European Colonialism, Imperialism, and Cultural Superiority Essay

The main reason for European imperialism in Africa was for political reasons. According to Document A, the purpose of the colonization of African countries was for political competition between European countries (Doc. A). The partition of Africa in 1884 through 1885 showed that France and Britain were the biggest winners in seizing Africa. The British took most of north and south Africa, when the French took most of western Africa. According to Document B, John Ruskin said,” This is what England must either do or

European imperialism during 1450-1750, began as a plan to gain more riches for the European nations. The Europeans did this for three main reasons, which were for God, Gold, and Glory. The Europeans domination over Latin America, Africa and Asia were made out to be good for the native people of these lands. However, the Europeans were not there to help these geographic areas. They were there to spread their influence and gain riches for themselves and the European nations. The successes and failures of the Europeans and non Europeans would decide their relationship status for as long as they could co-exist.

During the late 1800’s, Europe was looking for a way to improve themselves as a whole. With growing population and a steady decline in available work, something new had to be done. Countries looked towards Africa to serve as new colonies for the Europeans in order to better their own countries. During the European acquisition of African colonies in the period 1880 to 1914 Europe’s attitude towards Africa was that Africa was the inferior race in comparison to the Europeans. With the help of a strong feeling of nationalism, Europeans were motivated to acquire new lands in order to improve their motherland’s

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.

Europeans sought out lands that provided new sources of raw materials, cheap labor, markets, areas of investment, and military boosters. As European nations became competitive with one another, there was an increased pressure to practice Imperialism to maintain power. New Imperialism was motivated greatly by the Industrial Revolution and its advancements, and efficiency of manufacturing and supplying products. European nations also focused on opening trade routes that would give them places to sell their goods. Also significant was the Europeans desire to Christianize and “civilize” other nations through missionary work and the enforcement of European cultures and beliefs. The new Imperialism brought on social changes as well. Many people urged the taking up of the “White Man’s Burden”, bringing the European version of civilization to the rest of the world, regardless whether they wanted it or not.

Between 1870 and 1920, the European nations took the use of imperialism due to economic, political, and social forces to control the less-developed locations of the world. Economical forces used the need for raw materials for a reason to take locations. Social forces such as racism, thinking that themselves, the Europeans were better than whomever they were taking over. Political forces used militarism more often than not to take the less-developed locations of the world. The use of economical, political, and social forces were all important during the rise of imperialism during the 1870s through 1920s due to the humanitarianism (used in both political and social forces), racism, and the market through world trade with the need for militarism.

Between the period from 1880 to 1914, European powers went after overseas empires in Africa. The governments and political leaders of the European powers believed that this colonization of the African empires was necessary to maintain their global influence. A second group of people supposed that African colonization was the result of the greedy Capitalists who \only cared for new resources and markets. The third group of people claimed it to be their job to enlighten and educate the uncivilized people of Africa. Although the political leaders of European powers encouraged colonization of African empires to advance their nation’s global influence, others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who sought new

Throughout the history of the world, imperialism has played a major role. Imperialism is one country’s complete domination of the political, economic, and social life of another country. Imperialism has many positive and negative effects. The Age of Imperialism is considered 1800 - 1914. During this time Europe became a major world leader. European countries set up colonies all over Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and encouraged their citizens to populate them. European imperialism boosted Europe’s economy, and made them a world power. Imperialization had an entirely different effect on Africa, Latin America, and Asia. People of these countries were mistreated, they lost their culture, land, and self respect. The negative effects of

Imperialism is defined in the dictionary as being a " The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by establishing economic and political hegemony over other nations" (p 681 American Heritage college Dictionary). Usually people associate imperialism as being the domination of a small country by a larger, more powerful country, usually to the advantage of the larger country. At the beginning of the nineteenth century most of the countries in Europe were involved in imperialism. Each country had it's own motives for wanting to gain an empire and some of the reason were Economic, Political, Religious and Exploitation.

A commonly utilized concept in many, if not all, European empires was imperialism. Imperialism refers to an ideology or a doctrine in support of creation and maintenance of an empire. (in-text) It often provided justifications for expansionism, which European empires strived to achieve. However, before creating a justification for the actual act of imperialism, a fundamental justification for Europeans to support imperialism was required. Consequently, there was a plea for a strong authority of influence by the leaders of

Industrial revolution motivated European powers like France, Germany, and Britain to expand their imperial rule in the 19th century. They believed imperial expansion and colonial domination were necessary for their survival of their states and societies. Modern imperialism allowed European powers to profit from subject societies and influence their affairs without having to apply direct political control. Modern colonialism further allowed European powers to control the subject’s lands’ political, social, economic, and cultural structures. The major goals of European imperialism were economic, political, military, and ideological reason.

European countries were motivated by economic interests to expand. The economic reasons for expansion during the Age of Imperialism were similar to those during the Colonial Era. During both periods, European nations experienced economic expansion. Economic expansion created a demand for cheap labor, access to natural resources, and the creation of new markets. After the advent of the Industrial Revolution, European

New imperialism was motivated by the increased production demands created as a result of the industrial revolution, technological developments in communication and transportation and the wave of extreme nationalism (Seton-Watson, 1961). During that time period, the acquisition of new territories was encouraged as a means of expanding profit by investing capital in the various territories (Seton-Watson, 1961). In order to meet the constantly growing demands brought on by the industrial revolution, imperialist countries sought to expand their territories even further (Seton-Watson, 1961). One major benefit of the expansion was an increase in amount of raw materials available. Another benefit of acquiring territories included cheap labour which was a necessity due to the expanding industries (Seton-Watson, 1961). Economic growth was another benefit of territorial expansion as there were more markets to trade with. This second wave of imperialism encouraged imperialist countries to take political control of their colonies (Seton-Watson, 1961). They created new governments that would also benefit them economically as the local leaders would no longer have to be paid for their provision of raw materials like they were under the ‘cash and carry system’ implemented during the first wave of imperialism. Western imperialist nations believed that they were far more

Early in the twentieth century, imperialism was brought up by European powers of the time; Germany, Great Britain, France, and Russia. These nations were after raw materials in Asia, Africa, and South America and when they realize that they could not retrieve it, they began to colonize smaller counties that contain the many resources they need and used it for their benefit. Western values played a big part in European imperialism. European civilization experienced a period of extraordinary rapid expansion worldwide during the nineteenth century and the twentieth century. European nation-states had become very powerful because of industrialization. Imperialist projects will unite European industrial power with smaller nation-states.

Between the 1870s and 1900’s, Africa was under various pressures and invasions by Europe which later on lead to the colonization of Africa. Although Africa set up numerous resistance against Europe, by the early twentieth century the entire nation of Africa was colonized by Europe except Ethiopia and Liberia.