The “New” Imperialism – 1869
- 1914
MOTIVES for Imperialism
• Political Motives
– Status and
Competition between
nation-states
• E.g. France after
humiliating loss of
Franco-Prussian War
• British Protection of
India, the “crown jewel”
of the British Empire
Motives for Imperialism
• Cultural Motives
– Missionaries – spread
Christianity through
missionary work
– Result: Loss of native
cultures
– Sometimes good?
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Child Brides
Suttee
Arranged Marriage
Human Sacrifice
Motives for Imperialism
• Cultural Motives
– Exportation of
“Civilization”
• Abolition of
slavery
• Western
Education
• Hygiene and
medicines
Motives for Imperialism
• Cultural Motives
– Technology and “Progress”
• Humans as Masters over
Nature
• Technology as proof of
superiority of West
• “Savages” vs. “Civilized”:
Eurocentricity
• Easy military victories, use
of newspapers to soften
public opinion, e.g.
Omdurman (1898)
Motives for
Imperialism
• Economic Motives
– Industrialization:
Demand for raw
materials
• Merchants wanted
reliable sources
• Military used as
backup
• High Demand for
Crops
New Imperialism –
Motives and Methods
• Seizure of Africa and Central
Asia
– 10 Million square miles, 150
million people
Reorganization of Colonies in
Asia and Africa
King Leopold of Belgium
demands the Congo
“The Scramble For Africa”
Domination of Latin
America
• US’s Monroe
Doctrine
• Intervention in
Latin America
lead to economic
imperialism
• US in Philippines
Economic Dependencies
• Latin America: supplier of foodstuffs and
raw materials and consumers of
manufactured products
• Similar to old colonial relationships, but
technically politically independent
• Western corporations controlled
economies, western armies defended their
interests
The Imperialist’s Toolkit
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Naval and Steam power
Suez Canal
Telegraph cables
Breech-Loading rifles
– Smokeless powder = better visibility
– Repeating rifles – 15 rounds in 15 seconds
Gatling Guns