Imperialism
Definition: Imperialism is a country being dominated politically, economically and socio-culturally by a stronger country
Three Major Causes
Industrial Revolution:
Humanitarian and Religious Reasoning:
Nationalism:
*rivals develop empires in pursuit of competition/power
*Imperialistic countries urge their citizens to travel to far-off colonies
*Personal glory and profit motives (Example: In the 1850s British territories imperialized Australia and New Zealand in search for gold and timber as well as the utilization of its whaling industry
European nations looked to Africa for its raw materials, especially rubber, copper, gold, and palm oil
*With industrialization, came a great demand for raw materials
*Expanded markets
*An abundance (thousands) of manufactured goods to sell
*Religious fervor and feelings of racial and cultural superiority (many Europeans believed that they were better than other peoples)
*Forced culture on distant lands
*Spread Western technology, customs, traditions, religion
*Catholic and Protestant missionaries bringing their messages to Africa and Asia
Four Forms of Imperialism
Protectorate:Its own government but its policies were guided by a foreign power (Example- Britain established a protectorate over the Niger River delta)
Colony: Territory that an imperial power ruled directly through colonial officials (Example- Somaliland in Africa was a French colony)
Economic Imperialism:An independent but less-developed country managed by private business interests besides other governments (Example- The Dole Fruit company controlled pineapple trade in Hawaii)
Sphere of Influence:Region of a country in which the imperial power had exclusive investment or trading rights (Example- Liberia was under the sphere of influence of the U.S.)
The countries that became imperial powers are: France, GB, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Spain, Portugal, and Russia
Berlin Conference
14 European nations gathered at the Berlin Conference and discussed the rules of division of Africa. No African leader was present, or even invited, to this meeting, although it did seal the country's fate.
Nations had decided to acquire African colonies during the late 1800s and 1900s because there was a demand for resources (raw materials) that Africa had and European nations feared war among themselves.
Effects
Negative: ~Africans lost control of their land as well as their independence ~New diseases were introduced to Africa that killed many ~More deaths due to resisting Europeans and famine
~Deterioration of Africans' traditional culture ~Forced combination and division of groups throughout African continent
Positive: Colonialism reduced local warfare Improved sanitation and hospitals and schools were provided in some Economic expansion- African products became valued internationally Advanced technologies in Africa (railroads, dams, and telephone and telegraph lines were built)
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