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Ethics in international relations essay
The effect of imperialism and colonization
The effect of imperialism and colonization
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Being that Great Britain and Japan are both island nations, it was only so much they could provide for themselves during the time of industrialization and imperialization. They had limited resources and had to resort to other ways to grow economically and become or continue to be powerful nations. This resulted to harsh methods when it came to imperialization.
In terms of imperialism, it was not always fair, but it was often justified, possibly to falsely clear the conscious of seemingly blinded imperialists. As seen from Cecil Rhodes, "My cherished idea is a solution for the social problem, i.e., in order to save . . . the United Kingdom from a bloody civil war, we colonial statesmen must acquire new lands to settle the surplus population,
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to provide new markets for the goods produced in the factories and mines. The Empire, as I have always said, is a bread and butter question. If you want to avoid civil war, you must become imperialists.(Doc. 3)" , imperialism was justified by using the excuse of them acquiring land to make room for surplus population and to make new markets for the goods produced in factories. This comes back to geography because they needed more room due to industrialization and therefore resulted to imperialism. More British Imperialism can also be seen in the amount of Opium exported to China from Britain.
There was a steady increase of opium exports even after China banned the highly addictive drug prior to the Opium Wars, this demonstrates imperialism by the greed and need for economic gain by still enforcing trade after a law was imposed for them not to, this can be seen in fifth document, a bar graph titled "British Opium Exports to China". The British simply cared about their imperialistic ways and had no regards for the Chinese and their wishes for the Opium trading to cease. Prior to the formal exports of opium, Britain saw that China did not like the trading of it and continued to smuggle it even after China officially banned it, due to the fact that opium was a highly addictive drug. This then led to the Opium wars, another example of imperialism connecting to industrialization and modernization. Britain has limited resources due to its inconvenient placement geographically speaking, it is an island nation. So therefore, Britain used a nation with better resources and location placement, China. They made them sign an unfair treaty, the Treaty of Nanjing. This treaty further helped Britain imperialistically, due to the geographically centered terms of the treaty, they had better access to ports, complete control of a main city in China, and "fair" …show more content…
tariffs. William Beasley wrote in his book that "Japan's survival and potential to thrive depended solely on their ability to take advantage of the economies of its surrounding countries (Doc 8)".
After the industrialization and modernization concerning their military (navy) and their adoption of western technology, such as canons and weapons, and even the typical lookin western military uniform, Japan then became one of the most powerful countries in Asia, around the late 1800s. You can also see in document 9, a map showing Japan's territorial expansion from 1930 - 1939, more specifically, Japan's expansion into Eastern China, seemingly for better access to ports resources. Demonstrating Beasley's writings exactly, Japan used its neighbors for its economic gains. One more example of this would be outside information I retained from the lesson "The Rise of Modern Japan", after Japan's victory with taking some of China's territory, they initiated the Russo-Japanese war, where they launched a surprise attack on Russia with their powerful navy. This shows that imperialism was bettered by the industrialization and improvement of their military forces, they drove Russians out of their own territories and seized their
land. But, it can be seen in documents 4 and 6 (the fourth document being Edward Baines describing the convenient location for Britain and it's trading endeavors and the sixth being Walter Weston describing Japan's geography and beneficial resources and supplies) that Great Britain and Japan already had a minimal amount of resources and ports, they just selfishly and greedily used the excuse of imperialization to colonize more land for resources and trading ports to better their nations' economies, and their modernization and industrialization aided their military and navies in order to become powerful enough to do it. However, all in all, Great Britain and Japan both had many similar motives when it came to modernization, imperialism, and industrialization. Being that they were both island nations, they relied on imperialism to better their economies, as their islands could only supply them with so many resources and supplies. Britain and Japan both had amazing naval forces due to their industrialized technology when it came to ships. Expansion and imperialism played a large role in imperialism in both of these island nations.
Indirectly, tea had a devastating social impact on China, as it led to the huge trade of Opium. As much as ten percent of the Chinese population (over forty million) were regular users of opium. China consumed ninety five percent of the world’s Opium supply. This had a devastating social impact on them because majority of the citizens there were addicted to it. Economically, because of the huge amounts of Opium that were imported into China, they could not export enough goods to equalize, causing the outflow of silver from China to Europe. The political impact in China included government attempts to stop the illegal trade of Opium (due to the social use of it) resulted in the blockading of European trading areas there. Britain retaliated, causing the Opium wars, through which, because of the British victory, Britain gained far greater access to the Chinese market and increased trading privileges. This also lead to Chinese workers being taken to the new world. Doing this introduced cheap labor to the new world. The Company’s need for tea in Europe, and the lack of Chinese interest in other British goods, led to the production of Opium in Bengal (by the British). This Opium was then traded with China in return for tea. By 1750, the East India Company established control over India's opium cultivation. The British exported the opium to China, which
Throughout the 19th century, European Imperialism had a major effect on Africa. As countries expanded in terms of wealth, resources, and innovation, more territory and workers were needed. The first solution to solve these problems was to begin colonizing in Africa. The driving force for imperialism in Europe and Africa was mainly economical. This economical approach was established through many ways including cultural and nationalistic ideas.
