1. The New Imperialism

2. Building Empires,
The long 19th century Western powers built great empires Claimed dominion over foreign peoples They acquired colonies They used force – armies and navies 1914 – they controlled 84% of the world Why did European make this “mad rush for empire”?

3. 1. Economic reasons Europeans had the technology go everywhere
Europeans believed in “free trade.”
This enabled individual European traders to go to...
Nigeria, Burma, Singapore, Pakistan, India, etc...
This enabled European traders to go up
the Congo, the Niger, the Ganges
the Yangtze, the Amazon

4. Economic penetration causes conflict
Traders didn’t understand cultures of foreign peoples Assumed they believed in free trade as well Europeans were insensitive to local customs Insensitivity triggers three wars Opium Wars with China Indian Mutiny (1857) Britain seizes territory to protect trade Hong Kong and India

5. 2. Military Considerations
Imperial powers had to protect their colonies
They also had to protect trade routes to colonies
Great Britain acquired India
It gets more colonies to protect its route to India
commonly known as the “Cape Route”
including the Cape Colony (South Africa)
including islands in Atlantic & Indian Oceans
Other imperial powers did the same thing

6. 3. Racism Christian Europe saw itself as superior to other peoples
They had achieved such a high level of civilization
They alone had a true knowledge of God
They alone knew the path to salvation
“Superior” cultures had responsibilities
To civilize less developed peoples
To convert the heathen infidels
Rudyard Kipling: “the white man's burden”

7. The cross followed the sword
Invading armies brought with them Christians missionaries
Built churches, hospitals, and schools
Introduced native peoples to western
Religion, medicine, technology, commerce
Who treated natives with contempt
forcing conversions
destroying native shrines
undermining native beliefs.

8. Science used to justify imperialism
“Science” rationalized imperialism and justify exploitation
Social Darwinism
Anthropology

9. 4. The popularity of empire
Most Europeans loved the very idea of “empire”
It made them feel superior
Popular fiction excited readers
Young boys read adventure stories
Newspaper published stories of distant battles
Upper and middle classes liked “empire”
economic benefits and imperial frontiers
Working classes liked the idea of empire

10. 5. The spirit of competition
Great powers acquired colonies because they could
A nation’s prestige was measured by the size of empire
Nobody wanted to be left out
A nation could only be taken seriously if it had an empire

11. The British empire

12. The British empire By 1900 it compromised one-quarter of the earth
The sun never set on the Union Jack
By 1900 it compromised one-fifth of its people!
All governed from London
All subject to English statutes and Common Law
The empire supplied raw materials
The empire was guarded by the Royal Navy
largest navy in the world
larger than any other two navies combined

13. Other nations colonized
France Germany Russia Italy The United States Belgium

14. Impact of the conquered peoples
The rule of law
European religion and philosophy
Science and medicine,
Drugs, hospitals, modern surgery
Technological & economic development
Telegraph and railways
Construction equipment
Western education
Capitalism and Socialism
Bigotry and cultural insensitivity
Economic exploitation
Environmental devastation
Cultures destroyed