Imperialism was the driving force behind European diplomacy in the Nineteenth Century. Peace, a major stated goal of the Concert of Europe, was pursued by the main players as a means of consolidating and securing their imperial gains and preventing further gains by rival states. The long stretches of peace celebrated as successes of the Concert system occurred simply because peace between the Great Powers was what the Great Powers desired. Later in the century, in the stretches leading up to the First World War, this celebrated peace was, as Pim den Boer put it, an “armed peace,” with many “consciously aiming at a great European war.” Under the Concert system, the First World War was not inevitable, but the self-interest of the Great Powers Russia, though the largest land-based empire the world had ever seen, failed to dominate in late-game European power politics because Russian imperialism was not matched by Russian industrialism and was ultimately kneecapped by the rise of communism. Russian imperialism was present from early in the century: Russia, along with Prussia and Austria (the Holy Alliance), refused to allow the restoration of the Polish state at the Congress of Vienna, presumably to prevent border disputes with a strong European nation. With the Ottoman Empire the only potential European threat, Russia was allowed a period of expansion. On its Eastern front, relationships with China dated as far back to the Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689, and the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway and construction of Pacific port towns only served to bolster Russian influence and imperialism in Asia. In the West, Russia had its own answer to the Eastern Question with its assistance of the Ottoman Empire in a war with Egypt in 1833 and the subsequent Treaty of Unkiar Skelessi, giving Russia and only Russia access to the Strait of the Dardanelles. Russia only withdrew this access at the behest of what Mowat called a “spectacle of unanimity on the part of the Central and Western Powers” at the Convention of the Straits in London in 1841. Russia had designs on an Empire in the East and West via Constantinople, but was not willing to wage a pan-European war to seize it. This desire, though tamed slightly in 1841, did not entirely disappear, with the Crimean War fought over the Russian-Ottoman tensions and the Franco-Prussian war providing an opportunity and an excuse for Russia to militarise the Black Sea. Though the defeat of Napoleon in his Moscow campaign had given Russia prestige as the premier military power of the early Nineteenth Century, their defeat in Crimea
In 1812, it was a different story, the French invaded Russia. It led to a change of fates.
Though the book has no footnotes, it was researched methodically through documents and the work of other scholars. It is very detailed and specific for such a short book. The information about the foreign policy of Russia under Catherine’s rule, and her various wars and military maneuvers, helped explain some of the issues Russian is currently undergoing today in Crimea, the Ukraine and with Turkey. The central theme of reform was also examined in depth, and given the time in which she ruled, and the size of the country, it astonishes me the undertaking Catherine had in front of her. It could take 18 months for an imperial order to reach the far eastern side of Russia, then 18 more months for a reply to get back to her at the
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 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.
It has been debated by varying scholars as to whether Caesar Augustus’ foreign policy to expand Rome’s empire had more to do with defensive imperialism as a response to encroaching threats, or rather, an aggressively, unprovoked move to claim hegemony over the known world. However, I would like to postulate in support of the former theory that in an attempt to restore and ensure long-lasting security to their empire, Augustus was forced to take proactive measures in order to preserve it. With territorial boundaries normally running along the rivers so as to provide a better defensive posture, he felt it necessary to expand the northern border to the river so as to secure their autonomy and position. Perhaps if he could establish a wide buffer
One last mistake that most people could call Napoleon’s greatest, would be his Invasion of Russia. When Czar Alexander I stopped complying with Napoleon’s demands with the Continental System, put heavy taxes on French luxury products, and refusing to let Napoleon marry a sister of his, Napoleon thought that it was time to put Russia back in his place. With this idea in place, Napoleon gathered a huge amount of troops from all around Europe, which first entered Russia on June 24, 1812. A quote from Sutherland states that “It was the most diverse European army since the Crusades”. History experts expect that at least 450,000 Grand Armée soldiers and maybe even 650,000 ended up crossing the Niemen River to fight the Russians on the other side (approx. 200,000). Napoleon
The book begins with the conclusion of the First World War, by exploring the idea that critical mistakes made then made a second war likely, yet not inevitable. Taylor points out that although Germany was defeated on the Western front, “Russia fell out of Europe and ceased to exist, for the time being, as a Great Power. The constellation of Europe was profoundly changed—and to Germany’s advantage.” (p.20-21) As a result of the war, Russia was severely weakened, which greatly upset the balance of power in Europe. Taylor claims that, “What gave France independence as a ...
To conclude, the First World War occurred due to “nationalism and ethical arrogance”15 with militarism as the result of imperialistic rivalries and a general struggle for power within Europe. In my opinion, this and therewith the war could have been avoided with the means of diplomacy and dialogue. If the countries had understood each others' desires and intentions, instead being solely concerned about one's own hegemonic pursuits and preparing for war, many disputes could have been solved with out violence. However, maybe the knowledge of the leading countries nowadays - that diplomacy is superior to the means of war - had to develop through the dreadful experience of war.
When it comes to imperialism and colonialism, Great Britain is a major employer of the two concepts. Though, at one point in history many regions of the influential country was ruled over by another. The entity which ruled over the kingdoms of England and Wales for over four centuries was the Holy Roman Empire.
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.
The presidency of William McKinley consisted of strict imperialistic policies that would benefit the advancement of American ideals. A new nation with new power began expansion both militarily and physically through an acquisition of influence in foreign territories. Under McKinley, these American influences spanned across borders in order to enhance the country’s ability to adapt to world change. These advancements in American society abruptly halted on September 6, 1901. As Leon Czolgosz assassinated President McKinley, America would reach a stalemate, and the future of the country would rest in the hands of former Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. While McKinley was one of the most respected presidents since Abraham Lincoln, Roosevelt attempted to further advance McKinley’s original beliefs through imperialism. While the assassination tragically impacted America’s forthcoming years, it
German imperialism, though mainly isolated to Africa it has had a colossal impact on the world as it is today. The effects of their policies, atrocities and advancements cannot be measured.(Lynn pg.20) The effects they had stretch from directly influencing the First World War, and as minuscule as reorganizing world borders. Their massacre of indigenous peoples at Woohvi, and other colonies taught the world what monsters can lay beneath a clean cut surface. Also their advancements in military tactics and technology as well as trade and commerce are still models that people look to today. It was for the good of the fatherland they said, but is the advancement of a culture truly worth the loss of another? This was not a question the Germans asked of themselves when laying waste to the culture and peoples that had the misfortune of residing in their African holdings.
The importance of the alliance system that developed in Europe in the decades before World War I as a cause for it is still an important topic of debate and argument between modern historians. Some argue that the alliance system was a direct cause of the outbreak of war between all major countries in Europe while other historians prefer to state that the alliance configuration we observe before the war started was simply a symptom of the conflicts and disagreements, fears and envies that had been accumulating since the Bismarck system of alliances collapsed, and even before then. This last opinion is becoming more accepted as the one that describes the true importance of the actual alliance system as a cause of the war. In order to determine the importance of the alliance system as a cause for the war we must first explore the origins of these alliances. We will take high-point of the Bismarck system in 1878 as our starting point as the Franco-Prussian war is a key factor for the development of this system.
After their defeat in the Crimean war (1853-1856), Russia’s leaders realized they were falling behind much of Europe in terms of modernisation and industrialisation. Alexander II took control of the empire and made the first steps towards radically improving the country’s infrastructure. Transcontinental railways were built and the government strengthened Russia’s economy by promoting industrialisation with the construction of factory complexes throughout...
The growth of the European super powers during the 19th century consisted of the great powers vying for territorial attainments, developing their international influence, and ensuring positive domestic attitudes of their diplomatic actions. Attempting to cement their hegemony of international politics, the Prussian Empire sought to create an ethnically and politically unified German state to rebuff the prominence granted to Austria at the Congress of Vienna. Through the machinations of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and his determination to unite the German lands through “blood and iron”, Germany quickly rose to become the epicenter of European politics and forever changed the geopolitical landscape of Europe. In examining the unification of Germany and its implications for the international system, this paper will explore the prehistory of the unification, significant diplomatic successes and failures during the bolstering of Germany’s power, and the change in the power structure of Germany that ultimately changed the military landscape of the international system and became the precursor for World War I.