U2 Definitions & Examples
Economic Ideas Behind Imperialism
Imperialism
A policy of extending a countries influence and power through diplomatic or military force
Ethnocentrism
The act of judging another culture by values, standards, and norms of another’s culture, often leading to the belief that one’s culture is better than the other.
Eurocentrism
A worldview that positions European culture, history and values above all other parts of the world, and that they are the superior standard for everyone else.
Motivations Behind Imperialism
Economic:
Imperialism would give economic advantages to the mother country and the colonies
Eg. The fact that tea was to popular that it helped the Indian economy as well as the British economy (British people had tea). Great Britain also promoted and sold tea across Europe and around the world
Strategic:
Acquiring colonies ensured the protection of the mother country and in strategic places, protect transit lines and lines of communication
Eg. The Suez Canal: to ensure easy access to India, it was important to control Egypt.
The Panama Canal
Colonization:
Nations searched for places to put extra population.
Some people wanted to search for better lives and sometimes freedom from religious oppression.
Some were forced to leave because they were criminals
Eg. Australia
Religious:
Some felt it was their duty to convert other people to their religion (christianity)
Paternalistic/Humanitarian:
A condescending belief that it was their duty to help a colony with political and economic organization.
Idea of Social Darwinism - warped the view of Charles Darwin’s idea: Belief that the human race was in evolution and that the “white race” was the most developed
Mercantilism
The idea that the state or government should develop a countries wealth by seeking new markets for resources that they could bring back to transform and sell
Was popular in 16th-19th century Europe
Seeking new markets usually involves taking land for resources (imperialism, colonialism)
State Controlled
Examples
The Fur Trade
England found new land and colonized it to take its resources (beaver pelts) they then returned them to the home country to process these resources (turn into hats) to sell.
The Tea Trade (India)
Europeans colonized India to take back and sell tea
Capitalism
The idea where private companies and individuals produce and sell goods in response to demand (rather than government control)
Key values:
economic competition without interference
personal responsibility (government can’t always help you - like socialism)
consumerism
freedom - free trade
Adam Smith (capitalist)
Economist
Seen as a champion of capitalism (laid the foundation for capitalism)
felt that the economy would naturally grow if the government did not intervine
The search for individual profit is a key motivator
Against monopolies
Industrialization
The change in production from a domestic to factory system
Result of a manufacturing increase in society
Countries went from rural and agrarian (an area that cultivates land) to urban and industrial
First happened in Great Britain
Helped create conditions that fuelled imperialism (they needed resources)
Karl Marx (communist)
He was an economist
In response to the problems of the industrial revolution (low wages, bad working conditions…), he developed the ideas of socialism and communism
Karl Marx believed that workers are exploited by capitalists (rich get richer, poor get poorer)
He called for a violent revolution against the capitalists, overthrowing the whole system
How These Relate
For mercantilism to work, europeans needed to colonize for resources
Europeans needed to use force to take these colonies (imperialism)
Industrialization came along and required much more resources than before (stronger need for imperialism)
Industrialization fed Capitalism (replaced mercantilism)
Factories were privately owned
Investors (individuals) funded production
More accesible production meant more competition
Governments began to give more control to the people