Imperialism Dbq Essay

The definition of imperialism is an unequal human and territorial relationship, usually in the form of an empire, based on ideas of superiority and practices of dominance, and involving the extension of authority and control of one state or people over another. The domination by the imperialism era was divided by economic, political, and social forces during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Industrial Revolution greatly impacted the forces and in my opinion was responsible for most of the new imperialism. This revolution took great part of the social forces. It brought new and advanced technology. The industrial revolution brought capitalist profit and power to the nation. In document 2, American senator A.J. Beveridge points out that American factories are making more than American people can use. “We will cover the ocean with our merchant marines. We will build a navy to measure our greatness…” Since the Americans are producing more than they can consume, they need to expand their market in order to produce more profits, which is ultimately the reason why Beveridge states that it would benefit America to become more imperialistic.

In William L.

Langer's book, The Diplomacy of Imperialism, mentioned in document 5, states that Survival of the fittest is the most crucial evolutionary teaching. Going along with the economic force, the survival of the fittest acted as a major economic force. The political forces are the foundation of everything regarding government and forming an empire. Europeans needed navy ships and bases for trade. In document 4, Cecil Rhodes, a successful British imperialist in Africa during 1877 expressed his position in Confession of Faith. Document 4 believes that Britain should share its power since “the Britons are the finest race in the world.” Rhodes believes it is their duty to inhabit more territory to better the

world.
In history, there has been trouble with racism. However, during this time period of the new imperialism, it made a vast impact on the social forces of this era. The White Man’s Burden poem stated in document 6, explains how the white people decided to “gang up” on the blacks since they did not have a stable government or let alone anyone to defend them such as a military. The whites thought of themselves as better and more powerful than the black people because of those reasons. “To serve your captives’ need,” mentioned Rudyard Kipling in the White Man’s Burden Poem. The connection between the races allowed for the development of the social forces and made it more stable.
Overall, economic, political, and social forces during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries left a great impact on the new imperialism. Many factors contributed to the imperialism and in the end allowed it to become a tremendous part of the American history.