The New Imperialism, 1869-1914

The New Imperialism: Motives and Methods The Scramble for Africa Imperialism in Asia and the Pacic Imperialism in Latin America The World Economy and the Global Environment

Learning Objectives: After reading and studying this chapter you should be able to discuss: 1. Understand the concepts of "New Imperialism" and "colonialism" and be able to analyze them in terms of motives, their methods, and their place in the development of the world economy and the global environment. 2. Understand the "Scramble for Africa" and be able to use concrete examples to illustrate the process of colonization and reactions to colonization in Africa.

3. Understand the process by which Central and Southeast Asia and the Pacic islands were brought under the domination of the great powers. 4. Understand and be able to analyze the causes and signicance of free-trade imperialism in Latin America.

Focus and Essential Questions: What motivated the industrial nations to conquer new territories, and what means did they use? Why were imperialists drawn to the natural resources of Africa, and how did their presence on that continent change the environment? What were the social and cultural effects of imperialism in Asia?

What were the economic motives behind imperialism in Latin America? How did imperialism contribute to the growth and globalization of the world economy?

The New Imperialism: Motives and Methods

Europe had a long tradition of imperialism reaching back to the twelfth century New Imperialism was characterized by an explosion of territorial conquests even more rapid than the Spanish conquests of the 16th century Economic, cultural, and political motives

Political Motives French leaders, humiliated by their defeat in 1871, sought to reestablish their nations prestige through territorial gain The desire for impressive empire overseas as a reection of national grander

Cultural Motives Both Catholics and Protestants founded new missionary societies, converting nonbelievers and to export their own norms of civilized behavior Western morals, medicine, hygiene, and monogamous marriages; Women sought to reform cultures under the auspices of womens rights sati

Many Europeans and Americans equated technological innovations with progress and change Humanity was divided into several races based on physical appearance and ranked in a hierarchy of civilized, semibarbarous, barbarian, and savage

Economic Motives The industrialization of Europe and North America stimulated the demand for raw materials An economic depression from 1870-1890 caused European merchants, manufactures, and shippers to seek protection against for foreign competition leading to the acquisition of colonies

The Tools of Imperialists Nineteenth century technological innovations began to tip the balance of power in favor of Europe The steamship, Suez Canal, Submarine Telegraph cables, Breech loading/Muzzle-loading, smokeless powder, machine guns

Colonial Agents and Administration

The system of administering and exploiting colonies for the benet of the home country is known as *colonialism Colonial protectorates had traditional governments with monarchs but European advisors Most colonies operated with local military forces under the control of the European nation

The Scramble for Africa

Contact with Europeans Initial phase: 1470s-mid1500s Portuguese trade in sh, pepper, ivory, gold Not colonizers or rulers; Africans treated as equal partners Some missionary work in the Congo but not a long-term Portuguese effort

Introduced crops from America: maize, tobacco, cassava, tomato pineapple, sweet potato Indies: orange, lemon, lime, rice, sugar cane By end of 15th century, trade mainly gold and slaves.

Second phase: mid-1500s-1800 Other nations entered in: England, France, Holland Trade was focused Little scientic curiosity, no interest in colonization, attempts to Christianize or Westernize was abandoned and slave trade was emphasized

Demand for Slaves

Labor intensive enterprises: Mining and plantations Frontier conditions in the Americas: Africans survived in the tropics; Africans have same immunities as Europeans Slave labor enabled industrialization: Textiles, sugar rening, distilling

Sources of slaves
Prisoners of war Captured in raids Domestic slaves and pawns resold Criminals

Effects of Slave Trade Africa: Depopulation Hindered economic development Atmosphere of fear and insecurity; increased war and raids Change in attitudes of Europeans toward Africans

Colonization of Africa

1879 90% of Africa was independent 1900 all but a fraction of Africa was governed by European powers

Reasons for the Scramble for Africa

Economic: Europeans needed raw materials produced in Africa to feed European factories Africa was to be a new market for goods produced by the factories Promise of mineral wealth: wish to gain and prevent other Europeans from gaining Stability viewed as necessary for European trade

Political: Rise of nationalism in Europe, colonies seen as mark of national pride and prestige France eager to restore prestige after loss in Franco-Prussian War 1870-71 Practical: New medicines lowered death rate of Europeans; New guns made conquest possible

Ideological: European doctrine of innate superiority European duty to dominate European rule viewed as privilege Social Darwinism

European cooperation Berlin Conference 1884-5 and others: Europeans divided Africa among themselves Division reected power balance among Europeans, no relation to situation in Africa Prevented Africans from playing off one European power against another

Relative Ease of African conquest

European guns superior; by 1885 banned importation of guns and ammunition Standing armies rare States had dynastic rivalries, subject people revolted Almost total absence of solidarity among African groups

African colonialism Period of establishment 1885-1915 Period of active development 1915-1945 Period of retreat 1945-1955

British colonies The Dual Mandate in Tropical Africa Govern in interests of both colonizers and colonized Colonies should be selfsupporting Colonies should allow expansion of British trade

British colonial rule Indirect rule: Use of African chiefs and political forms as modied by British African leaders put in difcult middle position Led to fossilization and undemocratic systems but retained some of tradition

French colonies Goal of Assimilation: Educated could become Black Frenchmen Direct rule: Assumed African institutions unacceptable Control by French except on local level

Ratio of foreign rulers 1930s Nigeria 1315 British20 million Nigerians French West Africa 3660 French15 million Africans French Equatorial Africa 887 French3.2 million Africans

Education British: Government didnt provide many schools but allowed missionaries to open schools. French: Held out goal of assimilation but provided little education, controlled size of elite

Imperialism in Latin America and Asia

Two Types of European Imperialism The rst transplants European people to overseas locations. The second attempts to dominate and manipulate the economies of other peoples for European prot.

Asian Response Southeast Asia responded mostly passively. Ottoman Turkey tentatively and uncertainly; China defensively and reluctantly; Mughul India with confusion; Japan proactively.

Japan The arrival of Westerners set in motion a revolt against the old order. Out of fear of becoming like the exploited Chinese, rapidly established a unied national state that came to match European imperialists.

Asian Societies

None of these societies was weak in the broad sense. The people were tough and hardworking and had durable cultural institutions.

Cultural Roots Each society retained its cultural roots in the face of the Wests superior strengths. -military -industrial -scientic

Asian Weakness The weakness lay in having a durable traditional culture badly out of step with the twentieth century. India and Southeast Asia leadership was disunited. China was bogged down in self-satised orthodoxy. Japan was divided and uncertain.

Economic Difculties All these countries were undergoing economic difculties that reduced public faith in the leadership. The country that changed its leadership fastest was rst off the mark into the modern world. That was Japan.