topics and key questions
Motives of / justifications for imperialism.
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Imperialism – The “White Man’s Burden”?
Why did the Great Powers embark on and how did they justify a policy
of imperialism?
British, American and German imperialism.
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Imperialism, colonialism and their variations: Different interpretations
of empire.
Great Britain or Little England? Different attitudes to empire in Britain.
How did the British attempt to ensure that “the sun never sets on the
British Empire”?
From the Monroe Doctrine to the Roosevelt Corollary: The USA as the
“world’s constable”?
From “pragmatic colonisation” to Germany’s “New Course”: In how far
did William II’s strife for colonies impact international relations?
The Germans and the Herero in German South-West Africa: Justifying
indemnity payments for Namibia today?
New Imperialism: The long fuse for WWI?
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Imperialism: Enduring legacies for the 21 century?
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key terms
national prestige
the “white man’s burden” / sense of mission
to civilise
to proselytise / missionise
Social Darwinism
racism
outlet markets
exploration
social imperialism
imperialism, colonialism
colony / dominion / protectorate
formal v. informal empire
New Imperialism (Hochimperialismus)
British Empire
raj /rɑːdʒ/
East India Trading Company
Pax Britannica
jingoism (Hurrapatriotismus), chauvinism
Little Englander
Monroe Doctrine
Roosevelt Corollary
dollar imperialism
“open-door” policy
“big-stick” diplomacy
“pragmatic colonisation”
New Course
world policy (Weltpolitik) & “a place in the sun”
“latecomer nation” / “belated nation”
Pan-German League (Alldeutscher Verband)
German Navy League (Flottenverein)
Berlin (Congo / West Africa) Conference
Scramble for Africa (Wettlauf um Afrika)
Fashoda Crisis
Hague Conventions (Haager Friedenskonferenzen)
First and Second Moroccan Crises
New Imperialism (ca. 1880 – 1914)
Motives & Justifications:
Characteristics:
Great Britain:
USA:
The long fuse for WWI?
Germany: