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The early 1700s upsurge of capitalist economy and superior nation states armed with well-organized military provided a favorable advantage for Belgium, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, and British to role as the world’s imperial authorities. These country passed a policy that allowed a more powerful nation to take control of a weaker nation by spreading their country's authority and influence through use of military force and colonization. The name for such a policy is call Imperialism. According to Oxford Dictionaries, “Imperialism originated from the Latin word "imperium", meaning to rule over large territories. It is an unequal human and territorial relationship, usually in the form of an empire, based on ideas of superiority and practices …show more content…
of dominance, and involving the extension of power and control of one state or people over another.” Imperialism is particularly focused on the control that one group, often a state power, has on another group of people. (Howe) There are two types of imperialism, formal and informal. Formal imperialism exists when one country physical control or full-fledged colonial rule that establish direct political dominance over a territory, often as a protectorate or colony. Informal imperialism uses indirect means of control, usually economic but frequently with a lurking military threat, to control a nation or territory. Informal imperialism spreads control more delicately through large debts that cannot be repaid, ownership of land or private industry, or forcing countries to agree to uneven trade agreements. However, Informal imperialism is still a powerful form of control. The method and philosophy does not mainly focus on political domination, but preferably, conquest over expansion. Western Imperialism motives were often for economic growth but non-economic motives were equally as important. Many motives influenced Western empires to pursue expanding their authority over other countries or territories.
The non-economic motives of imperialism was ethnocentrism, expand their borders through nationalism, and the spread of religion. Imperial countries believed that they were enlightening inferior civilizations with cultural beliefs and values. European powers clung to the racist belief that inferior races should be conquered in order to “civilize” them. (Cleary) Growing imperial power and Patriotism incited countries to compete with each other for supremacy. It’s a matter of national prestige, pride, and security. Empires wanted strategic territory to safeguard access for their navies and armies around the world. These empires must be defended and, better yet, expanded. Political motives were often triggered as responses to perceived threats to the security or prestige of the imperial power or its citizens abroad. (Cleary) Religious people regularly set out to convert new followers of their religion and, thus, their empire. Christian missionaries spread Western cultural values and established churches in occupied territories. Missionaries also spread the imperial nation’s language through educational and religious interactions, although some missionaries helped to preserve indigenous languages.
(Cleary) Depending on who perspective was given, economic, non-economic, or both were primarily important in Western imperialism. Important political leaders saw imperialism as mainly an economic advantage and a way to maximize popular support at home. They wanted to expand their borders in an attempt to grow their economy, secure ports, coaling stations for their navies, as well as the ability to raise colonial armies to help fight. Western political superpowers established strong international markets that could support their country’s manufactured products abroad, searching for new soil to produce cash crops and obtaining raw materials such as rubber and petroleum which could be transported back to domestic factories, turned into manufactured goods, and shipped back to colonies markets for sale. In addition to holding population surplus. Missionaries believed that non-economic motives was much more important. Religious people often a subordinate group, are required to convert to a different religion and led the charge to stop the slave trade as French missionaries in Vietnam during the same time period, clamored for their country to take over a nation. (Cleary) Western citizen believed in both, the usual explanation for European expansion was the "three G's": God, gold, and glory. Colonies in South America provided gold and silver. Those in the Caribbean produced sugar, a virtual "white gold", for European markets. West African colonies provided slaves for the Caribbean sugar plantations. And the North American colonies and India provided their governments with markets and raw materials. (Butler) Religion and power have always been at the forefront of nation’s minds when trying to exert their power over other nations. Ultimately, both economic and non-economic imperialism motives contributed to the success of Western imperialism. The process happened very rapidly and conveyed the destructive and irrational side of human nature. Many strong enthusiasts of imperialism saw territorial expansion as a moral initiative that might convey the blessings of a superior civilization to those that were considered inferior. Non-Western civilization conformed towards their western controllers, imperialism was domination by superior powers over colonized peoples led to a hierarchical system, plundering, and racism which was shroud by educational project as well as a way to spread European Enlightenment.
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.
