Imperialism: An Overview

1. Imperialism:An Overview 1

2. What is imperialism? The takeover of a country or territory by a stronger nation 2

3. Why takeover? To dominate the political, economic, and social life of the people of that nation.

4. The Colonies • Cheap raw materials (ex. Cotton) • strategic locations (ex. the Strait of Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, the Philippines, and the Suez Canal.) • Overseas bases 4

5. Economic Motivations $$$$$ Trade New markets Raw materials and cheap labor, To compete for investments and resources To export industrial technology and transportation methods. 5

6. Political Motivations • POWER!!! • to compete with other European countries • to expand territory • to exercise military force • to gain prestige by winning colonies • and to boost national pride and security. 6

7. Religious Motivation • To spread Christianity • To protect European missionaries in other lands • To spread European values and moral beliefs • To educate peoples of other cultures • To end slave trade in Africa. • The first Americans to settle in Hawaii were missionaries. 7

8. Exploratory Motives • the desire to explore "unknown" or uncharted territory • to conduct scientific research • to conduct medical searches for the causes and treatment of diseases • to go on an adventure • to investigate "unknown" lands and cultures. • Charles Darwin was on such a voyage when he gathered evidence for his book Origins of the Species. 8

9. Ideological Motives • motives were based on cultural values such as the belief that the white race was superior • other cultures were "primitive," Europeans should "civilize" peoples in other parts of the world • great nations should have empires • only the strongest nations will survive (Social Darwinism) 9

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11. Conference of Berlin A meeting of the European powers to establish guidelines for maintaining overseas colonies in undeveloped area. This conference started what is called the “Scramble for Africa”. 11

12. Africa by 1914 In 1875, Europeans controlled less than 10 percent of Africa.  By 1900, 90 percent of Africa was divided into colonies. 12

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14. Nationalism • The advocates of imperialism used nationalist arguments to gain public support for empire building. • They claimed that the mother country would gain glory and achieve "a place in the sun" by building a great empire. 14

15. Imperialism in Asia Britain in India Britain also took Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, North Borneo, Burma, and Hong Kong. By 1914 France had Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) the Dutch controlled the East Indies (Indonesia) the United States had the Philippines, and Germany had special rights in China. Only three Asian countries remained independent -- China, Japan, and Siam (Thailand). 15

16. China: Spheres of Influence After the Boxer rebellion (Chinese nationalist attempt to rid China of all foreigners) China was divided into “Spheres of Influence.” Spheres of Influence allowed a European power to control the economics of an area while allowing the local government to retain the semblance of power. 16

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18. Imperialism in the Pacific In the Pacific, several European countries took colonies. Great Britain took Australia and New Zealand. France colonized Tahiti, and Germany claimed the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands. 18

19. Europeans in Africa and the Middle East 19

20. Long-term Impacts • Imperialism continued throughout much of Africa until the 1960s • Once resources were depleted, imperialist nations left and turned the land back over to the natives. • The problem: there are little or no natural resources left, the land is depleted, many of the people are uneducated; the land and it’s people have been left devastated. 20

21. The Middle East At one time much of the Middle East had been controlled by imperialist countries, such as Great Britain and France. Yet, they are not in the same condition that Africa is. Why do you think that is? What makes their situation different than Africa’s? 21

22. In India…. DIVIDE AND CONQUER, meaning… “cause problems between the Muslim and Hindus so that they will not work together to overthrow us…” To this day, Muslims and Hindus in India still cannot live peacefully together. 22

23. How much of the problems in today’s world, can be traced back to Imperialism? Any solutions? What can be done? Why isn’t more being done? 23

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25. Motives Revisited There were less selfish motives, though even these seem narrow-minded by today's standards. Many Europeans went overseas to offer the "blessings" of Western Civilization to the "pitiful heathens." There were many dedicated missionaries spreading Christianity and other humanitarians promoting public health and education. Bringing these blessings of Western culture to the "backward" peoples of Africa and Asia was a duty labeled by the British writer Rudyard Kipling as "The White Man's Burden." 25

26. Take up the White Man's burden--Send forth the best ye breed--Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives' need;To wait in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild--Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.Take up the White Man's burden--In patience to abide,To veil the threat of terrorAnd check the show of pride;By open speech and simple,An hundred times made plainTo seek another's profit,And work another's gain. Words used to describe Europeans Words used to describe natives Words describing the WM’s Burden Words describing the natives’ response 26

27. Take up the White Man's burden--The savage wars of peace--Fill full the mouth of FamineAnd bid the sickness cease;And when your goal is nearestThe end for others sought,Watch sloth and heathen FollyBring all your hopes to nought. Words used to describe Europeans Words used to describe natives Words describing the WM’s Burden Words describing the natives’ response Take up the White Man's burden--No tawdry rule of kings,But toil of serf and sweeper--The tale of common things.The ports ye shall not enter,The roads ye shall not tread,Go mark them with your living,And mark them with your dead. 27

28. Take up the White Man's burden--And reap his old reward:The blame of those ye better,The hate of those ye guard--The cry of hosts ye humour(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--"Why brought he us from bondage,Our loved Egyptian night?" Words used to describe Europeans Words used to describe natives Words describing the WM’s Burden Words describing the natives’ response Take up the White Man's burden--Ye dare not stoop to less--Nor call too loud on FreedomTo cloak your weariness;By all ye cry or whisper,By all ye leave or do,The silent, sullen peoplesShall weigh your gods and you. 28

29. Take up the White Man's burden--Have done with childish days--The lightly proferred laurel,The easy, ungrudged praise.Comes now, to search your manhoodThrough all the thankless yearsCold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,The judgment of your peers! Words used to describe Europeans Words used to describe natives Words describing the WM’s Burden Words describing the natives’ response Rudyard Kipling 29