Imperialism became a driving force among European nations in the growth of power and wealth. European countries placed large values on controlling colonies, similarly to how members of the aristocratic society today would put emphasis on owning an immaculate mansion or an expensive car. Colonies formed in Latin America, Africa, and Asia were seen as status symbols for the overarching European countries; colonies represented economic strength and political power, which was fueled by intense nationalistic spirits. Competition for colonies became the biggest aspect of imperialism, leading several European powers to bicker over controlling colonial trade. The voices of the Colonists were oppressed and ignored as their land and resources were
Like previous American expansion, American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was motivated by desire for new economic gains and improvements. However, the social justification, diplomatic and military approach and geographical aspect of imperialist expansionism varied greatly from previous American growth. Therefore, American expansionism underwent more change in this period than continuity.
They supported the idea that every person “is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Doc 7). This statement is relatable to what Senator Hoar expressed. The Anti- Imperialist League also compared the idea of imperialism to militarism, “an evil from which it has been our glory to be free” (Doc 7). This statement recognizes that the United States should not succumb to the evils that exist in a militaristic state. Despite this, many wars continued to break out between other countries with Latin America for the fight of ownership of another country.
Imperialism had some positive effects regardless of how strict and unfair it was. Some positive effects can be seen in documents 2 and 7, which talks about what the mother nation gave to their colonized nations. These oppressors built them roads, canals, railways, and gave them education. They also introduced to them telegraphs, newspapers, and overall made them economized. Another positive effect can be read on documents 1 and 5. These documents show how both the oppressors and oppressed benefit from getting new resources such as raw m...
Initially Japan’s objective for industrializing was to avoid being overtaken by Western superpowers, however during the process of industrializing the Japanese government realized that industrialization is key in order to remain a dominant force in the market during this new contemporary era. Thus the Japanese began to promote industrialization in order for national prestige, power, and wealth just as Germany did. In the end both countries were successful from modernizing and industrializing. Thus promoting the increase of power and wealth for members of the higher classes. While having generally negative effects on the members of lower classes.
At the end of the eighteenth century, China’s goods were much desired by Britain. However, the Chinese saw Europeans as savages and did not want to trade with them. During trade, there was an imbalance in China’s favor, because the Europeans were forced to buy Chinese goods using silver. The Western Imperialists began to grow opium poppies from in India, and then smuggle them into China. China soon became addicted to the drug and spent most of it’s money on the purchase of it from the Europeans and Americans. This shifted the balance of power to be in Europe’s favor.
Practice what you preach! The Unites States preaches democracy, freedom, liberty and justice by all. Our ancestors fled England to gain these basic rights and establish a land of liberty and justice for all. As I study history, I have come to question whether we, as a country, really live by these principles. By the late 1800s the United States had become a world power with the ability to influence other countries and expand to new lands by using it military and economic powers; America was divided on how to use this power and influence. Expansion or isolation seemed to be the most argued political themes of the early 1900s. Europeans had drawn satisfaction from fulfilling a self-imposed “civilizing” mission to spread Western culture and
"We cannot sit huddled within our own borders and avow ourselves merely an assemblage of well-to-do hucksters who care nothing for what happens beyond. Such a policy would defeat even its own end; for as the nations grow to have ever wider and wider interests, and are brought into closer and closer contact, if we are to hold our own in the struggle for naval and commercial supremacy, we must build up our Dower without our own borders." 1899, Theodore roosevelt his book, The Strenuous Life.
Western imperialism in the 1800s and early 1900s had positive, negative, and long-lasting effects in countries like India, regions of South East Asia, and Africa. There were many social, economic, and political changes. For example, in Hawaii there was an abundance of sugar cane crops and the U.S sought out to make money by occupying Hawaii. This was beneficial for the businessmen because they were receiving large quantities of money. However, the local peoples deeply opposed the selling of their crops. Throughout the course of imperialism in the 1800s and early 1900s, many other countries and regions such as India, regions of South East Asia, and Africa were faced with hardships while the imperialists raced to gain the most control.
Western imperialism in East Asia caused many tribulations for China, Japan, and Korea but also helped them to become contemporary nations. The East Asian countries were tremendously affected by unequal treaties, extraterritoriality, and above all, technology. Great Britain encroached upon China their greed for open trade with the Chinese empire resulting in the deterioration of the Chinese culture, which led to the emergence of a modernized civilization. Japan was co-subjugated by Russia and the United States so that the trade routes of these western countries could extend into the east, which resulted in the foundation of industrialization in Modern East Asia. Finally, the spread of western Christianity and influential neighbors, namely China and Japan, culturally influenced Korea while bringing some semblance of unification. Therefore, imperialism affected 18th and 19th century East Asia by the system’s inherent exploitation of the countries' resources and worldly ignorance but also managed to give rise to a stronger Modern East Asia.
Japan had always been an ally of the United States. Japan tried to collect their share of treasure from Versailles. Japan ran into some troubles, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson rejected Japan’s claim to German concessions in Shantung. Duan Qirui, a Chinese warlord and politician had borrowed money from Japan to make China’s army stronger. Japan used that loan and wanted it to be repaid by getting the concessions in Shantung. In 1921, at the Naval Conference the US pressured the Britain’s to end their 20 year alliance with the Japanese. Japan was now isolated, Stalin’s unhappy empire to the north, t...
The common factor amongst all three instances of British Imperialism was Britain’s greed for economic opportunity. Greed is often caused by unjustifiable pride, which Britain undeniably had. England was so willing to achieve various advancements to its own economy that it created long lasting and devastating destruction in three other regions of the world. These countries still face lingering effects from British greed.
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.