1. The New Age of Imperialism

2. Sometimes also called colonialism
IMPERIALISM
a policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially
Sometimes also called colonialism

3. Old Imperialism European history is about expansion
1500–1800: Age of Exploration
Reasons for early imperialism:
Establish trade routes (trade ivory, etc.)
Create bases as stopovers
Obtain resources (including workers)
Gain territories
Mostly took place in the western hemisphere, “New World” (North America, South America, & the Caribbean region)

4. NEW Imperialism Mid 1800s – mid 1900s Reasons for NEW imperialism:
Same reasons as before (trade routes, bases, resources, territories)
Plus some new reasons: create markets, financial investment, competition, military strategy, beliefs of superiority, and more…
Mostly took place in the eastern hemisphere (Africa & Asia)

5. Why Imperialize? … the simple answer: * GOODS *
- Raw Materials for the factories
* GREATNESS / GLORY *
- Show the power of your empire.
* GOD *
- Spread Christianity.

6. CAUSES OF IMPERIALISM
… the longer answer:

7. ECONOMIC CAUSE: Industrial Revolution
New inventions expanded exploration & trade further than before
Because of the Industrial Revolution, there were more companies & wealthy businesses  more money available = investments in new areas with the hope to make a profit

8. Needed raw materials to help fuel the factories of Europe & make new products out of the raw materials
There was an increased supply of manufactured products from the Industrial Revolution
Europeans needed to find new markets & people to sell these items to
Competition to make the best profit (capitalism)

9. ** RECALL: Mercantilism **
colonies were the suppliers of the raw materials that could not be found in the mother country &
the colonies were also a market place for the mother countries’ finished products
This system created a favorable balance of trade for the mother country
Capitalism – (investment & competition for profits) is fused with the mercantilist idea during the new age of imperialism

10. Example of Mercantilism

11. POLITICAL CAUSE: Nationalism
Pride in your country leads to wanting to make your country even better
You can make your country better by expanding it
Increased sense of competition among strong nations

12. POLITICAL CAUSE: Military Bases & Ports
Ports used as refueling stations
European nations were able to establish military bases across the globe
Naval bases used to control the new areas they conquered
Native people of these places could also be a source of manpower for the imperialistic nation’s army

13. SOCIAL CAUSE: Belief of Superiority
Social Darwinism
idea of “survival of the fittest”
Non-Europeans were not “fit” (they had no scientific or technological progress, & no cultural development like the Europeans)
** The idea of Social Darwinism made imperialism justified in the minds of the Europeans

14. Social Darwinism Based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution
“Natural selection” through competition for food
The species that win are best adapted to their environment and will pass those traits to their offspring  the species evolves and survives for a longer period of time
The losers will also pass those traits to their offspring  the species will eventually expire

15. Social Darwinism
Herbert Spencer - coined the term “survival of the fittest”
Applied Darwin’s evolution theory to social groups – natural selection through economic competition
People who were fittest for survival in society will profit and be successful

16. More… Belief of Superiority
“White Man’s Burden” Rudyard Kipling’s poem:
Take up the White Man's burden-- Send forth the best ye breed-- Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild-- Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half devil and half child.

17. “White Man’s Burden”
Explained why White Europeans had a moral responsibility to take control of weaker nations and their people
It was the “burden” (duty or obligation) for Europeans to bring their progress to non-Europeans
Some also saw it at as their “right” to
Europeans thought that non-Europeans “needed” their help

18. Cecil Rhodes
“I contend that we [Britions] are the first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race… It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.”

19. Cecil Rhodes: Political Cartoon
What does this cartoon mean?

20. SOCIAL CAUSE: Spreading Christianity
Missionaries wanted to convert people to Christianity
Thought it would “civilize” or “westernize” them (make them more like Europeans)
Believed European rule and European ideas were the best
Christianity was also a way to end the slave trade