Essay On New Imperialism

Conquest and colonization has always played a role in the history of European powers. Throughout the centuries many different European empires have attempted to make their mark on multiple different continents. Some have found success, while others have failed. One case in particular, in which European nations could not quite find stability, was in North America. Factors such as the American Revolution, U.S. westward expansion, and the Monroe Doctrine pushed European nations out of North America. Afterwards, the late 19th century marked the beginning of New Imperialism. As New Imperialism began, Africa became important to European nations in their “Scramble for Africa”. New Imperialism was the new era of overseas expansion after 1870. It

During the Brussels conference in 1876, Leopold found the International African Association. Its object was, “the exploration of the country and the founding of stations which should be rest-houses for travellers and centres of civilization” (Tusan 195). The founding of the Congo as a free state was also proposed at the Brussels conference. Afterward came the Berlin conference of 1885. The Berlin conference was the formalization of the scramble and regulated european colonization and trade. It also defined the borders of the Congo, ensured free trade, and the abolition of the slave trade. The Treaty of Berlin was made to regulate colonization in Africa. As it stated, “All the powers exercising sovereign rights or influence in the aforesaid territories bind themselves to watch over the preservation of the native tribes, and to care for the improvement of the conditions of their moral and material well-being, and to help in suppressing slavery, and especially the slave trade. They shall, without distinction of creed or nation, protect and favour all religious, scientific or charitable institutions and undertakings created and organized for the above ends, or which aim at instructing the natives and bringing home to them the blessings of civilization” (Tusan 200). King Leopold then went on to claim the Congo as his personal property. He stated, “Our refined society attaches to human life (and with reason) a value unknown

Hobson, Lenin, and Dubois were all anti-imperialist critics. Hobson and Lenin both seen economic problems with imperialism. Hobson seen imperialism as a good capitalism system gone bad, while Lenin believed imperialism would end capitalism. Dubois compared Imperialism in Africa to segregation in the U.S. He seen it as a larger worldwide system of racial injustice. As he stated, “The Negro problem in America is but a local phase of a world problem, The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the Color Line” (Tusan 189). Others such as E.D. Morel and Conan Doyle were against Leopold. Both saw King Leopold as corrupt and blamed him for the crimes committed in Africa. There also was Joseph Conrad, who found civilizing mission corrupt. He described the scramble as vile and in search of loot. Conrad stated, “The vilest scramble for loot that ever disfigured the history of human conscience and geographical exploration” (Tusan