Imperialism In The 1800s

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Although the act of conquering lands was not new, an alternate version was implemented in the 1800s. This “new imperialism” differed from colonialism in its economic, religious, and nationalist motivations, while both were similar in that countries harbored a paternalistic attitude towards the land they occupied. God, gold, and glory are often cited as the reasons for colonialism in the 1500s. God refers to the desire for colonists to convert natives to Christianity, mainly Catholicism. In the age of imperialism, however, missionary work was equally Protestant as Catholic. Gold alludes to the various precious goods that were coveted on the newly colonized lands. This is contrasting to the collection of raw materials and the selling of goods to natives that characterized imperialism. …show more content…

Colonists sought the prestige that comes with “finding” territory, as well as the lavish rewards gifted by their monarchs in return for the discovery. Imperialists were more strategic, claiming land to ensure military mobility and to keep their enemies from having an advantage over them. An essential theme in both colonialism and imperialism are the racist views that plagued expanding nations. They believed lesser races should be “civilized” by forcing their own culture onto the native peoples that inhabited the land prior to their

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