Imperialism Dbq
The Effect of the Industrial Revolution on Imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century During the 19th Century, European powers colonized the majority of Africa. Before this, the Industrial Revolution had just occurred and was coming to a close. The Industrial Revolution caused imperialism in Africa mainly through Economic motives. However, military and technological innovations also played a vital role in imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century.
Economic motives created by the Industrial Revolution played the most important role in Imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century. One very important economic motivator was the need for resources for production. As Africa had been barely touched by Europeans, there were many opportunities for finding …show more content…
A major technological innovation that allowed the Europeans to colonize Africa in the 19th Century was Quinine. (Document G) Quinine allowed for the treatment of Malaria. Malaria being a very dangerous disease, had previously limited most Europeans to settling on the coast of Africa in fortresses. Because of the Industrial Revolution, Quinine could be mass produced, meaning that Malaria could be treated in Africa so long as the Quinine arrived. Field artillery was a cheap and easy to produce weapon that brought lethal force to the battlefield (Document H). With field artillery, Europeans could now wipe out armies much larger than theirs, provided that the artillery was supported by other troops. The fact that it was cheap, easy to use, and could be mass produced meant that Europeans could fight the African armies and win through superior technology and new tactics. Technological innovations such as steamboats, railroads, and other new means of transportation, the telegraph, and other means of communications were all results of the Industrial Revolution (Document I). Because of these innovations, it became easier to transport resources and products. As communications are vital for everything, especially in the maintaining of colonies, these technological innovations promoted imperialism through the fact that they were for the most part reliable as well as not very difficult to
Economic motives created by the Industrial Revolution played the most important role in Imperialism in Africa in the 19th Century. One very important economic motivator was the need for resources for production. As Africa had been barely touched by Europeans, there were many opportunities for finding …show more content…
A major technological innovation that allowed the Europeans to colonize Africa in the 19th Century was Quinine. (Document G) Quinine allowed for the treatment of Malaria. Malaria being a very dangerous disease, had previously limited most Europeans to settling on the coast of Africa in fortresses. Because of the Industrial Revolution, Quinine could be mass produced, meaning that Malaria could be treated in Africa so long as the Quinine arrived. Field artillery was a cheap and easy to produce weapon that brought lethal force to the battlefield (Document H). With field artillery, Europeans could now wipe out armies much larger than theirs, provided that the artillery was supported by other troops. The fact that it was cheap, easy to use, and could be mass produced meant that Europeans could fight the African armies and win through superior technology and new tactics. Technological innovations such as steamboats, railroads, and other new means of transportation, the telegraph, and other means of communications were all results of the Industrial Revolution (Document I). Because of these innovations, it became easier to transport resources and products. As communications are vital for everything, especially in the maintaining of colonies, these technological innovations promoted imperialism through the fact that they were for the most part reliable as well as not very difficult to