Global Economic Development

Global Economic Development

Introduction to Economic Factors in Imperialism

  • President Millard Fillmore Quote (December 2, 1850): Peruvian guano has become a vital fertilizer for the agricultural interests of the United States, necessitating government action to ensure its importation at a reasonable price.

Essential Question

  • Question: How did environmental factors contribute to the global economy between 1750 and 1900?

Economics

  • Economics served as a prime motivator for imperialism during the 1700s and 1800s.

    • Europe's rapid industrialization led to increased demand for raw materials (cotton, copper, rubber).

    • European and American agriculture sought resources from regions like South America, which was reflected in agricultural demands for fertilizers such as guano.

    • Colonized regions provided not only raw materials but also served as markets for manufactured goods.

    • Colonial populations also furnished low-wage labor for large-scale projects, exemplified by railway and telegraph construction.

    • Natural resources, newly discovered markets, and cheap labor collectively propelled economic imperialism.

Technological Developments

  • The impact of the Industrial Revolution extended beyond factories to transportation and communication technologies.

Railroads

  • Pre-Railroad Phase:

    • Transportation relied on water routes or poorly maintained road systems, limiting movement from colonies to ports.

  • Impact of Railroads:

    • Introduced significantly lower transport costs for raw materials destined for Europe.

    • Helped access and open colonial markets for European manufactured goods.

    • Inference: European colonial powers often touted these developments as advancements for local populations; however, the primary purpose was to facilitate resource extraction.

  • Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902):

    • A key figure in railway development; envisioned a railway from Cape Town to Cairo, which aimed to integrate British colonies across multiple regions.

    • The project was ultimately unfinished due to territorial disputes.

    • Railway construction predominantly utilized local native labor at significantly lower wages, showcasing exploitation amid resource extraction.

Steamships

  • Early Limitations:

    • Steamships initially constrained by coal supply and could not travel vast distances.

  • Advancements by 1870:

    • Improved steam engines allowed long-distance travel.

    • Technologies such as refrigeration made it possible to transport perishable items across oceans.

Telegraph

  • Invention Year: 1832

  • Transformation of Communication:

    • Reduced news transmission time from days/weeks to instantaneous delivery.

    • Established telegraph services in colonial territories like India as early as 1850, following the timeline of introduction in Britain.

    • Submarine telegraph cables initiated global communication (first permanent transatlantic cable in 1866, telegraph between England and Australia in 1872).

Agricultural Products

  • Agricultural Economies Encountered by Europeans:

    • Predominantly centered around subsistence farming, barely enough to sustain local populations.

    • Imperial powers altered this dynamic, forcing traditional farmers to shift to cash crop production, driven by commercial value rather than subsistence needs.

  • Consequences of Cash Crop Cultivation:

    • Replacement of food crops led to increased food prices and volatility in local economies.

    • The demand for meats and dairy fueled agricultural exports from regions like Argentina and Australia, benefiting from technological advancements in meat processing and shipping.

Guano

  • Description: Natural fertilizer derived from bird droppings rich in nitrates and phosphates.

  • Geographical Source: Predominantly sourced from Peru and Chile; massive mining efforts (1840-1880) involved extensive labor, often from indentured workers.

Raw Materials

  • Colonized regions transitioned to export economies focused on raw material provisions for global markets.

  • Key Raw Materials by Region:

    • Cotton: Producing 80% of Britain's textiles from U.S. cotton.

    • Rubber: Initially sourced from the Amazon; production escalated post-vulcanization techniques by Charles Goodyear.

    • Palm Oil: Important for industrial lubrication, with origins in West Africa; labor often involved enslaved individuals.

    • Ivory: Harvested primarily from African elephants, demonstrating early exploitation of wildlife for commercial use.

    • Minerals: Included products from various global regions—silver from Mexico, copper from Chile and Northern Rhodesia, gold from Australia and South Africa, and diamonds predominantly controlled by De Beers.

Global Consequences

  • Industrial Growth and Global Trade:

    • Increased need for raw materials propelled commercial extraction and complexity in global trade networks.

    • Urban populations fueled demand for food imports bolstered by refrigeration technology.

  • Agricultural Consequences:

    • Farmers were restricted to cash crop production, leading to monoculture practices detrimental to soil fertility and biodiversity.

  • Long-Term Impacts:

    • Many former colonies struggle with land use diversification and face ongoing food dependency due to historical agricultural practices.

Key Terms by Theme

  • Environment - Natural Resources: guano, cotton, rubber, palm oil, ivory, copper, tin.

  • Economics - People: Cecil Rhodes.

  • Economics - Companies: De Beers Mining Company.

  • Economics - Activities: cash crops, export economies, monocultures.

  • Technology - Inventions: railroads, steamships, telegraph.

  • Society - Hierarchy: apartheid, gold, diamonds.

Conclusion

  • Exploration of these themes highlights the intricate relationship between environmental resources, economic motivations, and technological advancements that shaped global economic structures between 1750 and 1900, addressing the ethical, social, and ecological ramifications still felt today.