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 is the domination of a weaker country by a stronger country. For instance Britain dominated India and China in the mid 1880s to the beginning of the 20th century. Imperialism has had both a positive and negative effects on the countries involved. Britain was imperialistic for many reasons, it could dominate because it had the technology and power to do so. They also needed land to acquire raw materials for growing markets.
Imperialism is when a mother nation takes over another nation and become its colony for political, social, and economical reasons. Imperialism is a progressive force for both the oppressors (mother country) and the oppressed (colony), majorly occurring during the late 19th and early 20th century. It had more negative effects than positive effects due to its domination to other nations.
Imperialism is a policy of a country’s empire that extends its military power across other lands to get more contry of a area or region. England imperised the places that they did to ether get control over land. To get better access of trade, or just wanted to have more military power in the areas. The affected regions that England imperialized was intended to get access to more trade and to have a greater impact on the regions they were in.
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.
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
Conquest and colonization has always played a role in the history of European powers. Throughout the centuries many different European empires have attempted to make their mark on multiple different continents. Some have found success, while others have failed. One case in particular, in which European nations could not quite find stability, was in North America. Factors such as the American Revolution, U.S. westward expansion, and the Monroe Doctrine pushed European nations out of North America. Afterwards, the late 19th century marked the beginning of New Imperialism. As New Imperialism began, Africa became important to European nations in their “Scramble for Africa”.
American Imperialism American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is the practice by which powerful nations or people seek to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. Throughout the years there have been many instances where the Americans have taken over other people's countries, almost every time we go into we have taken over a new piece of land. The Americas first taste of imperialism came about five hundred years ago when Columbus came to America. We fought the pleasant inhabitants and then took over their land, making them slaves.
"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.
Imperialism is the policy or action by which one country controls another country or territory. Most such control is achieved by military means to gain economic and political advantages. Such a policy is also called expansionism. An expansionist state that obtains overseas territories follows a policy usually called colonialism. An imperialist government may wish to gain new markets for its exports, plus sources of inexpensive labor and raw materials. A far-flung empire may satisfy a nation's desire for military advantage or recognition as a world power.
Imperialism was a time period in which more developed nations colonized less developed nations. The developed nations took advantage of the less developed nations resources, people, lands, and much more. Many countries lost their freedom and independence due to imperialism, however, they also received new technologies and innovations.
Although there are many other important factors, the main cause of the rise of imperialism was most certainly economic. The Age of Empire, by Eric J. Hobsbawn, provides an interpretation of New Imperialism. Hobsbawn calls imperialism “a natural by-product of the international economy” (Sherman pg 177). He is basically saying that imperialism is dependent on the rivalries of competing industries, which continually drive the international economy. Hobsbawn also dictates the need for external markets. The Industrial Revolution created many products that needed markets, thus creating a need of colonies. Hobsbawn believed that the overproduction of the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression could be solved. He also realized that many businessmen knew that they could make a large profit off of China’s large population. For example, if every one of the three hundred million Chinese purchased one box of tin-tacks the businessmen knew that there would be a huge profit, consequently increasing the desire for colonization of weaker countries.
Imperialism is the domination by one country of political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region and occurred during the 1800’s in Africa. Imperialism in Africa was caused by four factors in Europe: economy, politics/military, humanitarian/religion, and Social Darwinism (Ellis). The Industrial Revolution in Europe caused the need for oversea expansion because the manufacturers needed things like: rubber, petroleum, and palm oil all of which Africa had. Europe moving into Africa was also caused by nationalism, when France went into Africa so did Britain (Ellis). The difference between France and Britain was the way of rule they used. There are four different methods of imperialism: direct, indirect, protectorate, and sphere of influence. The most popular were direct and indirect. The French used direct, they sent officials and soldiers from France to administer their colonies and their purpose was to inflict French culture on their colonies and make them into French provinces (Ellis). The British, however, used indirect, they used chiefs to oversee their colonies and encouraged the children in the colonies to get education in Britain. The British “Westernized” their colonies and only used military force when threatened (Ellis).
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.