The New Imperialism
The New Imperialism
“The sun
never sets
on the
British
Empire”
2
The Maxim Machine Gun
“Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim gun and they have not”
The French in Madagascar
Causes of the New Imperialism
Economy
•Need for
natural
resources
•Need for new
markets
•Place for
growing
populations to
settle
•Place to invest
profits
Politics and
the Military
Society
•Bases for
Trade and navy
ships
•Power and
Security of
global empire
•Spirit of
Nationalism
•Wish to spread
Christianity
•Wish to share
western
civilization
•Belief that
western ways
are best
Science and
Invention
•New weapons
•New
Medicines
•Improved
ships
“A place in the sun…”
• National Pride and Imperialism — Imperialism represented
an expression of nationalism. European countries wanted
to acquire colonies to demonstrate their power, prestige,
and national superiority.
• Balance of power — European countries sought to
preserve the balance among themselves with regard to
colonies. When one country obtained a new colony, other
European powers felt it necessary to do the same.
Forms of Imperial Control
Colonies
Colonial officials
controlled local areas
and people
Could be either:
•Direct Rule —
French model; goal
was to make colonies
into French provinces
•Indirect Rule —
British model; leaders
were encouraged to
have their children
educated in Britain,
picking up western
values and influences
Protectorates
•Local rulers left in
place, but required to
accept advice from
Imperial “advisors”.
•Often less costly to
imperial powers,
because troops and
navies only needed
there in times of crisis
Sphere of
Influence
•Outside power
claimed “exclusive
rights” in various
countries to trade or
invest. Other European
powers were expected
to keep “hands off.”
•Examples: China —
carved up by several
European powers.
Latin America —
claimed by the United
States as sphere of
influence in Monroe
Doctrine (1824)
The Great Land Grab in Africa
In the last half of the 19th century, Europeans divided up the continent of Africa
Africa, 1850
Free Africa
European possessions
•French
•British
•Portuguese
Africa, 1914
European
possessions
Free Africa
•Ethiopia
•Liberia
•French
•British
•Portuguese
•Belgian
•German
•Italian
•Spanish
European Imperialism and Africa
Positive Effects on Africa
Negative Effects on Africa
European medicine and improved
nutrition increased the life span of
Africans. This also led to an expansion
of the population
European domination often led to an
erosion of traditional African values and
destroyed many existing social
relationships
Europeans introduced modern
transportation and communications,
such as telegraphs, railroads,
steamships, and telephones
African peoples were treated as inferior
to Europeans. Native peoples were
forced to work long hours for low pay
A small minority of Africans received
improved educations and greater
economic opportunities. Some served as
administrators or in the army
Europeans divided up Africa artificially,
ignoring tribal, ethnic, and cultural
boundaries. These divisions have led to
ongoing tribal clashes in many African
countries
The Middle East
• Islam undergoes ferment and reform during the
1700-1800s. Example: Wahhabism
• Nationalist revolts spread through the Ottoman
Empire as it crumbled. Europeans tried to
benefit from this
• Turkish nationalism led to revolt by the “Young
Turks” and also genocide against Armenians
• Muhammad Ali led reform efforts in Egypt
• Britain makes Egypt a protectorate in 1882 to
protect Suez Canal
The Competition for Oil
Britain
•Strongest
influence in
southern Iran
•Anxious to
protect its
investment in
India
Russia
•Strongest
influence in
Northern Iran
•Anxious to
protect its own
southern border
Iranian
Secular
Nationalist
Group
•Promotes
acceptance of
western ways
•Supported by
urban middle
class
Iranian
Muslim
Nationalist
Group
•Headed by
Muslim
religious
leaders
•Promotes antiwestern
feelings
•Supported by
masses of rural
poor
The Effects of British Rule in India
Good Effects
•New roads and railroads link parts
of India
•Telegraph and postal systems unite
people
•Irrigation systems improve farming
•New laws mean justice for all
classes
•British schools offer education
•Customs that threaten human rights
are ended
Bad Effects
•Indian resources go to Britain
•British-made goods replace local
goods
•Farms grow cash crops rather than
food crops; Indians go hungry
•Top jobs go to the British
•Indians are treated as inferiors
•Britain tries to replace Indian culture
with western ways
China and the New Imperialism
Qing Dynasty
1644
A.D.
1600
1850 –
1864
Taiping
Rebellion
Qing
rule
begins
1650
1700
1750
1800
1900
Boxer
Uprising
1850
1911
Sun Yixian
overthrows
Qing empire;
becomes
president of
Chinese
Republic
1900
1950
1839 –
1842
1894 – 1895
Opium
War
War with
Japan