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New Imperialism • Imperialism is the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region. Since the areas under control are called colonies, the practice of imperialism can be referred to as colonialism. There are two distinct periods of imperialism– the “old imperialism” (1500-1800) and the “new imperialism” (beginning in the 1870s). In just a few decades, beginning in the 1870s, Europeans brought much of the world under their control. • The old imperialism had the following characteristics: concerned with establishing trade routes and obtaining resources; carried on at first by private individuals and companies; took place mainly in the western hemisphere, the Americas. • The new imperialism has these general characteristics: concerned with establishing trade and markets, obtaining resources, and making large financial investments; carried on by governments as official policy; took place mainly in the eastern hemisphere, Africa, and Asia. Motives for New Imperialism Economic• The Industrial Revolution created the need for sources of raw materials and a need for markets for finished goods. Colonies were seen as sources for both. • They were also seen as placed to invest in and a outlet for Europe’s growing population. Political and Military• Steam-powered merchant and naval vessels needed coal refueling and supply bases around the world. • Western countries claimed that colonies were needed for national security. • Nationalism- Countries seized land to make sure their rivals did not get it. They also felt that ruling a global empire increased a nations prestige and glory around the world. The nationalist desires sparked nations to achieve a balance of power with other nations that were seeking to build colonial empires. Humanitarian and Religious Goals• Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed they had a duty to spread what they saw as the blessings of Western civilization, including its medicine, law, and Christian religion. Social Darwinism• Behind the idea of the West’s civilizing mission was a growing sense of racial superiority. • They applied Darwin’s ideas about natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies. They claimed that the European races were superior to all others, and imperial domination of weaker races was simply natures way of improving the human species. • As a result, millions of non-Westerners were robbed of their cultural heritage. The Rapid Spread of Western Imperialism From 1870 to 1914, imperialist nations gained control over much of the worlds. Leading the way were soldiers, merchants, settlers, missionaries, and explorers. In Europe, imperial expansion found favor with all classes. Reason Imperialism Expanded Rapidly Weakness of Non-Western States• European countries grew stronger in the 1800s, several older civilizations were in decline, especially Ottoman Middle East, Mughal India, and Qing China • In West Africa, wars among African peoples and the damaging effects of the slave trade had undermined established empires, kingdoms, and city-states. Newer African states were never strong enough to resist the Western onslaught. Western Advantages• European powers had the advantages of strong economies, well organized governments, and powerful armies and navies. • Superior technology, including riverboats and telegraph. Conquered nations had no match for European military technology like Maxim machine guns, repeating rifles, and steam-driven warships. • Medical advances like quinine allowed Europeans to survive deadly tropical diseases. Resistance to Imperialism Resisting Imperialism• Although Africans and Asians strongly resisted Western expansion into their lands they had no weapons equal to the Europeans. • The ruling groups in certain areas tried to strengthen their societies against outsiders by reforming their own Muslim, Hindu or Confucian traditions. Many western-educated Africans and Asians organized nationalist movements to expel the imperialists from their lands. Criticism at Home• In the West a small group of anti-imperialists emerged. • Some argued that colonialism was a tool of the rich. • Others argued it was immoral. • They pointed out that Westerners were moving toward greater democracy at home but were imposing undemocratic rule on other places. Forms of Imperialist Control Imperialism took many different forms in the 19th century. 1. Sphere of influence. A nation gained sole economic power in a region and had exclusive rights to trade, to invest, and to develop mines, railroads, or factories. It could not be interfered with by other nations. This form of imperialism was used in China, where each foreign nation—for example Germany—had economic control in a specific area. 2. Concession. In this form, a foreign nation obtained special privileges. An underdeveloped area gave permission to a technologically advances nation to do something of economic value in the area. (for example, the Arabs let the British drilled for oil and built railroads in the Middle East) 3. Protectorate. A colonial nation allowed the native ruler of an area to remain in office as a figurehead, while in reality the colonial power made all the major decisions (France in Tunisia). The former Eastern European satellite nations controlled by the former Soviet Union after World War II can be thought of as protectorates. 4. Colony. An imperialist nation takes control over an area and makes it part of its empire( France Indochina, the Netherlands in Indonesia, Britain in India) Colonial Policies The major imperialist nations followed different policies in ruling their empires. These policies influences the patterns of independence that took place after 1945. 1. England. Its policy of indirect rule permitted local rulers to retain some power in an area. Nevertheless, because the British felt that their democratic values were superior and should be spread, they sought to educate selected Africans and Asians in English Schools. It was hoped that these natives would plant British political and social ideals in their native lands. People who received such an education, such as Gandhi and Nehru in India, eventually led their people to independence in nonviolent ways, based on democratic ideas. Britain was never involved in harsh colonial wars for independence as were some other European nations. 2. France. Its policy of direct rule viewed colonies as if they were actually parts of France. Decisions for the colonies were made directly in Paris. Since the French language and culture were assumed to be preferable, all people learned them in colonized areas. These attitudes were the basis for France’s claim to carry out a civilized mission and to accomplish assimilation of native peoples. Since France viewed areas such as Algeria and Indochina as much a part of French territory as Paris, the French were unwilling to give in to demands for independence that grew after the end of World War II. Consequently, France fought bitter, unsuccessful colonial wars in these areas. 3. Portugal. Its policy of paternalism viewed colonies as though they were children, and Portugal did little to prepare its colonies for independence. As with France, it looked on its colonies as parts of Portugal. Consequently, it too was unwilling to grant independence to it colonies in Angola and Mozambique without military struggle. 4. Belgium. It followed policies of paternalism and exploitation in the Congo. Belgium did little to pave the way for independence and left the area amid much bloodshed in 1960. Consequently, this former colony had severe political problems in creating a stable government when it became independent. Independence and Decolonization • During the period after World War II, Independence came to almost all areas that had come under European imperialist control. This period of Decolonization saw the emergence of over 50 new nations. The end of imperialism after 1945 was the result of many factors: nationalist movements in the colonies grew more powerful, gaining support from native people as well as from some people in the imperialist nations; the Western European nations were weary after fighting World War II; the creation of the United Nations was linked to global concerns for human rights and recognition of the need for people to achieve self-determination. • Although decolonization was achieved in both peaceful and violent ways, many former colonies retain ties today to their former foreign rulers. Many of Britain’s colonies, after independence, voluntary chose membership in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The organization meets to discuss matter of mutual interest and provides certain economic privileges for members. Although it no longer exists, the French Community was an organization similar to the British Commonwealth. It included France and several of its former colonies. France’s interest in its former colonies can be seen in its giving economic aid and in providing military support when requested. For example , in recent years, French forces were sent to the African nations of Chad and Gabon to put down armed opposition to the governments there. Evaluation of European Imperialism Consequence Political Economic Social Positive Negative Brought stability and Colonial wars; discrimination; unification; training for drew boundaries without independence; promoted the consulting native peoples nation-state idea Introduced modernization; improved means of transportation and communication; created industries; taught new skills; improved the standard of living; provided employment. Took wealth away from colony; treated workers badly; did not provide for advancement or management by colonized people; destroyed traditional industries and patterns of trade. Introduced Christianity and other aspects of Western culture; built schools and hospitals; modern medicine. Looked down on native cultures; promoted racism and cultural inferiority; introduced Western vices and diseases.