Download WHAP Teacher Copy Scrambling for Resources Markets and Power

Scrambling for Resources, Markets, and Power
WHAP/Napp
Objective: To explain significant causes and effects of the
New Imperialism
Do Now: How did Social Darwinism impact European
views of imperialism?
Cues:
Notes:
I. The New Imperialism
A. In 1815 nations of west controlled 35 percent of the world’s habitable
territory but they controlled 85 percent by 1914
B. European powers had been influencing or conquering other parts of the
world since 1400s
C. From the 1700s onward, U.S. grew by means of warfare and subjugation
(Manifest Destiny – a policy of expansion as part of the nation’s destiny)
D. But imperial activity of mid-1800s through early 1900s“new” imperialism
E. Industrialization gave the West greater ability to conquer and more reasons
F. Western economies were hungry for raw materials
G. Conversely, Western nations needed markets for the goods
H. Industrialization had bestowed new weaponry of all types upon West
I. Another military factor was the growing need of Western nations to
maintain bases and coal (or oil) stations around the world
J. A social factor – Europe’s rapid population growth during the 1800s, partly
due to new crops from the Americas –prompted imperial activity
K. A new wave of exploration during the 1700s and early 1800s had added
considerably to Western nations’ knowledge of the world
L. Better maps and greater familiarity with local environments
M. Medical advances made it possible for Europeans and Americans to
penetrate the tropical regions more deeply
N. Sense of racial superiority created a sense that Western nations were
entitled to conquer areas that seemed “backward” or “primitive”
O. Social Darwinism
1. A misguided application of Darwin’s theories of natural selection
2. Biological principle of “survival of the fittest” should apply to humanity
3. Meaning that technologically and culturally advanced were permitted to
conquer those who were less so
4. Darwin himself denounced this idea as a perversion of his scientific work
P. Conviction that it was the duty of white Westerners to teach and modernize
the darker-skinned, supposedly “primitive” peoples of Africa and Asia
Q. The English poet Rudyard Kipling gave this sentiment its most famous
label: the “White Man’s Burden”
R. The French spoke of their civilizing mission (la mission civilisatrice)
S. This attitude was well meaning and heartfelt, but also condescending
T. But Europe’s and America’s campaigns of colonization and efforts to
influence other parts of the world left deep political scars around the globe,
many of which have not yet healed even in the new twenty-first century
Summaries:
Cues:
II. Increasingly Aggressive Imperialism
A. During the first half of the 1800s, the balance of power achieved by the
Congress of Vienna (restored old regimes after the French Revolution and
established a balance of power in Europe) had largely kept the peace
B. During and after the 1850s, war broke out among the European powers
several times: the Crimean War (1853-1856), wars of Italian unification,
and the three wars Prussia fought to unify the German states, especially the
Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
C. Almost the entire non-Western world was either colonized during the
nineteenth century or fell under the influence of Western nations
D. By far largest and most widespread set of colonial possessions was Britain’s
E. After 1870, new countries such as Germany and Italy also began to build
overseas empires, in an attempt to catch up with older imperial powers
III. Different Approaches to Imperialism
A. British were prone to the same sense of racial superiority as other
Westerners but interfered as little as possible with local customs
B. But British also introduced positive social reforms and useful scientific ideas
C. French subscribed to la mission civilisatrice, but were less consistent about it
D. Portuguese and the Belgians were known to be especially harsh, even cruel
E. Germany and Italy were also brutal
IV. The Americas
A. “Manifest Destiny”-belief that U.S. was entitled to entire center of continent
B. Spanish lost their empire in North America in the 1810s and 1820s
C. The Russians gave up Alaska to the U.S. in 1867
V. Other Regions
A. Heart of the British Empire was India
B. At Battle of Plassey, in 1757, the British won a major victory over Mughals
C. Victory led to a rapid decline of French influence in subcontinent
D. Until the late 1850s, India was not administered directly by the British
government, but by the semiprivate British East India Company
E. In 1857, the Indian Mutiny (also known as the Sepoy Rebellion) – failed
F. Convinced the government to assume full control over the colony
G. Spark that started the rebellion was cartridges coated with animal grease
H. Offended both Hindus and Muslims
I. Scramble for Africa  from 1880 until 1910, European nations raced madly
to take over territory in Africa
J. Berlin Conference  1884 to 1885, presided over by Otto von Bismarck, laid
down guidelines for African expansion
K. By 1914, only two nations in Africa remained free: Liberia and Abyssinia
L. Boer War  1899-1902  Boers (Afrikaners) were descendants of Dutch
and French settlersIn the end, Afrikaners were subjected to British rule
N. Though China was not technically colonized, compelled after Opium Wars to
open its borders and trade with other countries at highly disadvantageous terms
O. Imperial ambitions of Russia, Austria, the newly formed Italy, and the rapidly
deteriorating Ottoman Empire were all centered on the Balkans
Summaries:
Strayer Questions:
 How did the New Imperialism differ from the Old Imperialism?
