Imperialism

Table of Contents The Role of Ideology Empire Building Nationalism Exploitation of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Responses to Imperialism

Imperialism How to define? Similar to colonialism Imperialism is the policy by a stronger nation to attempt to create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, or militarily. Similar to colonialism Influence of the Industrial Revolution Imperialism is the policy by a stronger nation to attempt to create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, or militarily.* Imperialism is similar to colonialism, but with one major difference: colonial powers settle the countries over which they gain control, while imperial powers do not. Nineteenth-century imperialism was spurred in large part by the Industrial Revolution. The development of new industrial economies in the 1700s and 1800s necessitated the acquisition of raw materials and thus created a desire to gain control of marketplaces: by 1900, Europe and the United States controlled more than 90% of Africa, more than 50% of Asia, and nearly all of Polynesia. Many factors contributed to this race for empire. Europeans had long considered themselves superior—intellectually, culturally, and spiritually—to the “darker peoples” of the world. Europeans regarded their civilization as the ideal toward which all other peoples should aspire. Thus, many Europeans justified imperialism by claiming that they had a duty to “civilize” all the “primitive” peoples. These “primitives” were seen as being at a much lower level on the evolutionary scale; by learning from the examples set by the imperialists who came and grabbed control of their lands, the natives could “advance” more quickly and be delivered from what Europeans saw as ignorance, paganism, poverty, filth, and overall “backwardness.” *Definition from America: Pathways to the Present (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, p. 981)

The Role of Ideology The desire to “civilize” non-Europeans The belief in social Darwinism Racism “The White Man’s Burden” Both European nations and the United States participated in imperialist activities, believing in the superiority of the white race and in the idea that whites had the responsibility to civilize non-whites. The late 19th century saw a rise of a philosophy known as social Darwinism, which used the principles of natural selection to explain the need for stronger peoples to dominate weaker ones. “The White Man’s Burden,” a poem written by Rudyard Kipling and first published in 1899, urged “civilized” nations to extend their control over those who were “half-devil and half-child.”

The Role of Ideology Give students about one minute to view this slide.

What type of source is this? How can you tell? (Teacher’s note: ask students to describe what they see.) This advertisement appeared in McClure's magazine in October 1899. This an advertisement for Pears’ hand soap showing a man on a ship washing his hands. He appears to be a naval officer, as he is in uniform. With a porthole visible to the left, he is on board a ship. He is Admiral George Dewey of the United States Navy, a major figure in the Spanish-American War. Who might this man be? How can you tell? Where does he appear to be?

What does the ad claim is “the first step towards lightening The White Man’s Burden”? What does this imply? The ad claims that “teaching the virtues of cleanliness” is the “first step toward lightening The White Man’s Burden.” The reference to Kipling’s poem “The White Man’s Burden” implies that whites have a “duty” to “civilize” non-whites. It also implies that non-whites are unclean. The ad, therefore, suggests that teaching cleanliness is the first step toward “civilizing” the world.

What does “dark corners” refer to? What does this choice of phrase reveal about attitudes of people in Western nations toward non-whites? “Dark corners” refers metaphorically to those parts of the world that have not yet been “civilized.” That Pears’ soap would “brighten” these areas of the world by helping to bring “civilization” to these areas has racist implications. Pears is doing its part to civilize the world by bringing cleanliness, suggesting that these “dark corners” are well on their way to being more like the white, civilized world. “Dark corners” is itself a racist phrase, a literal reference to non-whites’ skin color.

Describe the illustrations in the corners of the picture. Pictures of a battleship and a clipper ship may represent the relationship between military and economic power. Imperialism inherently intertwined militarism and economics. The goods on the dock may represent Pears’ products being shipped around the world. The bottom right shows a missionary with an indigenous person. Part of the “civilizing” process involved converting native populations to Christianity. What might each of these symbolize?

Why do you think Pears chose this image for their ad? Why might consumers have found this ad appealing? Pears might have chosen this because imperialism was an ideology supported at the time by a substantial portion of the public. Consumers might have found this ad appealing for a number of reasons: Dewey was a celebrity, and celebrity endorsements sell products; consumers might have felt they were supporting imperialism by buying Pears’ soap; or it might have made the consumer feel superior—an appeal to ethnocentricity. (Teacher’s note: The ad first appeared in McClure’s magazine in October 1899. McClure’s was considered to be both a literary and a political magazine aimed at a mass audience. McClure's was the first magazine to publish Kipling’s poem “The White Man’s Burden” and certainly had readers that both did and did not support imperialistic endeavors.

Scramble for Africa In the 1870s the Belgians began to trade with Africans in the Congo. Fearing they would miss out on various raw materials, the other European nations scrambled to establish their presence on the continent. King Leopold

Scramble for Africa Berlin Conference In 1884, to avoid conflict amongst themselves, European leaders met at the Berlin Conference to set up rules for colonizing Africa. No Africans were invited. Berlin Conference

Europeans In Africa Britain France Germany Italy Belgium Portugal By 1914 Portugal Spain

Britain’s claims in Africa were second in size only to France, but included heavily populated areas with greater natural resources. British Territory Britain controlled Egypt because of its strategic location.

France was very powerful in North Africa, and later spread into West and Central Africa. The territory France controlled was as large as the United States. French Territory

The newly formed German empire had to fight many battles against African natives to take lands in the southern half of Africa. German Territory Germany would lose its colonial territories after its loss in World War I.

The Italians crossed the Mediterranean and conquered Libya The Italians crossed the Mediterranean and conquered Libya. They then took Somaliland in the horn of Africa, but were beaten badly by the Ethiopians. Italian Territory

Although the leaders of the old imperialism, the African claims of the Portuguese and Spanish were minimal. Portuguese Territory Spanish Territory

Liberia and Ethiopia Independent Africans After the slave trade was outlawed, abolitionists in the United States promoted the idea of returning freed slaves to Africa. In the early 1800s, President Monroe helped free slaves settle in Liberia. The former slaves named the capital city Monrovia in his honor. President Monroe

Liberia

Battle of Khartoum 1881

Samori Toure