New Imperialism The Scramble to Own the World New Imperialism • Imperialism: domination by one country of the political, economic or cultural life of another country or region. • While European states gained territory on coasts of Africa and china, they had little influence on the lives of people in China, India or Africa • 1800s: Europe gained significant power. Strong centrally governed nation states emerged, Industrial Rev strengthened economies • New Imperialism exploded out of a combination of causes Causes • 1. Economic Interests -IR created needs for overseas expansion -Manufacturers wanted access to natural resources such as rubber, petroleum, manganese for steel, palm oil -hoped for new markets to sell factory goods • 2. Political/Military interests -Steam powered merchant ships and naval vessels needed bases around the world to take on coal and supplies -Industrial powers seized harbors to satisfy these needs -Nationalism played role too: France moved into west Africa, rivals Britain and Germany seized nearby lands to halt further expansion -Western leaders claimed colonies were needed for national security and prestige Causes • 3. Humanitarian Goals -many westerners had concern for their “little brothers” beyond the seas. -missionaries, doctors, colonial officials, felt they had a duty to spread western civilization (medicine, law, Christianity) • 4. Social Darwinism -growing sense in the west of racial superiority -many westerners embraced ideas of social Darwinism -applied Darwin’s ideas about natural selection and survival of the fittest to human societies. -imperial conquest and destruction of weaker races were nature’s way of improving the human species (according to some). Success of Western Imperialism • -1870-1914, imperialist nations gained control over much of the world -leading the way were soldiers, merchants, settlers, missionaries, and explorers. -In Europe, imperial expansion was beneficial to all classes, from bankers manufacturers, to workers Success • 1. Weakness of nonwestern states -European nations grew stronger in 1800s, older civilizations in decline -In west Africa, wars among African people and draining effect of slave trade undermined established empires, kingdoms and city-states -New African states not strong enough to resist western onslaught • 2. Western Advantages -Europeans had advantage of strong economies, well organized governments, powerful armies and navies -Superior technology and medical knowledge played a roll too -Machine guns, repeating rifles, steam driven warships also persuasive to Africans and Asians to accept western control Resistance • African and Asians strongly resisted western expansion into their lands • Some fought invaders even though they had no weapons equal to machine gun • Ruling groups tried to strengthen their societies by reforming their own Muslim, Hindu, or Confucian traditions. • Western educated Africans and Asians organized nationalist movements to expel imperialists from their lands. Criticism at Home • -In the West, a small group of anti-imperialists emerged • Some argued that colonialism was a tool of the rich, others called it immoral • Westerners argued that they were moving toward greater democracy at home, but were imposing undemocratic rule on other people Forms of Imperial Rule • 1. Colonies Leading imperial powers Britain and France developed different kinds of colonial rule -French practiced direct rule, sending officials and soldiers from France to administer their colonies -goal was to impose French culture on their colonies and turn them into French provinces -British relied on system of indirect rule -they relied on sultans, chiefs, local rulers -encouraged children of local ruling class to be educated in Britain -Britain would still resort to military force if control was threatened in any way Forms of Imperial Rule • 2. Protectorates -local rulers left in place but expected to follow advice of Europeans on issues such as trade or missionary activity -cost less to run than a colony, didn’t require huge military commitment • 3. Sphere of Influence -outside power claimed exclusive investment or trading privileges. -Europeans claimed spheres in china and US claimed Latin America.