more factory-produced goods The Industrial Revolution caused a huge demand for new overseas markets to sell their finished goods Having numerous colonies in Africa & Asia helped fuel the Industrial Revolution

Christian missionaries wanted to convert the “uncivilized” natives in the world by creating churches, schools, & hospitals Europeans believed in an idea called “Social Darwinism” that argued that whites were the most evolved & superior race Europeans believed in the “white man’s burden” that they had a responsibility to civilize the world