IMPERIALISM
MOTIVES OF IMPERIALISM /
► Why did the Great Powers embark on a policy of Imperialism?
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gaining national prestige
the “white man’s burden” (Kipling) (white race = superior, task: civilise inferior
races)
to civilise / to proselytise (bekehren/missionieren)
Social Darwinism (theory of “survival of the fittest” is applied to human race →
claim superiority of white race over other, inferior races)
racism
outlet markets (promote a nation’s economy by trading with colonies / raw
materials; export)
exploration
conflicts → periphery (conflicts in colonies of different nations has a direct
impact on relation between those nations) => distracting from issues in
domestic policy by gaining successes abroad
BRITISH, AMERICAN AND GERMAN IMPERIALISM
imperialism
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colonialism
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colony / dominion / protectorate
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British Empire
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a policy of extending a country's
power and influence through
diplomacy or military force
ca. 1870 to 1914 (high era)
the control or governing influence
of a nation over a dependent
country, territory, or people
occupation of colony with settlers
and economic exploitation
colony: region or country under
full or partial control of another
country; occupied by settlers of
that country
dominion: self-governing territory
of the British Commonwealth
protectorate: a territory that is
protected diplomatically or
militarily by a stronger state in
exchange for certain obligations
and subordination
largest colonial power (colonies,
dominions & protectorates
administered by GB)
widespread political, legal,
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Raj
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East India Trading Company
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Pax Britannica
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jingoism
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Little Englander
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Dollar Imperialism
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“open-door” policy / “big-stick” diplomacy
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New Course
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linguistic and cultural legacy
“The sun never sets on the British
Empire.”
British sovereignty in India (1858
to 1947)
formed in 1600 by GB
aim: establish trade with new
British colonies (India) and southeastern Asia
eventually came to rule large
areas of India with its own private
armies, exercising military power
and assuming administrative
functions → rule over India until
1858 (Raj = British rule over India)
period of (relative) peace in
Europe (1858-1914)
British Empire controlled most of
the key maritime trade routes &
enjoyed unchallenged sea power
idea of the British spreading /
ensuring peace in their territories
extreme patriotism, esp. in the
form of aggressive or warlike
foreign policy
A person who opposes an
international role or policy for
Britain
anti-imperialist attitude of some
British (against further expansion
of British Empire; British borders =
limited to size of the United
Kingdom)
pejorative expression
giving loans to indebted countries
→ create dependency
esp. refers to US imperialism
“open-door policy”: the policy of
granting equal trade opportunities
to all countries / idea of “one
market”
“big-stick” diplomacy: US
President Theodore Roosevelt’s
foreign policy: "speak softly, and
carry a big stick" → idea of
negotiating peacefully,
simultaneously threatening with
big military force
ca. 1890 to 1894
attempt by Kaiser Wilhelm II to
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world policy & “a place in the sun”
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“latecomer nation” / “belated nation”
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Pan-German League (Alldeutscher
Verband)
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German Navy League (Flottenverein)
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Scramble for Africa (Wettlauf um Afrika)
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increase Germany’s power and
influence throughout the whole
world → extend German navy &
gain new territory
reorientation of policy (Bismarck
had previously established a
balance of power within Europe)
→ belligerent (angriffslustig),
militaristic
Wilhelm’s policy = undiplomatic,
short-sighted, authoritarian
after 1897: world policy dominates
German foreign policy
“a place in the sun”: Germany
shall be more powerful → needs
to actively take part in colonial
expansion in order to become a
dominant European & world
power
e.g. strong navy needed
late unification of Germany (1871)
→ Bismarck first of all wanted to
secure & stabilise Germany’s
position in Europe, avoid conflicts;
however, he later changed his
mind => “pragmatic
colonialism”
acquisition of colonies much later
than GB and France (both had
already gained large territories in
Africa and Asia) → conflicts,
tensions
founded in 1891
German extremist, ultranationalist political interest
organisation
purpose of the league was to
nurture and protect the ideology of
German nationality as a unifying
force
formed in 1898 by Admiral Alfred
von Tirpitz
aim: expansion of German navy,
compete with British naval force
1881 to 1914
process of invasion, occupation,
colonization and annexation
of African territory
by European powers → gain
national prestige
Fashoda Crisis
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Scramble for China
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Boxer rebellion
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but: in the European powers'
interest to have a weak but
independent Chinese
government
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anti-foreign, protonationalist movement by
the Righteous Harmony Society in
China between 1898 and
1901, opposing foreign
imperialism and Christianity
background: severe drought and
economic disruption in response
to growth of foreign spheres of
influence
June 1900: “Boxers” attacked
European legations in Beijing,
provoking a rare display of unity
among the foreign powers (GB, F,
R, G), whose troops landed
at Tianjin and marched on the
capital
1899 and 1907
initiated by Tsar of Russia, 26
nations attended
aim: agreement to guarantee long
lasting peace
no agreement on limitation of
arms
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Hague Peace Conferences
1898
climax of imperial territorial
disputes between GB and France
in Eastern Africa: a French
expedition to Fashoda on
the White Nile sought to gain
control of the Nile River and
thereby force Britain out of Egypt
diplomatic victory for GB
“vom Kap bis Kairo” / west-east
axis => Fashoda clash
at the end of the 19th centry
China faces economic
dismemberment; defeat by Japan
much of China is divided into
“spheres of influence” (G, GB, F,
R) → US = alarmed →
international agreement on “opendoor” policy (denoting freedom of
commercial access and nonannexation of Chinese territory
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KEY QUESTIONS
How can one differentiate between Imperialism and Colonialism?
Colonialism 
only aimed at gaining additional territory
Imperialism 
attempt to gain as much power as possible, not only by
gaining additional territory but also with other methods;
high stately and societal commitment
How did the British attempt to ensure that “the sun never sets on
the British Empire”?
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“from Cape to Cairo”/ “from Cairo to Calcutta”
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occupying colonies worldwide, set up military bases
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strong naval power
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from 1833: no slavery
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The term means that due to the fact that the British Empire had a widely
spread colonial territory there always was a spot on earth in which there
was sunlight.
What are the striking features of American Imperialism?
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Dollar Imperialism = creating dependencies by giving loans to indebted
countries
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“open-door” policy = Open-door policy guarantees equal trade
opportunities to all countries, including low tariffs on import/ increased
markets in foreign countries (no need for strong navy)
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“big-stick” diplomacy = policy of negotiating peacefully and at the same
time threatening other nations with a big military force
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regard citizens of foreign countries as free people with virtue, capacity,
high purpose, good faith -> no oppression of cultures/ regions
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main interest = spread of democracy worldwide + economic and political
influence worldwide
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Monroe Doctrine [Roosevelt Corollary (Dec 1904)]: USA as international
police power interfering in foreign state matters if rights of the United
States are violated (Monroe: isolationism; Roosevelt: “chronic
wrongdoings require American interventions”)
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Manifest Destiny: responsibility given by God/ “faithful service” to care
for international good, establish liberty + justice
What were the different German attitudes towards having colonies?
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Bismarck: Germany = “saturated Empire”; against colonisation; focus on
domestic policy, calming down other European countries who regard
Germany as rising threat; later: “pragmatic colonisation” = no
oppression by military but useful results for economy
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Kaiser Wilhelm’s colonial policy caused increase of wealth and
economic rebound for German merchants  supporters of his
expansionist attitude
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“New Course” triggered foundation of some oppositional associations
which mainly included members of the working class and the SPD
Why did Emperor William II strive for colonies?
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advancing industries requires expansion of trade + markets, access to
raw materials
territorial expansion against overpopulation
proselytizing uneducated inhabitants, spreading religious beliefs
gaining more power + prestige
“place in the sun”
distraction from social tensions at home => Social Imperialism
No more passivism  Germany = “belated nation”; “hammer and anvil”
From “internal” to “external” nationalism
Imperialism as a long-term cause of WWI
German imperialism in Africa: e.g. Herero uprising?
Impact of imperialism on European-African relationships up to today (cf. e.g.
indemnity claims by Namibia)?