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Chapter 29
Review and Discussion
European Justification:
Superiority is a Heavy Burden
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Social Darwinism
Applied Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural
selection to sociology
 Dominant races or classes of people rose to the top
through a process of the survival of the fittest
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Rudyard Kipling poem “White Man’s Burden” –
half devil and half child
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Europeans were not only superior to others, but
they had a moral obligation to teach other people
how to more civilized
What were the political, cultural, and economic reasons that the
United States and Europe entered into the New Imperialism?
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Economic reasons
Euro-Americans used economics and technology to create a new global
economy
conquered lands supplied raw materials as well as new markets for
manufactured goods.
Copper for electrical wiring, cotton for textile mills, rubber for transportation,
and especially gold and diamonds
Political motives varied
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France to avenge the humiliation of the Franco-Prussian War,
British to protect its Indian colony
eagerness of the new German state to become a global power.
Cultural motives
Missionaries and missionary societies wanted not only to spread the
influence of their respective religions around the globe
abolish slavery and bring monogamy, modern medicine, hygiene, and
education to the “heathen.”
Social Darwinism explained the inferiority of indigenous peoples
technological advances that allowed European nations and the
United States to conquer vast new territories?
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Euro-American domination of the oceans was perhaps most
important.
The Suez Canal was central to the extension of rapid transport.
Steel ships grew in size, and improvements in engines allowed
ships to travel farther with less coal.
Submarine telegraph cables speeded up communication.
Gunboats extended possibilities for river travel not available to
sailing ships.
The discovery and use of quinine reduced malaria-related
deaths to levels that stimulated European expansion.
Weapons technology included breechloading repeating rifles,
smokeless powder, and machine guns—innovations that
indigenous peoples could not reproduce.
Briefly describe the nature and manner of late-nineteenthcentury European colonial administration.
In most places, local economies underwent
drastic restructuring to pay expenses and earn
profits.
 The amount of control exerted by European
home governments varied widely.
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regions with large numbers of Europeans, such as
Australia and Canada, had more autonomy.
 Protectorates retained their traditional governments,
but Europeans oversaw and advised them.
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Many local government schemes involved the
cooperation of local elites.
As late as 1879, more than 90 percent of Africa was ruled by
Africans. Why then did European nations embark on the sudden
“scramble” for Africa?
 Within ten years, most of Africa was invaded
and divided among European colonial powers.
 Egypt, the wealthiest and most heavily
populated African nation, fell into heavy debt
 So what happened?
 allowed Great Britain to assert control over the
Egyptian government, especially over the Suez
Canal.
 In West Africa
 the French extended the railroad system inland
to open trading opportunities
African Resistance
Berlin Conference 1884
 European nations met
together to carve up
Africa
 Many African nations rose
up to challenge the
Europeans. But Failed!!
 Only Ethiopia and Liberia
preserve its
independence.
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Emperor Menelik II
(Ethiopia)
Effects of Imperialism on Africa
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Imperialists profited from African
colonies by obtaining natural
resources
Schools set up taught Africans that
European ways were best
Imperialism contrary to western ideals
of liberty and equality
South Africa’s Long Struggle
With Apartheid
In 1910, South Africa won self-rule from
Britain.
 Over the next decades, the white
minority government imposed
apartheid. What is that?
 a system of racial laws which separated
the races and kept the black majority in
a subordinate position.
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The Policy of Apartheid Would continue until 1992.
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Imperialism in Latin America from 1869 to 1914
Latin American economy
focused on exporting raw materials, (agricultural goods)
Latin American countries were not colonized. Why?
part because of the Monroe Doctrine—but had to accept “freetrade imperialism.”
Europe and the U.S. invested heavily in South American
railroads using their own equipment and expertise. Why?
Imported equipment ensured that Latin American steel and
machinery industries had no chance to develop.
Who paid for these internal improvements?
Latin Nations regularly fell into debt
The United States sent troops to Latin America to ensure
repayment of loans.
U.S. dominates the Western Hemisphere!
 Gained controlled of the Panama Canal
 intervened militarily in Cuba, particularly after the SpanishAmerican War.
 acquired Puerto Rico from the Spanish government after
that war.
Southeast Asia
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France: Indochina
(modern day Vietnam,
Cambodia, and Laos
British: India, Burma,
Malay Peninsula, and
North Borneo
Germany: Pacific
islands
U.S: Philippines,
Guam, Hawaii, and
Cuba
Netherlands: Dutch
East Indies (present
day Indonesia)
How did the New Imperialism affect Southeast Asia,
Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hawaii?
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Before 1869
much of East Asia had already been claimed by colonial
powers.
Impact of the Suez Canal
did not encourage Asian colonization; rather, it was because of
those colonies that the canal was built.
After 1869
the British assumed control over the remainder of Burma and
Malaya, and the Dutch consolidated control of the East Indies.
The only independent state in the region was Siam.
Large numbers of Chinese and Indians were brought into those
colonies to fill shortages of labor.
What role did Christian missionaries play?
Western education also had important effects on indigenous
peoples.