The Age of the New Imperialism

“The Age of the New Imperialism” (c.1850 – 1914)
What was the New Imperialism?
• Imperialism refers to when a stronger nation exerts its control over a weaker one, controlling its affairs for its own benefit.
• Imperialism was not new in the 19th century – Europeans had been creating empires for years.
• Why is it called the “New Imperialism?” – Because never before had Europeans attempted to totally control so much territory.
What were the causes of the New Imperialism?
• Use the acronym “N.E.W.” to remember the motives of the “New
Imperialism:”
Nationalism
• Pride in one’s country led nations to believe that…
…colonies were required for a nation to be great
…their nations must be the biggest and the strongest
…colonies were needed for military security (esp. naval bases)
Economics
• The industrial revolution greatly affected imperialism because…
…factories required natural resource which could be obtained (without paying for them) from colonies
…factories allowed more goods to be produced than could be sold at home, which required more markets
White Man’s Burden
• The White Man’s Burden was the false and racist belief that European/ white civilization was superior to African/Asian civilization.
…Europeans believed it was their duty “to civilize” these “inferior” races by bringing them the benefits of Western civilization
…they also believed it was their duty “to Christianize” them by sending missionaries
…these racist beliefs were supported by false beliefs such as “Social Darwinism” (which held that the strongest races need to survive
What were the consequences of the New Imperialism?
• Between 1850 and 1914, all of Africa‐ except for Liberia and Ethiopia had been brought under European control(European powers at the Berlin Conference in 1884‐ without consulting African leaders‐ decided they would each compete to control parts of Africa).
• Parts of Southeast Asia (Indochina, Vietnam, the East Indies) were made colonies of Europe ;Japan and China were forcibly “opened” to trade with the west(they technically remained independent).
• Especially in Africa, the European colonists did not bring the “benefits” of Western civilization. Instead they brutally exploited (took advantage of) native resources for their own gain
Showed little or no respect for indigenous (native) language, religions, and traditions – they believed their own were superior
• Many of the inequalities in the world today can in fact be traced back to the era of imperialism, when European nations (and the U.S.) exploited the continents of Africa/Asia for their own benefits.
• The European powers also came into conflict over these territories‐ many wars began over attempts to gain control over territories.
• Imperialism would become a major cause of World War I – competition over the building of empires added to tension in Europe