6.1 AP World History

Unit 6: New Ideologies and the Second Wave of Imperialism (1750-1900)
Introduction

  • Overview of the second wave of imperialism from 1750 to 1900.

  • Comparison with earlier maritime empires of Western European states that originally focused on dominating the Indian Ocean trade and colonizing the Americas.

  • Transition to a new wave of imperialism prompted by Enlightenment ideas and the Industrial Revolution.

Context of Imperialism

  • Previous Period: Western European states

    • Developed maritime empires.

    • Dominated trade and established colonies in the Americas.

  • Current Period: 1750-1900

    • Continued imperial ambitions despite Enlightenment ideals of liberty and self-governance.

    • New wave of imperialism with nuanced motivations beyond "God, gold, and glory."

    • Shift from Corporate to State Control:

    • British East India Company (EIC): The London office served as the headquarters for ruling British India until the British government took direct charge of the colony in 1858.

    • Dutch East India Company (VOC):

      • Founded in 1602 (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), given a monopoly on trade between the Cape of Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan.

      • Concentrated on islands around Java, replacing Portuguese control.

      • Corruption and debt led the government to take control of the company's possessions in 1799, creating the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia).

The "New Imperialism" and Economic Drivers

  • Post-Industrial Revolution Lead:

    • After the Industrial Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Britain emerged as the leading economic power through the first half of the 19^{th} century.

  • Demand for Raw Materials:

    • Colonies provided essential resources for factories: cotton, wool, jute, vegetable oils, and rubber.

  • Food for Urban Populations:

    • Growing industrial cities relied on colonies for wheat, tea, coffee, cocoa, meat, and butter.

  • Market Expansion:

    • Settler Colonies: Examples like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa provided markets for British manufactured goods.

  • Global Competition:

    • As the Second Industrial Revolution progressed, other nations challenged Britain's economic lead, looking to Asia, Africa, and the Pacific to source materials and expand markets.

Major Ideologies Driving Imperialism

  • Four major ideologies emerged during this period, influenced by the Industrial Revolution:

Nationalism

  • Definition: A sense of commonality among a people based on shared language, religion, and social customs.

  • Often linked to a desire for self-rule within a territory.

  • Historical Shift: Prior to this period, people's identities were generally tied to sovereigns (kings, queens, emperors).

  • Influence of Enlightenment Ideas:

    • Ideals of liberty led to individuals identifying more with their nation rather than just a ruler.

  • Significant Influence:

    • Nationalism was a key force in the unification efforts in Italy and Germany.

  • Impact on Imperialism:

    • Fueled imperialism as nations sought to expand their empires, driven by pride in their culture and history.

    • Led to rivalries among imperial states to claim larger empires to assert great power status.

Scientific Racism

  • Definition: The belief that humans can be hierarchically ranked based on biological classifications primarily around race.

  • Historical Context:

    • Preceding racial divisions were more religious (Christians vs. non-Christians).

  • Transition to Scientific Justifications:

    • Development of scientific racism as a secular attempt to classify humanity.

    • Example: Phrenology—study of skull shape and size.

    • Conclusion drawn by phrenologists: Larger skulls were seen as a sign of superiority, justifying imperial actions in "child races."

Social Darwinism

  • Foundation in Biological Darwinism:

    • Inspired by Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, emphasizing survival and adaptation.

  • Social Application:

    • Social Darwinists concluded that Darwinian concepts applied to societies; Western industrial societies were seen as the most adapted and thus superior.

  • Implications for Imperialism:

    • Justified the idea that the strong should dominate the weak, rationalizing European imperial expansion as a natural order.

The Civilizing Mission

  • Definition: A perceived duty of Western societies to impart their civilization to "lower civilizations."

  • Motivation to Colonize:

    • Justified interventions in colonized lands to convert indigenous populations to Christianity.

    • Figures such as David Livingstone promoted Christianity and Western ideals.

  • Institutional Impacts:

    • Restructuring colonial governments based on Western models.

    • Efforts to impose Western-style education, aimed at suppressing indigenous languages and cultures.

Geopolitical Conflicts

  • Sino-Japanese War: Represented the shift in regional power, showcasing Japan's emergence as an imperial actor.

  • Formosa: Acquired by Japan following territorial competition.

Conclusion

  • Synthesis of Ideologies: The interplay of nationalism, scientific racism, social Darwinism, and the civilizing mission led to the dynamic stew of motivations driving the second wave of imperialism.

  • Teaser for Next Discussion: Examination of how these ideologies manifested in concrete imperial actions.