Transcript British Imperialism

British Imperialism
Imperialism
• Control of weak countries by stronger ones through use
of military and economic pressures.
• From 1870-1914, several economic factors made
European nations interested in colonization
1. Rapid industrialization and a rising standard of living
created the need for more raw materials
2. Competition among industrialized countries led each to
look for new export markets
3. Less developed countries offered a ready supply of raw
materials and labor
European Motives:
Racism
• Westerners thought their civilization was superior to the
native culture
• Racism is the belief that one race is better than another
• Many Europeans felt that whites were better than other
races
European Motives:
Nationalism
• Also a major factor in imperialism.
• Some nations wanted to gain colonies to show their
military strength.
• The country that was the greatest imperial power in the
1800s was Britain.
European Motives:
Social Darwinism
• Concept of survival of the fittest used to justify European
imperialism
• Strongest country should survive, and the weaker ones
would fall
Berlin Conference
• Europe feared race for colonies might provoke war.
• In 1884, 14 nations meet in Berlin to lay down rules for
the division of Africa
• Agreed any nation could claim any part of Africa by
telling the other nations and showing that it had control of
the area
• By 1914, only Ethiopia and Liberia were free from
European imperial control.
Carving up Africa!
German Colonies in Africa
Three Groups Clash over
South Africa
• Africans: Zulu chief Shaka creates large centralized state.
His successors unable to maintain control, the British
took over.
• Dutch: Settlers known as Boers take over and settle large
plantations. When gold was found, the Boers tried to keep
others from gaining political power. So British and Boers
clash in Boer War, which British win in 1902.
• British: Successfully control Boer land, create Union of
South Africa
Reasons for Europeans’ Success
• Superior technology such as Maxim gun, steam engine,
and the railroads
• Discovery of quinine, which prevents malaria
• Lack of African unity, and the playing of rival groups of
Africans against each other
South Africa develops Apartheid
• System where blacks and whites are separated; black
made to feel inferior to whites
• Continues until 1993, when African National Congress
received backing from many foreign countries who were
disgusted with apartheid, and gained release of Nelson
Mandela, who had been in prison for 27 years.
• In 1994, he became president of South Africa, later
received Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring
freedom to blacks of South Africa.
Was there any positive
outcome of colonial rule?
• Local conflicts among African tribes reduced
• Increased life spans and literacy rates rise
What were the negative
outcomes?
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Artificial boundaries created
Exploitation of African labor and resources
Deaths of millions of Africans
Cultural annihilation
Suppression of democracy
Ills of capitalism drive many colonized nations to
sympathize with communism (Cold War)