6.1 Ideologies that Justified Imperialism

• Nationalism

  • Represents a sense of common identity among a group of people.
  • Before nationalism, people were loyal to sovereigns (kings/rulers); however, Enlightenment and Industrialization redefined loyalties to national identities.
  • Example: Lead to the unifications of Germany and Italy as people sought a consolidated state.
  • Positive aspects include unity and connection; negative aspects fueled imperialistic beliefs (e.g., "we are superior, thus we should dominate others").

• Scientific Racism

  • Concept proposes a hierarchy of human beings based on race.
  • Shifted perception from a religious divide (us vs. them) to a racial one (whites vs. nonwhites).
  • Justified the colonization of nonwhites under the belief of white superiority.

• Social Darwinism

  • Applies the idea of "survival of the fittest" to human societies.
  • Justified imperialism by suggesting that European success indicated that their actions represented the most successful evolution of society.
  • Analogy: Just as strong animals prey on the weak, strong nations should dominate weaker nations.

• Civilizing Mission

  • Belief that Western civilizations had an obligation to bring the benefits of their culture to those deemed "less civilized."
  • Actions included sending Christian missionaries, restructuring colonial governments in the image of Western states, and imposing Western education designed to suppress indigenous languages and cultures.

6.2 Historical Developments of the New Period

• Shifting Geographical Focus

  • Notable shift of attention from the Americas to Africa and Asia.

• Change in Imperial States

  • Decline of Spain and Portugal; rise of Great Britain, France, the Dutch, as well as newer participants like Germany, Italy, Belgium, the United States, and Japan in imperialism.

Methods of Imperial Expansion

1. State Takeovers of Private Colonies
   • Example: Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo Free State under the guise of humanitarianism; actual intent was severe labor exploitation for rubber production leading to thousands of deaths.
2. Diplomacy and Warfare
   • Berlin Conference
     • European powers divided Africa among themselves without any input from African nations, known as the Scramble for Africa.
     • Organized by Otto Von Bismarck to negotiate territorial claims.
   • Example: France's invasion of Algeria after tensions escalated with an Algerian official.
3. Settler Colonies
   • Process of claiming inhabited territories and sending settlers.
   • Historical examples include British colonization of America, Australia, and New Zealand, often bringing diseases that decimated Indigenous populations (e.g., Aborigines, Maori).
4. Conquering Neighboring Areas
   • Significant expansion of the United States westward through methods like the Louisiana Purchase, relocating Indigenous populations to reservations.
   • Russia's Pan-Slavism
     • The notion that all Slavic peoples belong under Russian rule, targeting territories held by the Ottomans and Austrians.
   • Japan's Expansion
     • The Meiji Restoration enabled Japan's imperial expansions into Korea and parts of China.

• Diplomacy
  • Defined as the negotiation of political agreements instead of resorting to warfare.