Dbq Imperialism

Imperialism has occurred widely throughout history. China, Africa, and India are just a few nations out of many who have been victims of imperialism in the 1900’s. It is a form of economic exploitation in which the imperialist power makes use of other countries as sources of raw material and cheap labor, shaping their economies to suit their own interests and keeping their people in poverty either through direct or indirect rule. This is unequal and explains why imperialism has a negative impact on the world because it violates freedoms and human rights.

Imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies. When attempting to control another country, imperialist powers developed various methods to take over and administer subordinate peoples. This included countries like Africa, a victim of economic imperialism, as it provided new markets for European goods and also contained materials that the great powers could exploit. Europeans would practice brutal warfare on native tribes, using terror to control and enslave the people (doc.5). Africa is a colony where a territory or piece of land are governed directly by a foreign power. The

governing power may exercise direct rule where a colony would be governed by foreign officials while no self-rule was given to the natives, forcing them into submission, or indirect rule where local government officials were used, and the native upper-class was given limited self-rule over the colony.
The Sphere of influence is another example of imperialism, it was an area in which the foreign nations controlled trade and investment. China was divided into various spheres-of -influence by European powers so that they could obtain exclusive trade rights with Chinese ports. Often, Europeans would abuse trade with China because of Extraterritoriality rights granted in Europe.
Countries that were under the control of imperialism also had positive results. Their nations became modernized and also led to the growth of industry worldwide. European colonization lead to the development of infrastructure, including the building of roads, canals, and railways, they showed them the telegraph, newspaper, established schools, gave them the blessing of their civilization, and overall made them economized (doc. 1). British control also brought about some political stability and order for many African colonies. With the growth of imperialism access to resources contributed to both sides. The colonial governments introduced improved medical care, and better methods of sanitation. There were new crops; tools and farming methods, which helped, increase food production. These changes meant less death to smaller colonies, and overall improve the state of living. Entrepreneurs played a part of modernizing and building on smaller colonies. Politicians, missionaries, military, and naval leaders were also part of empire builders that contributed greatly to the stability and protection of a country under imperialism (doc.3).
When imperialism occurred, it may have seemed like a good thing, but in the long run, it had many more negative effects.

All Africans and Asians were heavily exploited and were given no rights to do anything even though the mother countries gave them modern culture. Colonies inside colonies would fight because they wanted independence and have their own government and rule. There were also many ethnic groups that had nationalistic feelings but could not accomplish anything and become a free nation because of Imperialism, colonization made the natives feel inferior and they had no confidence for independence (doc. 6). When Europeans claimed to Christianize their nations, they instead took their land and were using all the resources

(doc.7).
Violence and slavery was a huge negative impact on the natives. The relation between whites and blacks turned into a relation between dominators and dominated. Asians and Africans had their freedoms taken away and became slaves to harsh labor(doc.2). Human rights were also violated under imperialism, Africans were killed, families were torn apart, and rape, violence, and slavery were all caused by the European powers taking control (doc.5). According to an African proverb they stated, "When the whites came to our country, we had the land and they had the Bible, now we have the Bible and they have the land." This is saying that when the missionaries claimed to spread religion, they selfishly took the land and the Africans were only left with their faith (doc. 4).
In conclusion, imperialism is negative and a world without it would have made countries like Africa confident to be independent. Promoting imperialism is wrong as it violates human rights, takes away freedoms, and innocent people get killed. We are still dealing with conflicts today because of countries that have been victims of imperialism.