In the years leading up to 1850, European powers grappled for political and economic dominance of the international market. The Age of Discovery during the early modern period in Europe posed as a period that redefined the idea of exploration. No longer was the reason for subjugating a group of people to European rule the main reason to colonize. Rather, the main reason for imperialism after 1850 was in regards to the extraction of natural resources and economic control of the world market. After 1850, it became apparent that interests in overseas empires was ultimately inevitable as Europe began to industrialize and gain military and technological power. European powers became dangerously ambitious towards the end of the 19th century as each …show more content…
As pressure rose to become the strongest world power, European powers scrambled to claim different territories overseas. By the mid-nineteenth century, Great Britain was arguably the most powerful country in Europe. With such a high status of power, the British aspired to maintain their dominance. To maintain such prominence, expansion became a necessary action to prevent hegemony from other nations. Since Great Britain’s geography as an island prevented them from having better access to resources, it was clear that colonies overseas would allow them to retain power. According to Paul Kennedy, Britain would not have a hegemony because ‘as a consequence, the “modernization” which occurred in British industry and communications was not paralleled by improvements in the army’. Without an improvement in the British forces (despite technological improvements), expansion was necessary in order to maintain their dominance. Also, as a political and economic rivalry grew between France, the British were inspired to colonize more overseas empires successfully. As a result, Great Britain saw interests in regions such as northern and eastern Africa.
This decade portrays the exploration of the Europeans to the American colonies which allowed England, France, Holland, Spain, and British to colonize with other lands and obtain power by expanding their territory. Nevertheless, England rose as the country with the dominant colonial power. Throughout this decade, the demand for silver and other valued items influenced trade globally by commercializing and strengthening European trade. In addition, the desire for power and control enriched the economy of the Europeans. The rise of European colonization also shaped cultural globalization since traders established various ethnic societies in foreign regions. European explorers were to stop at nothing in order to achieve success in expanding their
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the new imperialism in europe increased. The new imperialism characterizes a period of colonial expansion by european powers, the united states and japan. Europeans began colonizing africa and asia and used military force to take over local governments which led to the new imperialism. The new imperialism was led by many reasons such as economics, politics, and social forces.
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.
The European powers that were in much need for resources during the 1500s through 1800s were Great Britain, France and Germany. During 1500 and 1800 Africa seemed like an impossible feat to conquer because of malaria but this wouldn’t stop the persistence of the leaders of France and Great Britain. The idea of exploring and conquering new land meant more to these leaders because of the motivation to keep their national security strong and keep their economy stronger. These countries would use their remaining resources to look for more disposable ones so that their empires could grow considerably. Great Britain would be dug in the
1. What is ‘imperialism’? How did 19th-century colonialism, empire building, high imperialism differ from those of earlier times: in particular from the colonialism of early- modern mercantilism (16th to18th centuries)?
supplies, protected their interests, and conquered their enemies. Varying opinions exist as to the motives for
For the major European powers in the 19th century imperialism in the 19th century was seen as ‘expand or decline’ which meant to not have colonies a country would have been seen as weak or inferior in comparison to those who did. For example the Scramble for Africa, where countries were racing to colonise nations for their resources, raw materials and for a sense of superiority. The scramble for Africa created rivalries. For example when French trading companies and warships along the coastline of the Niger delta began to grow in the 1870-80s, Britain set up a protectorate over areas where Britain had influence.
Within the NO portion the author states several things to support that imperialistic rule by Britain was not primarily economic. Industrial Europe required a highly specialized world, in which some areas would produce food for its industrial proletariat, others would produce raw materials for the industrial process, and the entire world would constitute a market for industrial goods. But to achieve this Europe needed to recast the world in its own image, to create the same infrastructures and similar institutions that would permit resources to be exploited and trade conducted (MacKenzie 99). This shows that imperialistic rule by Britain and other European nations was not solely economic but more so a way to gain materials, trade materials, and expand their cultures and receive outside cultural influence through imperialistic rule rather than using imperialistic
Imperialism has been a long standing ideology that is able to withstand the tests of time due to the applicability of the concept. The general definition of Imperialism, as provided by Merriam-Webster, is the practice in which a country furthers its power by the means of control and domination in other regions of the world. This took on a new form as the nineteenth-century approached, as Traditions & Encounters a Global Perspective on the Past elaborated, it mainly pertained to European powers at this time and their control over colonial land and the world of influence. 19th century imperialists had three main foci, these being economic, political, and cultural motifs, these foci dominated the reasons for imperialism in the nineteenth-century and determined how nations would interact with the world and others; these foci would often find conflicts with each other and overlap causing disruption in the goals of the nations involved.
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.
Up until the late middle of the nineteenth century, Britain had ruled the waves and was the only dominant global power. As the nineteenth century came to a close, fears of the British Empire’s weaknesses were beginning to emerge, as German and Russian forces were growing in strength.
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.
Through the historical materials we are able to see that Britain was recognized hegemonic country within 19th century. Britain Empire which meant that Britain did not only control its territory, it also controlled and superior to other regions such as India and Africa. Certainly, there were some reasons made Britain control its dependent territories. India and Africa territories grabbed the attention mostly. The reason was that not only Britain also others- France, Germany, Italy, and Ottoman Empire would like to have India and Africa. It was obvious why countries were eager for India and Africa. Both countries’ natural resources and labor factor of Africa could be focused on. The interesting point was that while India and Africa had chance
What is the New Imperialism and what were the cause and effects in the World Wars in order to understand what is the “New Imperialism”, we must first learn and define Imperialism: a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world: the effect that a powerful country or group of countries has in changing or influencing the way people live in other, poorer countries. The New Imperialism takes on effects in the late 19th century this is when there is an interest or wanting to gain a imperial territory, Imperialism is also consider to be when there is a desire to control a trading routes and resources in a nation. A perfect example of the New Imperialism is called the "Scramble for Africa", this is when Europe tries to takes control over Africa. In the late 19th century Europe struggle to destabilize and to balance the power that they once had before Italy and Germany became unify.
British foreign policy had always stemmed from selfish and exploitive desires. In fact the ‘balance of power’ she had so fervently preached was “a corner-stone of English policy… because for England it represented the only plan of preserving her own independence, political and economic," according to Sir Esme Howard. And for Britain, the only way to preserve its interests in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth century, had been through Splendid Isolation. However, when this proved ineffective at the turn of the century, it quickly switched to an interventionist approach, again due to its desire to preserve its own interests. This switch in policy had only accounted for Britain’s national interests, and not the greater good of the European