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Imperialism Notes

Imperialism began in the mid-19th century led by Britain and France as they sought to expand their economic and political power. Motivations included acquiring natural resources, increasing trade, spreading religion and nationalism. Colonies were ruled directly, indirectly using local leaders, or through spheres of influence and protectorates. Major colonial empires included Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the US. Legacy effects were economic exploitation, cultural disruption, arbitrary borders and social stratification.

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30 views

Imperialism Notes

Imperialism began in the mid-19th century led by Britain and France as they sought to expand their economic and political power. Motivations included acquiring natural resources, increasing trade, spreading religion and nationalism. Colonies were ruled directly, indirectly using local leaders, or through spheres of influence and protectorates. Major colonial empires included Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the US. Legacy effects were economic exploitation, cultural disruption, arbitrary borders and social stratification.

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lagranmanuelaciruela
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Imperialism Notes

Definition: when a nation extends its control over another country’s government and economy.
- The colonizing country is the mother country / colonizer
- The acquired territories are the colonies.
Early Modern Period, Britain, Spain and Portugal were already colonial powers.

“New Imperialism” begins in the mid-19th century. Led by Britain and France. USA, Germany,
Italy, Russia, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium and the Ottoman Empire joined later.

Motivations for Imperialism


- Economic, Religious, Political and Ideological factors.
Economic: -Industrialization, demand for natural resources increased, as well as places to trade
manufactured goods. (capitalism)

Religious: -Converting native people to Christianity was used as a justification for imperialism.

Political: -Nationalism, the prestige of possessing colonies increased nationalist sentiment.


-Competition between the imperial powers. One power didn’t want another power to
dominate in a region.

Ideological - Racism. “The White Man’s Burden”. That whites had a moral obligation to bring
civilization to the “savages” in the global south.

Types of imperial rule


Find definitions for: Direct rule, indirect rule, a protectorate, sphere of influence.
Direct rule - Colony is controlled by a foreign central authority. The colony loses all
sovereignty. E.g. France sends its own people to rule in Algeria.
Indirect rule - The imperial power exploits existing power structures in the colony to rule.
(using local leaders).
This is how Britain ruled India, mostly.

Protectorate – Colonial power controls the wealth and foreign policy of the colony. Local
authorities control domestic policy.
Example – Britain in Egypt, France and Spain in
Morocco

Spheres of influence - Independent countries forced to give up trade advantages to an imperial


power. E.g., Britain’s relationship with China, particularly following the Opium Wars.

Great Colonial Empires of the 19th/20th centuries


“The empire on which the sun never sets.”
The British Empire - largest empire in history
- Led by Queen Victoria in the 19th century.
- She called India the “jewel in the crown of the British Empire” because of its value.
- India’s value influenced British strategic thinking.

- Conquered the surrounding territories in Asia to


secure India.

- Took control of the Suez Canal to secure


the route to India.
- In Africa, Britain conquered Eastern Africa
along the Nile and most of Southern Africa.

- Also possessed Canada and most of Oceania

French Empire - Second largest in the 19th century


- Conquered Algeria and Tunisia in the 1830s.
- Conquered territories in central and western Africa.
- Created a protectorate in Morocco in 1912.
- Controlled Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) from 1887 onwards Italy and
Germany joined late.
- A result of their relatively late unifications
- Industrial revolutions in each place took place only after unification
- Italy acquired Libya, Somalia, Eritrea in the 1880s
- German East Africa (Tanzania), German SouthWest Africa (Namibia), Cameroon.

Belgium acquired The Congo in 1908


King Leopold II’s personal colony

USA - defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war


1898. They acquired Guam, Puerto Rico and the
Philippines, and later, Cuba.

Effects and Legacy of Imperialism


1.Economic Exploitation:
Colonial powers extracted resources from their colonies, often at the expense of
indigenous populations. Minerals, agricultural products, and labour etc.

2. Cultural Disruption:
Colonialism disrupted/destroyed indigenous customs, languages, and traditions.
European cultural norms and values were often imposed on colonized peoples. Cultural
assimilation, Westernisation.

3. Territorial Redrawing:
Arbitrary colonial borders. Disregarding ethnic, tribal, and historical divisions of local
populations. Leads to ongoing conflicts and political instability.

4.Social Stratification:
Colonialism introduced or exacerbated social hierarchies based on race and class.
Locals often subjected to discrimination and exclusion from positions of power.

5. Resource Dependence:
Some post-colonial nations continue to struggle with economic dependence on former
colonial powers/multinational corporations, which can hinder their development and
sovereignty. (Neocolonialism)

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