Imperialism Dbq Essay

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries there were was a great deal of imperialism being done by Europe, specifically in Asia and Africa. Africa was a big focal point for this imperialism when the Berlin Conference cut the continent up for their spheres of influence. These spheres of influence enacted a variety of different responses by the colonized people. The colonized people responded to this imperialism with three reactions: warm welcome, hatred, or caution in hopes for preservation of their way of life.
In this imperialism by Europe, there was much good that was brought out from it which allowed for the response of happiness. An Indian politician named Dadabhai Naoroji wrote all about “the Benefits of British Rule” specifically in India (Doc. 3). In his book, he talks about politics, economics, and material goods that was influenced greatly of Great Britain and greatly

help and impacted India. In the middle of some Indians in opposition with Great Britain, the leader of the Indian independence movement named Bal Tilak wrote in his address to the Indian National Congress that the Indians have “no necessity for arms” (Doc. 7). In India the government was in great favor of English control since it benefited both parties. Education was a great benefit of imperialism. Germany had a sphere of influence in East Africa which can be seen in a portrait made in the early twentieth century of Emperor Wilhelm II and his wife in a missionary school (Doc. 10). Education was a great benefit for many colonies which progressed them forward in medicine and science.
Another response from the native people was fear and a want to preserve their way of life.

During this time China and England was doing a lot of trading. In 1839 and Chinese imperial official wrote a letter to Queen Victoria telling her that the British don’t “intend to harm other on purpose, but the fact remains that they are so obsessed with material gain that they have no concern whatever for the harm they can cause to others” (Doc1.). He is specifically talking about opium trade. This trade is allowing for people to focus on trade and selfish things rather that tradition. He feels that it takes away from tradition of China and this is being done just so that the British continually get richer. The Arabs thought the same thing of Europe in general. In a manifesto of Arab nationalists they wrote about how “natural resources have been alienated from [Arabs] and have come into the possession of England, France, and Germany” (Doc. 9). Imperialism was used for money and the colonized people knew it so they were cautious about their trade in order to keep their national

identity.
The last response was hatred. Some of the colonized people despised the spheres of influence of the Europeans. In China, the people were mad that Europe was different socially. One example of Europe being different than them was that some of their “rule[s] is at one time a woman” which was a big enough difference to enrage the Chinese culture (Doc. 2). Some European came to new countries the idea that they were better, and they wanted to “fix” the natives. With this mindset they committed “acts of majorities” that would “have been wrong and those of minorities to have been right”, as said by Mohandas Gandhi (Doc. 7). Different cultures have different ways of life and with that, tension will arise. Anger was strong in the hearts of many.
Imperialism during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century led to many responses such as that of happiness, caution, or hatred. The same responses were seen in the imperialism of the Americas which happened hundreds of years earlier. The natives were very suspicious of the new whites and responded to them in the same three ways. Imperialism has a variety of different effects on different people. People want to hold on to identity. Countries do want money. All these reasons can collide in Imperialism leading to these responses which can benefit or hinder these countries.