 What were motives for the New Imperialism?
 What were effects of the New Imperialism?
 How did Social Darwinism impact imperialist endeavors?
 What were the causes and effects of the Sepoy Mutiny?
 What were the causes and effects of the Scramble for Africa?
 How did the New Imperialism change world history?
1. War with which Western power reduced
4. The principal architect of the "Congress
Mexico's territory by about half?
System" that prevailed in Europe during
(A) The United States
the first half of the 1800s was
(B) France
(A) Metternich
(C) Spain
(B) Cavour
(D) Portugal
(C) Bismarck
(E) Germany
(D) Gladstone
(E) Castlereagh
2. What were native troops who served
under the British authorities in India
5. Which of the following nations is
called?
considered to have treated its colonies most
(A) brahmins
poorly?
(B) sepoys
(A) Belgium
(C) thugs
(B) Great Britain
(D) coolies
(C) France
(E) gurkhas
(D) the Netherlands
(E) Austria
3. Which of the following legacies of British
colonial rule proved most disruptive in the
6. The English East India Company and the
immediate aftermath of Indian
VOC were privately owned companies that
independence?
enjoyed all of the following advantages
(A) Education of diverse Indian elites in a
except
common English language
A) funds to outfit ships and hire crews.
(B) Hindu-Muslim rivalry fostered by
B) commodities and money for trade.
colonial divide and rule practices
C) direct government supervision.
(C) Establishment of parliamentary
D) the potential for tremendous profits.
democratic norms in government
E) heavily armed ships to back up their
(D) Military training provided to Indian
demands.
sepoys
(E) Toleration of caste distinctions
Excerpt from cod.edu
Most people associate the phrase "Survival of the Fittest" with Darwin and the theory of
evolution. Actually, Darwin didn't originate nor use that phrase. It was coined by one of
the shapers of Social Darwinism.
Social Darwinism is the general term which applies to several different ways in which
people (not biologists) tried to apply a distorted and narrow interpretation of the concept of
natural selection to human cultural systems. None of these political ideologies is actually
any part of evolutionary theory.
One of the ways in which some people tried to apply a social version of natural selection
formed part of the framework for the development of Nazism. This view embraced the
assumption that the strong were superior, and thus ordained to prevail. Thus, if two
countries were to make war on each other, the victor was biologically superior to the loser.
It was therefore right and proper for that victor to subjugate or even eliminate the inferior
opponent. This concept went hand in hand with the development of the notion of eugenics
— not only could you prevail over the unfit by making war on them, but you could improve
the breed by applying "enlightened" notions of selection and genetics.
A second way pseudo-evolutionary concepts were applied to human interaction was in the
development of cut-throat capitalism in the United States. Here the ideology was that the
cream naturally rose to the top; the successful made a lot of money simply because they
were superior to the unsuccessful. Those who found themselves in poverty were poor
because they were intrinsically inferior. This political philosophy resisted suggestions like
universal education, welfare, minimum wage — in short, anything which interfered with
the business of the "superior" ascending to the top of the heap and squashing the unfit
beneath their expensive shoes.
Clearly, these political philosophies have nothing to do with a theory about the origin of
biological diversity. The seeds of Social Darwinism were actually planted before the
publication of The Origin of Species (though of course the name didn't originate until
after). Darwin knew of — and rejected — the notion that his description of natural
processes had any useful application in shaping human culture.
Thesis Statement: Change Over Time: Africa 1000 – 1900 C.E.
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