British Imperialism Essay

Prior to World War I, Britain was the most imperialistic country in the world. The British Empire occupied more than a quarter of the world, which spread over five continents and France controlled most of Africa. Because of this control the rivalry with Germany and Italy had increased, they decided they wanted a colonial empire also.

Economics had a important role to the new imperialism. There were many economic factors that affected this period. An economic factor was having colonies which made it easier for countries to protect their merchant marine and their world trade. As american senator A.J beveridge (document 2) stated “ the trading of the world must and shall be ours… we will establish trading posts throughout the world as disturbing points for american products. We will cover the ocean with our merchant marines. We will build a navy to the measure of our greatness…”. America was creating colonies and was becoming imperialistic. Also introducing ruthlessness in the diplomacy of imperialism, william l. Langer (document 5) which states “but the economic side.. [survival of the fittest] was pherhaps most crucial”. The teaching of survival of the fittest helped the growth

After the civil war, United States took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. From the late 1800s, as the US began to collect power through Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines, debate arose among historians about American imperialism and its behavior. Historians such as William A. Williams, Arthur Schlesinger, and Stephen Kinzer provides their own vision and how America ought to be through ideas centered around economics, power, and racial superiority.

Since there were many nations involved, there were many attributes that led up to imperialism. Firstly, the Europeans wanted economic expansion. Since the industrial revolution had taken place, the Europeans were in need of more natural resources. They also wanted new markets for the sake of selling industrial products. To achieve this they had to look for more places outside of Europe and colonize it.

“Englishmen.. have given the people of India the greatest human blessing - peace.” (Dutt). Merely coming to India in the 1600s to trade, the British East India Company established trading outposts. After ridding of French influence in India during the Seven Years’ War and having Indians mutiny against British rule, Britain gained full control of India. India has been under the imperialist control of the British until their independence in 1947. British imperialism caused some negative effects on India through poverty and persecution, but retained more of a positive impact due to its massive improvements in the modernization of India and the overall improvement of Indian civilization.

In the late 19th century, a desire for expansion and control swept through Europe. Today, we know this as the age of imperialism. Influential powers like Britain and France competed to gain more land and to spread their influence throughout the world. The purpose of imperialism was to gain political power by means of land and wealth. The more power an empire held, the more influence it had on worldly matters. With this power came racial tensions, and a strong sense of nationalism. Britain was the leading power in the race for imperialism, leading many of its citizens to believe that they were above those not of English origin. Growing powers meant new opportunities for the citizens of the growing imperialistic empire. Anna Leonowens, a British

Economic forces such as the desire for more resources, capitalism, a new consumer market, and a cheap labor were most responsible for the new imperialism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It played a big role in Europe's nation. Like in document 1, "The makers of cotton and iron goods have been very much interested in imperialism", which shows that they desired more resources. Like in document 5, William L. Langer says "The economic side....must not be allowed to obscure the other factors. Phychologically speaking,...evolutionary teaching was perhaps most crucial", meaning that the economy shouldn't be allowed to hide other things.

Lastly, politics and fighting for the highest power affected imperialism. “The political impetus derived from the impact of...power struggles [w/in] Europe and competition for preeminence [in Europe], Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain were competing for power…” (Document R). More power means a country can take control and demand their necessities.“The economic motive is by no means to be dismissed but alongside of it there evidently was another one, not so easy to define but none the less real - the power complex - sheer love of power” (Document M). Along with economics, which is still a big factor, politics and being powerful afflicted conflict over

“Imperialism is a system where powerful nations control and exploits one or more colonies”. And one of the causes of World War 1 was the power differences between France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Britain. Britain had the largest population colonies between all the countries. And it was about “the land that Britain and France owned led to a heightened rivalry with Germany, which sought acquire colonies later on and only controlled small portions or Africa. The world’s largest, richest and most dominant imperial power was Great Britain; the British Empire famously occupied one-quarter of the

Industrialization added to Britain’s desire for raw materials and new markets and the British were motivated by this desire and looked for colonies to obtain. Adopting the policy of imperialism was economically beneficial for Britain, since it helped supply Britain with raw materials for industrial development, along with cheap food for Britain’s developing population. Britain chose to become imperialistic, because it would bring them prudent and economic benefits.

From the 17th to the 20th centuries, imperialism served a mode of global exploration and expansion of economic, political and religious influence. Glory was at stake; the opportunity to expound upon their influence on the balance of power galvanized most of Europe to explore and colonize Central Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In the period of European imperialism, imperialism served as conveyer of status and power in world affairs; the more imperialist territory, a more powerful nation state. Arbitrary boundaries and imperialist expansion into the unknown earth continued until the end of World War II. This disintegration of imperial empires came to be because of the mission of World War II and the weakness of the imperial power post-war. As John Green says, “In part, the Allies were fighting to stop Nazi imperialism. The Allied defeat of the Nazis discredited the whole of an empire for the future”(Crash Course). The Allies could not reasonably defeat a permutation of an imperialist empire and then expect its colonies to return to a system of imperialist empires. As well, the power of the major imperial states (Britain, France, Japan) diminished after World War II, so their ability to upkeep their territorial control lessened. Therefore, Central Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East broke off from direct territorial control into independent states. What this means for modern day policy is that imperialist empires are no longer a goal of nation states.

     Throughout American History the U.S. has sought to expand its boundaries. This need increased greatly during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century with the start of the industrial revolution. This Expansion was a big departure from earlier attempts to expand the boundaries of the U.S. The needed for Natural resources forced the U.S to look for places that could supply them with the natural resources they needed and markets where they could sell their goods in. The need to imperialize caused the U.S. to look to foreign places to gain resources to better the nations industries.

     The ideological reasons for the Age of Imperialism pertained to all of the European countries. However, Britain was the most influential, because they were strongest. They believed that they were the superiority of the world

Britain has become an empire through expansion and colonization of other countries, Britain has occupied many countries, and this led to change the culture of these countries.

Have you ever thought much about where you live and how you live? What comes to mind about what you do in your daily life compared to someone else who lives on a different continent than you do? Big difference right? The United Kingdom is a very flourished country, with many things that spark from it, and many goods things that enforce it. However, when it's compared to a country like Uganda in Africa, there are similarities and difference within both of the two countries that make them themselves. Since the Berlin conference in Europe, imperialism has become a great deal for both of these countries, with one benefitting as a developed country, while the other not benefitting, or to say a developing country. Imperialism- “the exercise of power by a state beyond its borders”- is much preceding than Europe itself, and has greatly impacted the UK and Uganda. and the comparison is distinctive yet demonstrative despite their encounter. Because of the Berlin Conference, imperialism had affected both the UK and Uganda Economically, the experience of Health/Education, and by population/agriculturally.