Study Notes on the Second Wave of Imperialism
Second Wave of Imperialism
Introduction
The second wave of imperialism, which occurred roughly between 1750 and 1900, involved significant changes in methods of state expansion compared to earlier periods.
Geographical Changes
New Geographical Focus:
Previous period (1450-1750): European imperial expansion heavily focused on the Americas as well as regions in Asia and Southeast Asia.
Second period (1750-1900): Focus shifted primarily to Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia, with less emphasis on the Americas.
Changes in Key Players
Decline of Spain and Portugal:
These countries lost control of their colonial holdings and declined in global importance.
Rise of New Powers:
Major players such as Great Britain, France, and the Dutch continued to exert colonial influence.
New entrants into imperialism included Germany, Italy, Belgium, the United States, and Japan.
Methods of Imperial Expansion
Four Major Methods of Expansion:
1. State Takeovers of Private Colonies
Some colonies were initially controlled by individuals or businesses, not governments.
Example:
King Leopold II of Belgium controlled the private colony known as the Congo Free State.
Leopold falsely presented himself as a humanitarian intending to educate and convert the indigenous population.
Reality: Brutal exploitation of the Congo for raw materials, particularly rubber, resulted in millions of deaths.
In 1908, due to public outrage over his exploitation, the Belgian government assumed control of the Congo.
Additional Examples:
Dutch takeover of Indonesia from the Dutch East India Company.
British takeover of India from the British East India Company.
2. Diplomacy and Warfare
Two distinct strategies in the colonization of Africa: diplomacy and warfare.
A. Diplomacy
Definition:
The act of making political agreements through dialogue and negotiation instead of conflict.
Example:
The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) addressed the intense competition for African territory among European powers.
Resulted in widespread territorial claims across Africa without consulting African leaders.
Led to the arbitrary drawing of borders that disregarded ethnic boundaries, causing future conflicts.
B. Warfare
States sometimes resorted to military conflict to expand territory in Africa.
Example:
French invasion of Algeria:
Algerian ruler hit a French diplomat, leading to a French military response of 35,000 troops invading Algeria.
Despite resistance, the French succeeded in establishing control over Algeria in the 19th century.
3. Establishment of Settler Colonies
Settler colonies involved claiming inhabited territories and sending settlers to establish new societies.
Example:
British established colonies in Australia and New Zealand:
Resulted in a neo-European society.
Settler activities led to the introduction of diseases that devastated indigenous populations like the Aborigines in Australia and Maori in New Zealand.
4. Conquering Neighboring Territories
Conquering neighboring lands was often easier than overseas expansion.
Examples of States Engaging in Neighbor Expansion:
United States:
Westward expansion followed the Manifest Destiny ideology, prompting wars with Mexico and Spain.
Forcibly relocated indigenous people onto reservations and practiced cultural assimilation through boarding schools.
Russia:
After the Crimean War, a doctrine known as Panslavism emerged, uniting Slavic peoples under Russian authority.
Expanded territory through various military campaigns throughout the 19th century into neighboring countries.
Japan:
Rapid industrialization during the Meiji Restoration enabled Japan to modernize and create its own empire.
Expanded influence over Korea, Manchuria, and parts of China.
Conclusion
Second wave of imperialism characterized by diverse methods of expansion, significant geopolitical transformations, and implications for colonized peoples which remain relevant today.