19c - Imperialism & International Rivalries (Lesson)

Imperialism & International Rivalries

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were the zenith of the period known as the New Age of Exploration or Imperialism. The Industrial Revolution had created a demand for more goods which required a greater supply of natural resources while the new technologies such as steamships, the telegraph, and modern weaponry gave the Europeans the means to conquer and control colonial territories. Just as in the first Age of Exploration, the motives were essentially the same: God, Glory, and Gold. Christian missionaries were determined to convert the African and Asian peoples to the Christian faith while helping themselves to the wealth of the areas occupied. The Imperialistic Age was the last of the great ages of explorers. It is during this time that the last areas of the earth will be discovered and visited, often just long enough, to claim individual and nationalistic glory. European explorers and missionaries traveled to the African continent, determined to discover new territories and peoples which they can claim, control, and convert. Scientific societies sprang up all over Europe for the purpose of funding expeditions and publishing the geographic and scientific findings of the explorers they sponsored.

Of the Great empires Britain and France had the most expansive holdings with Britain's being the largest by far - literally encircling the globe; as the "sun never sets on the British Empire." King Leopold of Belgium convinced the great powers to allow him possession of the Congo in central Africa, an area that enriched the king beyond anyone's expectations due to the abundance of rubber vines found there. Rubber was a particularly fortuitous finding as the industrial age demanded a high volume of rubber consumption. Russia, not an industrial nation, understood it was in no position to compete head to head with Britain and France, therefore it concentrated its imperialistic efforts in Asia, ultimately going head to head with another newly emerging imperialistic nation, Japan. The newly formed empire of Germany aggressively worked to make up for lost time by acquiring new territories, with the majority of its holdings located in Africa. Austria, alone among the powers, did not get involved in territorial acquisition as it was struggling to maintain internal security and had no resources to explore and build an overseas empire. The Ottomans, far from expanding their empire, were in fact losing territorial holdings in the Balkans either to European states such as Austria or outright, resulting in newly formed states such as Serbia and Bulgaria.

Early National Policies on Imperialism (18th Century)

• Britain - The loss of the American colonies caused early setbacks in colonial programs
• France - Lost most of its overseas empire to Britain. Remained too preoccupied with domestic problems

Prussia and Austria were both preoccupied with European issues:

• Prussia - Unification
• Austria - Internal unrest among peoples within the Empire

Russia

• Expansionist policies against Ottoman Empire and Asia

Motives for Imperialism.

• Competition among states for power and prestige
• Colonies increase a country's military and economic power
• Possession of colonies became a sign of national greatness
• Failure of building an empire was viewed as a sign of internal decadence
• Social Darwinism accepted as justification for colonization
• Stronger survive at the expense of the weak
• White race saw a duty to civilize less developed peoples
• A great upsurge of Christian missionary activity
• European Industry led to demands for new sources of raw materials
• European need for new markets
• Individuals needed new investment avenues
• Private interests profited from the business of imperialism

 

 

Imperialism in Africa.

Major European Influence in the "Scramble for Africa"

• Great Britain
• France
• Belgium

Motives for Presence in Africa:

• Raw materials and precious metals
• National Prestige
• A ready market for manufactured goods
• Social Darwinism (If they can be conquered, they should be conquered)

 

Imperialism in Asia.

While the motives for Imperialism in Asia were essentially the same as in Africa, the domination of territory took a different shape. Some areas of Asia, such as India (the jewel of the British Empire) and Southeast Asia, were controlled directly. Other areas such as China were controlled by European states as "spheres of Influence." Spheres of influence resulted when a European state was given a monopoly of trade for a particular region and although the Chinese dynastic government was intact, it was dominated by the European powers acting somewhat as a puppet government to the European interests. Japan, considered an inferior nation populated by inferior people, was recognized at this time as a legitimate contender in Imperialistic Asia. In fact, when the Russians and the Japanese argue over Port Arthur (a Chinese port) and go to war it shocks the entire European community when the Japanese defeat Russia. This defeat was a significant event in European history as Russia's defeat signaled a national humiliation for Russia and a personal humiliation to Czar Nicholas II. As a result, Nicholas will not back down when a series of events occur which bring Russia into World War I.

 

Significant Events.

Review major events from this period in the activities below.

 

Results of a European Dominated World.

As a result of the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Imperialism, an interdependent world economy developed with Europe at the center. New markets developed to meet European needs. As a result of these markets, capital poured out of Europe to non-industrialized countries. London became the world's banking center as gold became the standard for most countries' currency values. Social Darwinism was the philosophical justification for the European's domination of the non-industrialized areas. The Europeans considered the concept of "survival of the fittest" as a justification to conquer and subject the native peoples of the area. European women were encouraged to marry early and have many children for the purpose of furthering the race as "children are the most valuable of imperial assets." Eugenics was pursued to assure the strongest of the race as Imperialism depended on mothers who would nurture healthy workers, strong soldiers, and intelligent leaders. Many women served as missionaries and nurses in the Imperialistic system. The European impact on the African ecological system and its people was significant. Westerners carried diseases to people who did not have immunity resulting in the devastation to the African and Asian people. In many cases, traditional village life was destroyed in the wake of Western aggression, and tribal life unraveled as villagers had to become migratory. In some cases, territories were used as dumping grounds for convicts.

 

Watch John Green's Crash Course European History video over Imperialism. There is a wealth of information that will assist you in your notes. You can access the video from the link below; you will need access to Youtube to view.

Crash Course European History - Expansion and Resistance. Links to an external site.

 

 

 

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In your notes, respond to the following.

1. Discuss how European ideas of racial and cultural superiority factored into the new imperialism of the 19th century.
2. Provide specific examples of weapons technology, communications/transportation technology, and medical advances that facilitated European expansion in Africa and Asia in the 19th century. Explain the impact these developments had on the balance of power between Europeans and non-Europeans. 

 

 

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