British Imperialism: 1890 To World War I

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In the historical overview that called for this analysis on Imperialism, it is vital to sketch briefly the origin and nature of British Imperialism, and its course from 1890 to World War I. In the later part of the 19th century, two significant events affecting this course took place, one in Germany, one in England. Bismarck in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, crowned the German King Emperor of Germany at the end of the Franco-Prussian War. In England, Disraeli made Victoria, Queen of England, the Empress of India and the British Empire. Thereby were set in motion two main streams of European history that were to come together in cataclysmic proportions in World War I.
In his political career, Disraeli carried two banners, the monarchies …show more content…

Rhodes became the epitome of the gallants of British Imperialism, taking his place in the Pantheon of empire-builders. His maiden speech in Parliament, April 19,1881, was on the question of native disarmament in Basutoland. He ha early developed an interest in South Africa, where it was his ambition to build up a United South Africa for the British Empire. Doing so was to oppose the Boer’s under their President Kruger, was to create the Boer War, and was to create one of the first acts in the scenario of British-German Imperialism of the 20th century. He overrode the “wobbing” of the British Colonial office, counting on the self-interest of the Cape Colony and the panorama of new land for British colonists. At the time Rhodes arrived in South Africa, the Cape Colony was beginning a period of great commercial prosperity following the discovery of the diamond-fields. Against him was the ascendancy of Oom Paul Kruger in the Transvaal and his demands for real expansion of its territory. The timing was ripe for Rhodes’ arrival to counteract the plans of the Boers, brining the native states together into a compact whole under the British …show more content…

As Colonial Secretary from 1895 to 1903, he gave impetus to British Imperialism. To him, love of country was the commanding feature of the self-governing dominions in their roles as parts of the British Empire. He fought for British superiority in South Africa, and the history records of him as one of the chief advocates of the Boer War. Me made countless moves to improve the instruments of imperial power and wealth, and pushed imperial administration deeper into imperialism than ever before

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