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Factors leading to Imperialist Expansion (1870-1900) - Coggle Diagram
Factors leading to Imperialist Expansion (1870-1900)
Scientific and technological advances
Construction of railways and steamships made long journeys more feasible
Easier contact through electric telegrams
Medical breakthroughs - use of quinine to treat malaria
Construction of Trans-Siberian railway and possession of superior weapons and military strength enabled Russians to keep North of India and China
Social Darwinist Beliefs
Darwin's scientific researches popularised and distorted to demonstrate that the laws of evolution also applied to races and nations
"Survival of the Fittest" explained why white races had evolved to a higher level of civilisation
Many Europeans felt "calling" to help less fortunate people and teach them christian values and European skills
Some more cynical just wanted economic or political advantage
Many European leaders believed that their rule over different nations would improvement
Popular Nationalism
More populations were able to receive an elementary education because states modernised and industrialised which made populations more concentrated in urban areas
Increase in literacy meant rise of popular press and different books
Colonial expansion increasingly advocated for by groups which ideas proved positive among the new electorates
Colonial exploits provided one means of cementing and intensifying nationalist sentiments
Pressures of nationalist accusations of Europe exerted a considerable influence on govts and increasingly shaped their colonial and trade policies
Political Factors
Prestige and National Pride
France's defeat by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 saw emergence of united Germany and Italian state - significance in subsequent colonial expansion
French govt thwarted Italian expansion in the area by occupying Tunis in 1882
Reason for Bismarck's sudden bid for colonial possessions in 1884 - France's bitter resentment after 1871 over German seizure of Alsace and Lorraine and his attempt to lessen it by encouraging French colonial expansion
Taylor's theory why German imperialist interest lay in countries bordering British imperialist states was that Bismarck was using this to increase Anglo-French rivalry and also promote possibility of Franco-German..
Others say it is due to Germany's increasingly aggressive weltpolitiek in 1890's
Challenge of Germany
Led to West African Congress - (1884-85) -claims around the river Congo - set off the 'Race for Africa'
A.J.P Taylor: Bismarck was seeking to protect Germany's position in Europe and his increasingly complex alliance system
Occupation of Tunis was 'one of the causes of the Triple Alliance'
Occupation of Tunis was to provide Bismarck with further means for creating smoke-screens to conceal German insecurity
Other argue that domestic pressures rather than foreign policy concerns explain Bismarck's entry into the colonial field
Bismarck adopted colonial policy in 1884, called it 'social imperialism" - aim to preserve the supremacy of the traditional ruling elites in Germany and their authoritarian power structure
Other domestic concerns: Pro-British Crown Prince Frederik
Economic expansion and industrial and scientific achievements made G a strong commercial competitor globally.
Decline of British Imperial Power
1880s - B worldwide supremacy being challenged - navally, commercially, technologically
Suggested to Bismarck that Britain's weak claims to influence of Sub-Saharan Africa were vulnerable
B acceptance of Franco-German demands for intl conference in 1884 marked end of British "paramountcy" - left a void then filled by rival claims to African territory
In China - B increasingly thrown on the defensive by French/German activities and increasing challenges of Russia and Japan
B forced to define particular areas of interest and to allow former trade areas to be annexed by other powers
Strategic Motives
Egypt
Imp. in explaining Japans colonial expansion in North China
Peripheral Factors
China and Japan face demands for trading concessions and for treaty ports in the mid 19th century - C govt unable to respond constructively
Euro pressured weakened - finally causing collapse of regime
Japan - Euro pretentions aroused large hostility and nationwide anger
Led to new emperor - led to start of Japanese industrialisation and creation of strong army
Chinese weakness concern to Japan - gave openings for Euro influence and opportunity for economic and political gain.
Egypt - Khedive weakness brought major crisis which brought British occupation
Weak native regimes, imbalance of power between Euro and non-Euro peoples
The Search for Market and for Raw Materials