New Imperialism Lecture Notes

Flashcards reviewing key concepts from the lecture on New Imperialism, covering its characteristics, justifications, economic impacts, governance, migrations, and resistance.

What is the definition of imperialism?

A system of interregional relations in which one state or region, the metropole, controls and exploits territories to increase its own power and prosperity.

What is the key difference between Old Imperialism and New Imperialism?

Old Imperialism (c. 1500-1800) focused on the Americas with limited presence in Africa and Asia, while New Imperialism (after c. 1800) saw European powers conquer almost all of Africa and most of Asia due to industrial advancements.

What was a key justification for the New Imperialism?

Social Darwinism, which applied Darwin's theory of evolution to human societies, suggesting stronger nations were naturally entitled to conquer weaker ones.

What is the 'Civilizing Mission' as it relates to the New Imperialism?

The idea that imperial powers had a duty to bring 'civilization' (Western ways of life) to 'uncivilized' nations, justifying conquest for their own good.

How did Religious Missions play a role in the New Imperialism?

A resurgence in fervor for Religious Missions among Christians led many to argue for the justice of conquests, as building empires made missionary work safer.

Who criticized the justifications of American imperialism in the Philippines?

Mark Twain, in his essay 'To the Person Sitting in Darkness,' satirized the justifications of American imperialism.

How did the Industrial Revolutions contribute to the New Imperialism?

The Industrial Revolutions increased the size of Western economies, creating a need for raw materials that could not be produced domestically, leading to imperial powers seeking resources from other parts of the world.

What is one way imperial powers exploit countries without direct political control?

Imperial powers use indirect economic control to exploit non-industrialized powers through establishing unequal treaties and acquiring extraterritorial rights.

How did global manufacturing shift from Early Modern to Modern Period?

In the Early Modern Period, the center of manufacturing was in South Asia and East Asia; during the Modern Period, the non-industrialized regions were subordinated to the West, becoming the new center of global manufacturing.

What was the general trend of governance under the New Imperialism?

The general trend was towards direct conquest by the imperial power.

What are 'settler colonies'?

Colonies established by imperial powers primarily for settlement by their own citizens, typically in sparsely-populated regions with low economic development.

What are 'push and pull factors' related to the New Imperialism?

Factors that influence migration, including push factors like overpopulation and low wages in migrants’ home countries, and pull factors like greater economic opportunities and higher wages abroad.

What is the difference between migration in industrialized vs non-industrialized regions?

In industrialized regions migration tended to be urban-rural, in non-industrialized regions migration tended to be inter-regional or inter-continental.

What are ethnic enclaves and why migrants chose to settle in it?

Neighborhoods populated predominantly by immigrants from the same country, where they could maintain a version of their native culture. Created due to differences in language, culture, religion, and lifestyle in addition to mistreatment.

What were forms of resistance to the New Imperialism?

The spread of ideas like nationalism and Enlightenment ideals, coupled with native traditions and religious movements, helped to spawn anticolonial movements against the imperial powers, sometimes violent, but more often were indirect efforts to sabotage colonial rule.