Late Nineteenth Century Imperialism

1
Late Nineteenth Century Imperialism

• 1870-1914

2
Objective

• To understand the causes of European imperialism
  of the late 19th century
• To understand the extent of European imperial
  expansion
• To understand the consequences of European
  imperialism for Europe and the developing world

3
Definitions

• Imperialism
• extending a nations influence
  directly or indirectly over
  weaker areas

4
Definitions

• Colonialism
• Taking direct control of an area and turning it
  into a colony under a nations authority

5
Definitions

• Nationalism
• Belief that an ethnic group should rule itself
• Belief that one nation is better than all the
  others

6
Causes of Late 19th Century European Imperialism

• Economic

7
Causes of Late 19th Century European Imperialism

• Economic

8
Causes of Late 19th Century European Imperialism

• Three Cs of Imperialism
• Christianity
• Civilization
• Commerce

9
Causes of Late 19th Century European Imperialism

• Political
• Maintain the balance of power
• To control strategic areas like sea lanes, access
  to markets
• Status symbols
• Germany takes colonies to be like other European
  powers
• Cultural and Religious
• Belief in cultural or racial superiority
• Desire to spread Christianity to heathens
• To spread civilization

10
Britain

• Largest colonial empire
• Sun never sets on the British Empire

11
Britain

• Largest colonial empire
• Sun never sets on the British Empire
• Colonies established to protect trading interests
  in Africa and Asia
• Two kinds of colonies
• White Colonies (Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
  South Africa) given self-rule
• Non-white Colonies (India, Africa) under direct
  rule

12
France
13
France

• Acquired Algeria in 1830
• Took over Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) by
  the 1880s
• Expanded into Western Africa in the 1880s
• Took colonies to make up for loss of
  Alsace-Lorraine in 1870

14
Germany
15
Germany

• Bismarck originally opposed colonial expansion
• Unnecessary for Germany
• Did not want to threaten France or Britain
• Germany took colonies in 1880s for status symbols
• In Africa and Asia

16
United States
17
United States

• Did not get involved in European affairs
• Became colonial power after 1898
• Spanish-American War
• U.S. gains control of Puerto Rico, Guam,
  Philippines
• Monroe Doctrine allows US to extend influence
  into Latin America

18
Scramble for Africa

• Europe had been interested in Africa for
  centuries
• Through the slave trade

19
Scramble for Africa

• Europe had been interested in Africa for
  centuries
• Through the slave trade
• Much of Africa still unexplored until 1880s
• European influence restricted to coastline
• Technology allows Europeans to explore African
  interior
• Steamboats, Suez Canal, advances in medicine

20
Scramble for Africa

• By 1914, 90 of Africa under European control
• Berlin Conference in 1885 sets ground rules for
  European colonization of Africa

21
Scramble for Africa
22
Scramble for Africa

• Consequences
• Traditional way of life disrupted
• Economic exploitation of Africans
• European racism imported into Africa
• Spread of European culture
• Spread of Western technology

23
European Imperialism in Asia
24
European Imperialism in Asia

• India
• Britain trading in India since 1600s
• British East India Co. gradually took over parts
  of India
• British government gradually took over India in
  the 1800s
• Sepoy Mutiny
• Indian soldiers revolt against British East India
  Co. and were put down by British army

25
European Imperialism in Asia

• Consequences of British Imperialism in India
• British educational system established
• Spread of English language
• Railroads tie India together
• Rise of Indian middle class

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European Imperialism in Asia

• China

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European Imperialism in Asia

• China
• Potentially huge market
• Closed to European trade until 1800s
• Opium War (1840)
• Britain forces China to open trade to opium
• By 1900, China divided into European spheres of
  influence
• Parts of China under European control
• Chinese monarchy seriously weakened

28
Reaction to Imperialism

• Rise of Nationalist Movements

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Reaction to Imperialism

• Rise of Nationalist Movements
• India
• Indian National Congress (1885)
• Group of middle class Indians begin to demand
  independence (Mohandas Gandhi)
• China
• Boxer Rebellion (1900)
• Nationalist Party

30
Conclusion

• Different reasons for European imperialism during
  late nineteenth century
• European imperialism causes reactions in Africa
  and Asia
• European imperialism disrupts traditional way of
  life and continues to affect the world today