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Colonialism and it's effect
Impact of colonialism
Colonialism and it's effect
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German imperialism, though mainly isolated to Africa it has had a colossal impact on the world as it is today. The effects of their policies, atrocities and advancements cannot be measured.(Lynn pg.20) The effects they had stretch from directly influencing the First World War, and as minuscule as reorganizing world borders. Their massacre of indigenous peoples at Woohvi, and other colonies taught the world what monsters can lay beneath a clean cut surface. Also their advancements in military tactics and technology as well as trade and commerce are still models that people look to today. It was for the good of the fatherland they said, but is the advancement of a culture truly worth the loss of another? This was not a question the Germans asked of themselves when laying waste to the culture and peoples that had the misfortune of residing in their African holdings.
The origins of the German Imperialistic machine begin where most did, in competition. With Britain, France, and Spain all also jockeying for position, it was ensured Germany would also join that race. All European countries wanted a piece of the African pie as well as the riches and prestige that came with being a colonial power.
The origins of imperialism lie far in the past, Medieval times was the beginning of the Hapsburg’s and beginning of Europe as we know it today began to take form. The German’s were powerful centeral country in this mix. The Germans strove to become a powerful partner in trade and economic power. This was the continuation of rivalries between the European countries. All major players wanted overseas holding to fortify their own economy and their place in the world. (Singh pg3)This is the time that set up the rivalries and pushes to lea...
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...is day. Their lack of resolve, lack of humanity, has become synonymous with the German people of that era, and a black mark on the history of not only these people but of a world. The decisions made by the politicians, the officers, and the soldiers beneath them destroyed families, lives and civilizations. This lack of empathy for another group of people is one of the most disturbing aspects of the Imperialist Era. The German ideals would also lead to the most horrific fighting on a grand scale the world had ever seen or would ever see. An anonymous poem sums up the questions of many in just a few lines:
So what did you gain when you conquered the land?
Just a pretty penny for now, a page in a history book and a name for the future.
You mean little child trampling down the flowers just because you could.
Just because we could. (Simon pg.6)
Imperialism is the practice by which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. By the 1800’s, the Western powers had advantages in this process. They led the world in technological advances, giving them a dominance when conquering other countries. The European Imperialists made attempts to conquer China and Japan. In this process, they succeeded by influencing Japan greatly. However, they were not as successful with China.
The 19th century set the stage for different policies that lead to the extending of America’s power, which is defined as imperialism. Imperialism started for different reasons like the Americans wanting the U.S. to expand or explore the unknown land, or even some feared existing resources in U.S. might eventually dry up. The reason imperialism started doesn’t really matter, but more of what it caused. Imperialism lead to Cuban assistance, the addition of Hawaii and Alaska to America, and Yellow Journalism.
Imperialism was one of the things that played a major role in World War I. Imperialism is basically when one country tries to take over another country in various ways. Germany was attempting to control lands in Africa, which was a place that Britain and France had already established. (Brown, B. (2009, April 23). Causes of world war I (great war). Imperialism takes a lot of time to develop in terms of establishing the dominance needed to secure another nation or country. Therefore, imperialism is seen as a long-term cause WWI. (Brown, B. (2009, April 23). Causes of world war I (great war). By gaining land through imperialism, they had the idea that the country that gained the land would also gain valuable resources like the people and money. (Nationalism, imperialism, and militarism in world war I. (n.d.).
The main motive for imperialism was the religious motive. Imperialism began in the year 1884 with the Berlin Conference and lasted throughout 1914. It mostly took place in the countries of Africa and Asia because Europeans felt that those were the parts of the world that needed the most help. They took over these countries and tried to convert them to Christianity. One of the most important reasons why Europeans went to countries such as Asia and Africa was to spread Christianity. They also went to countries like Africa and Asia to help educate them. Although, on the other hand, they also wanted to spread their Western culture. Europeans were involved in imperialism for many reasons, but the biggest motivator was the religious motive.
Imperialism became popular in the 18th century as Europeans began wandering into Africa, discovering many raw materials that could most certainly be beneficial to their country’s industries and economy. So, the scramble for Africa began. Countries desired their land to improve their economics by increasing supply of raw materials and also by geopolitics and more strategic location and transportation. Countries also wanted colonies to improve their reputation as a world power. This increased nationalism in many countries. Wealth and nationalism, two of the main causes of imperialism, were based off of greed and ambition for the strongest, largest empire.
A similarity between Taylor and Kennedy’s theory is that they both recognize the impact that Germany had. Kennedy suggests that Germany was the one to alter “the relative position of all the existing Great Powers in Europe” , this was based on the argument that Germany was the economic “powerhouse” of Europe. There was an increasing manifestation of Germany’s growth and place in the world. This can be seen in the words of the German politician, Friedrick Naumann “The German race brings it” . We can see the emphasis on political prestige through his elaboration, that Germany “brings army, navy, money and power”. This was the age of “new European Imperialism”, where each country seemed to be asserting their status and political prestige. Kennedy’s theories of imperialism argue that colonisation in Africa was motivated by the need for “large scale territorial expansion”. Germany’s colonisation in Africa was argued to be “irresistible as a natural Law” However, it may seem that Kennedy and Taylor’s theories are valid in explaining the colonisation in Africa. It is worth mentioning, nevertheless, that in Germany after 1895; it was the “ruling elite” that had become conceived of the need for colonisation in Africa. This factor applies more towards the theories of “gentlemanly capitalism” rather than the theories of “diplomatic and political aims”. Therefore, as a result, it may be the case that all different elements of theories are valid for explaining the colonisation of Africa. In further analysis, it will become clearer whether this is the case.
