Imperialism Building Overseas Empires Motives for Imperialism In

Imperialism Building Overseas Empires

Motives for Imperialism • In the late 1800 s, Western countries wished to join Britain in building overseas empires • Imperialism (the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region) • Europeans began winning empires after 1492 in the Americas, South Asia, and gained toeholds in Africa and China

Motives for Imperialism • By the 1800 s, strong, centrally governed nation-states had emerged with strong economies due to the Industrial Revolution • Empowered by their new economic and military power, Europeans embarked on a path to expand their empires • Beginning in the 1870 s, Europeans brought much of the world under their influence and control

Economic Interests • The Industrial Revolution spurred overseas expansion • Manufacturers needed natural resources to fuel their growing needs in the Industrial Revolution • They also hoped for new markets where they could sell the goods they produced • Colonies provided a valuable outlet for Europe’s growing population

Political and Military Motives • Merchant ships and naval vessels needed bases around the world to take on coal and supplies/islands and harbors seized from native peoples supplied this need • Rival nations in Africa would take land around another nations colony to prevent that countries’ colony from expanding • Felt that ruling a global empire increased that nation’s prestige

Social Darwinism • Many in the west believed they had a duty to bring the blessings of Western Civilization to the colonized peoples • Behind this belief was a growing sense of racial superiority • Many had embraced the ideas of Social Darwinism, applying the ideas of survival of the fittest and natural selection to human societies

The Spread of Western Imperialism • Between 1870 and 1914, Imperialist nations gained control of much of the world • Soldiers, merchants, settlers, and missionaries led the way in imperial expansion, but were supported by all classes of people in Europe

Weakness of Non-Western States • While European nations grew stronger in the 1800 s, several older civilizations were in decline: Ottoman Middle East, India, and China • West Africa: wars among African peoples and the effects of the slave trade led to undermined empires, kingdoms, and city-states

Western Advantages • European powers had strong economies, wellorganized governments, and powerful armies and navies • They also possessed superior technology such as riverboats, the telegraph, and improved medical knowledge • Advances in weaponry technology gave European nations a militaristic edge over native peoples

Resisting Imperialism • Africans and Asians strongly resisted European expansion into their lands • Some people fought despite the difference in weapons technology • Other leaders attempted to strengthen their societies by reforming their own Muslim, Hindu, or Confucian traditions

Facing Criticism • In the west, a group of anti-imperialists formed • Argued that colonialism was a tool of the rich while others claimed it was immoral • They pointed out that while the west was moving toward greater democracy, they were imposing undemocratic rule on other peoples

Forms of Imperial Rule • Imperial powers developed different kinds of colonial rule • The French practiced direct rule, sending officials and soldiers from France to administer their colonies and impose French culture on those colonies • The British used a system of indirect rule to govern their colonies

Forms of Imperial Rule • The British used sultans, chiefs, or other local rulers to govern their colonies and encouraged those leaders children to get an education in Britain • Britain still resorted to military force to keep control over the colony

Forms of Imperial Rule • In a protectorate, local rulers were left in place but expected to follow advice of their European advisors • Cost less to run than a colony did • Did not require a large commitment of military forces • Another form of control, sphere of influence, was an area where an outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges