20th Century Imperialism

The 19th and 20th century imperialism was substantially about the exploitation of the empires colonies and thus was not a necessarily an ‘civilizing mission’. During the 19th and 20th century European powers tried to justify their actions, by claiming that they were trying to re-educate the native population through education, this included Christian missionaries which were placed throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, it became apparent that these powers gained significant wealth by commercializing items that could not be obtained otherwise. Two key examples of imperialism in the 19th and 20th century includes the Belgium Congo whereby Leopold II gained significant wealth through rubber plantations and the British

One of the main driving factors of European imperialism in Africa is that Europeans wanted to help Africans in need. Part of Africa needed food, water, shelter, and education so some European countries went to travel to Africa so they could help these people. According to Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “Take up the white man’s burden, The savage wars of peace-, Fill full the mouths of Famine, And bid the sickness cease.” (Doc F) In the poem Kipling talks about how the Europeans needed to go to Africa and

It is said that the colonization of Africa by European settlers was significant in terms of politics, economic advances or economic failures, as well as the advancement of power and destruction of pre-colonial African Cultures. The two largest European powers striving to colonize Africa are France and Britain. There are three reasons for Europe’s interest in colonizing Africa. The first reason is the fact that Africa was an unknown and mysterious continent that has yet to be explored by European settlers or any settler for fact. Because of this Europe wanted to gather scientific data of the unknown African continent. The expeditions of explorers like Samuel Baker, Joseph Thompson, Richard Burton, John Speke, and some others in the nineteenth

In history, colonization was a truly popular tradition practiced by great and powerful empires in order to extract and retrieve all materials necessary to support their homeland. However, in order to achieve such sense of commerce and well-being, those colonists who had the power, had to colonize weaker and far less advanced societies. Great powers such as Britain and France would then travel to these societies and implement their rule in order to gain prosperity. Some, those who benefited from colonization, felt that the practice of colonization was an obligation to better the “uncivilized,” societies and help them advance, but the emotional and physical hurt that came from colonizing outweighed the positive aspects. The intention was good, but the manner in which colonization was carried out was poor. This topic is immensely controversial that pieces such as Kipling’s poem, “A White Man’s Burden,” and Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” have been written in order to support or go against colonization. But despite much debate, colonization has been a tradition that has caused those regions being colonized much struggle and negativity.

America should not have been the policemen of the Western Hemisphere during the early 1900s. During the 1900s imperialism was a big factor. Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force. During this time America was trying to be the policemen and it created a lot of downfalls.

In the early years of the 20th century a European war seemed likely due to dissent, distress, and militarism. During this specific time many liberals had thought that if they organized European states that it would remain peaceful. This then had actually led to competition which then led to many rivalries over not only colonial but also commercial interests during an era of imperialist expansion.Which led to any disputes which included land. The rivalries led to Europe's division of allies with Germany and Austria. Also Italy against France and great Britain and Russia. So many states were forced into thinking about creating an empire a army and who they could trust. Which then led Germany to think about making an Empire since France wanted

During the late 19th century, the United States competed with other industrialized nations to claim territory. This period of time was known as the Imperial Age. Imperialism is when one country extends its influence over other lands. This scramble for territory was fueled by the prospect of new markets and military advantages. Moral obligations such as civilizing “backward” nations, and moral obligations such as spreading Christianity, also led Americans to seek lands to conquer.

The United States experienced a period of growth and maturation during the twentieth century. Now, this is not to say that this was the only period of growth, but it was a significant time during which the United States began to establish its military force at an international level. By establishing itself during the twentieth century as one of the world’s largest superpowers, America grew to be respected by most of the world’s nations. America also grew to become much more active in foreign affairs, even in ones that had no relation to the nation. The United States began to look for chances to expand their country, as well as opportunities to benefit financially from these territories. Imperialism is the word that best describes the foreign

After a long period of reconstruction and isolation, the United States became increasingly imperialistic by the end of the nineteenth century. After the Spanish American War, the United States focused their diplomacy onto Latin America in hopes of aiding them and protecting any economic investments. During the first decade of the twentieth century, the political desire to expand the power of the United States caused a deep resentment among the inhabitants of Latin American nations which ultimately led to the existing animosity among the relationships between the two regions.

He said, “Take up the White Man’s burden-- No tawdry rule of kings, but toil of serf and sweeper…” (Kipling, line 25-27). When a nation intrudes, or comes without an invitation, upon another country the invading nation looks to overthrow the established government. Once that government is overthrown a new one is set in place. Kipling was referring to the overthrown government in the Philippines at this time. America then established a new government for the people, instead of being ruled by kings, as they had before, “serf[s] and sweeper[s]” would take up this burden. A “serf” refers to “a person in a condition of servitude, required to render services to a lord” or in other words a “slave” (“serf”). Being forced into the position of a slave would be cause for conflict, and a rebellion. All aspects of imperialism, big or small, spark conflict between the two sides. If conflict, war, and bloodshed are nearly inevitable there must be a problem with imperialism in

The positive social aspects of imperialism contained Americanization, Social Darwinism and, White Man’s Burden. Americanization was the process of an immigrant to the United

Ferry justifies this by stating, “that European nations acquaint themselves with generosity, with grandeur, and with sincerity of this superior civilizing duty” (Ferry, para. 4). He is directly implying that these uncivilized nations are filled with savage people whom are completely incapable of governing themselves. Rudyard Kipling, another advocate of imperialism, also claims that these savage and barbarian like people need the guidance of a civilized nation. In his poem titled, “The White Man’s Burden,” Kipling calls these foreigners, “sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child” (Kipling, para. 1). Kipling goes on to express that even though these people will protest and not be grateful, it is still the duty of the white man to educate, govern, feed, and protect these lesser people. Unlike Ferry and Beveridge, Kipling understands that the white man will receive nothing for all of his effort and good deeds. “By open speech and simple, an hundred times made plain to seek another’s profit, and work another’s gain” (Kipling, para. 2). What Kipling means by this is that the white man, the superior race, will not receive the benefits of new markets or cheap labor. He conveys the idea that by bringing food, medicine, education, and Christianity to these underdeveloped peoples, the white man is living up to

He supported the imperialist aim that, "Westerners shouldered the responsibility for governing and converting the supposed savages under charge and strove to remake them superior European models"(Mckay, 809). The hope was that these primitive nonwhite people would eventually benefit from imperialism and modern achievements and higher levels of living (Mckay, 810). The white man's burden was to " send forth the best yet breed-" the brightest white men to go over to these under-performing primitive countries and work hard at converting and modernizing theses evil and immature people Kipling refers to as,"Half devil and half child"(Mckay et al., 810). Kipling's poem makes a case for imperialism by telling the Europeans it is their moral obligation. It was a burden because the task would it be easy.

In the journal “Imperialism and Empire in the Twentieth-Century”, a studies conducted by Amy Kaplan and Melani McAlister, are examined. The purposes of the studies discussed are to examine “cultural, economic, and political moves that helped the United States expand into the Middle East.” 4 Amy Kaplan concluded that the way that the United States represented the Middle East in media, such as movies and newscast, when relating to topics like race and contests over US Foregin policy in the Middle East did not require a uniformed metropole, but social stratification, in terms of gender and such ideas. This is also linked to politics of expansion abroad. This shows that the way that they United States uses media, does effect our political

The poem makes clear Kipling's view of attitudes that allowed colonialism to proceed. Although a belief in the virtues of empire was widespread at the time, there were also many dissenters; the publication of the poem caused a flurry of arguments from both sides, most notably from Mark Twain and Henry James. Mark Twain asserted that Kipling wrote the poem to help persuade many doubting Americans to seize the Philippines, which seemed to be a fair point of view for that time period. In the New York Herald, October 15, 1900, Twain describes his transformation and political awakening, in the context of the Philippine-American War. He recognizes his transformation from being Pro- imperialist to Anti- imperialist. Many Anti-imperialists like Mark Twain acted on the popularity of the poem to attack the McKinley’s policies as too great a "burden" or