Germany has many benefits and disadvantages forfrom being the country who took over parts of Africa. Some of the benefits include farming and mining, those two occupations improved a lot. Additionally, more modern facilities were being created to import and export goods. This made Germany more advanced. Even primary and secondary schools were being built to better the German education. To keep Germany safer and cleaner, many hospitals were being set up. On an important note, the Maxim Gun was used in Germany’s favor. They used this against the Africans whoand they did not have this advanced of technology. The downsides to Imperializing Southwest Africa is that when Germany made a treaty with some countries in East Africa, Germany did not get all of the land that they desired. Germany had much more power over Africa. Imperialism is great for the world. It would not be like it is today if Imperialism did not shape it how it is currently. Some examples is that Ethiopia has gained lots of weapons. On the other hand, the United States got a lot of technology. Those are just two countries that Imperialism has been a
In the decades before the outbreak of war in 1914, Germany had been the major instigator of tension between the European powers. Under the policy of Weltpolitik (world politics) Germany's wished to play a large part in international affairs, join in on the quest for colonial territory, and spread German influence abroad. The other European powers were all pursuing their own imperialistic policies and were all competing for the same aims as Germany. When Germany tried to bully its way into the grab for colonies the other nations responded by forming alliances isolating it. Weltpolitik accomplished very little positive effects, instead managing to sour international relations, and cause a great deal of ...
Imperialism was an important factor in the outbreak of World War I. As European countries raced to lay claims in Africa, conflicts were created amongst them. Britain, the world power of the time, dreamed of building a “Cape to Cairo” railroad over entirely British-controlled territory. Germany, however, planned to prevent the British dream by taking over East Africa. To prevent war between the two countries, arrangements were made in 1886 that gave Britain control of the northern part of the region, British East Africa, and gave Germany control of the southern part of the region, German East Africa. With their railroad dream prevented by Germany, relationships between Britain and Germany grew strained. Further tensions were created built after the allied Boer states of the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State declared war on Great Britain in 1899. Although the Boers were outnumbered, the weapons that Germany provided for them helped the war last until 1902. As land in Africa became increasingly scarce, German...
The Treaty of Versailles, one of the most controversial international agreements(“D.1. The Treaty of Versailles."), had been negotiated between January and June of 1919 (History. Staff). Although it was negotiated between January and June, the Treaty of Versailles was officially signed on June 28, 1919 (Hashall) at Versailles, a suburb of Paris (Benson). This treaty involved Germany and all allies of World War I (Benson). The peace agreement was established to aid in the termination of World War I.
The concept of imperialism is one that has pervaded nearly every major society or empire throughout human history. It seems to be a natural consequence of societies growing in size, power, and knowledge. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries vast changes occurred in Western Europe (and soon spread elsewhere) that spurred a new round of imperialism the likes of which had not been seen before. The changes were the industrial revolution that was taking place. Countries were rapidly advancing to industrial societies producing much greater quantities of goods at much lower costs. The goods produced ranged everywhere from cotton textiles to military machinery, all of which would play important roles in rounds of imperialistic expansion that would follow. The imperialistic displays by Western European nations also brought about several other industrial revolutions in other regions including the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and Japan. I will take a look at how the industrial revolution encouraged imperialistic expansion, as well as some of the results of that expansion in other regions.
European imperialism in the 19th century began with the idea of power and control. There was constant tension between the powers about who the dominant European power was and who had the most money. With the new technologies like gunboats and steam-powered ships and demand for goods and profit, Europeans used their power and ideologies to start conquering and controlling weaker countries. European imperialism was based around the idea of using European dominance and power to create more markets in less advanced countries, build the respective imperialist power’s military, and enforce the imperialist power’s culture and will on the weaker states. Imperialists also wanted to spread their religion to different countries. The annexation of various colonies meant that the imperialists could convert more people to Christianity. It also meant that the more countries the imperialists had, the more markets they could create, which could sell their goods, and therefore generate more money to the imperialists.
Imperialism was a cause as well as context for World War I. More specifically, British imperialism was a significant cause of World War I. German propaganda illustrates how Britain stretched its empire across the world by comparing it to an octopus whose tentacles are latched onto different parts of the globe. With Britain expanding its empire, the Germans could’ve felt as if
The concept of old Imperialism originated when different countries began expanding into other nations as a means to develop and increase their resource materials to ‘feed’ the capital. It was said that idea of Imperialism was motivated by “Gold, Glory and God or Gospel”. If this metaphor is broken down and explained, Gold refers to the cornucopia of new and ‘exotic’ materials that the undiscovered lands or ‘new world’ were said to dispense. Glory signifies the importance and pride that came with claiming the new land and with it the newly obtained power. And finally god or gospel refers to the religious principles of the motherland Britain, this idea of mercantilism was said to be a crucial dynamic that ...
Imperialism is when strong nations attempt to create empires by dominating weaker nations - economically, politically, culturally or militarily. In America, during the 1800s and 1900s, there was dispute about wether or not we should, as a nation, become imperialists through expansion. American expansion was a decision that could change the US forever in every aspect. It could make or break us, so to speak. Economically, this would mean a growth in industry, an increasing need for natural resources, and the requirement of new markets in which to sell manufactured goods. Nationally, this would create more competition for large empires, a rise in nationalism, and the origin of the belief that the people, ideals and goals not one nation were superior to another. Militarily, this would result in advances in military technology, and growing navies.Finally, socially, new religious goals would arise, as well as a "duty" to spread the blessings of Western civilization, which is an idea that seems to have been coerced by motives similar to those of Manifest Destiny. During the imperialism debate, both imperialists and anti-imperialists would have to keep in mind the importance of their decision and it's relevance to the both the growing power of the US and the nations relationship to other nations.