APEH+Unit+7+Imperialism

Unit 7: New Imperialism

Definition of New Imperialism

  • Imperialism refers to the domination of people and territory by another state.

  • New Imperialism specifically describes Europe's global domination starting in the mid-19th century until World War II.

Causes of New Imperialism

  1. Political and Strategic Factors

    • European rivalries fueled the acquisition of colonies for prestige.

    • Example: Britain had the largest empire with territories like Egypt, India, and South Africa, whereas Italy held less valuable colonies.

    • Virtually no place was untouched by European imperialism, with few independent nations left in Asia or Africa.

  2. Economic Factors

    • Desire for raw materials (e.g., coffee, cotton, oil) led to imperial expansion.

    • Colonization was not always necessary for resource extraction, seen in Latin American investments without direct control.

    • Marxist theorists like Lenin highlighted economic motives as crucial causes of imperialism and linked them to WWI.

  3. Technological Superiority

    • Industrialized nations had advantages in weaponry, steam power, railways, telegraphy, and medicine.

  4. Intellectual Beliefs

    • Europeans viewed themselves as morally and culturally superior, often justifying imperialism as a civilizing mission.

    • Those views contributed to social Darwinism and racism.

Focus of Major Empires

  • Britain: Concentrated on India, Africa, and white settler dominions.

    • Maintained a powerful navy and was a satisfied power by 1914.

  • France: Sought to enhance its status post-Franco-Prussian War, focusing on Africa and Indochina.

  • Germany: Bismarck was initially less interested in colonies; however, he acquired a few to counterbalance Britain and France.

Political Atlas: Global Restructuring

  • European powers redefined territorial control globally, affecting continents across Africa and Asia.

    • Significant shifts took place in boundary demarcation and control patterns under imperialism, imposed by powerful European nations.

Historical Context Leading to Conflict

  • Bismarck's Foreign Policy post-Unification (1871)

    • Focus on alliances to preserve peace and isolate France.

    • Initial formations like the Three Emperors’ League aimed to prevent a Franco-German alliance.

    • Over time, disputes in the Balkans destabilized these arrangements.

  • Congress of Berlin (1878)

    • Addressed Balkans tensions arising post-Russo-Turkish War.

    • Established autonomy for Balkan nations but amplified nationalistic sentiments and rivalries, especially between Austria-Hungary and Serbia.

Impacts of Balkan Nationalism

  • Fragmentation within the former Ottoman territories and aggressive nationalism led to the Balkan Wars (1912-13).

  • Nationalist aspirations in the Balkans sparked resentment and conflict, placing them in opposition to imperial powers like Austria-Hungary.

Prelude to World War I

  • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (June 28, 1914)

    • Triggered a chain reaction leading to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia.

    • This event sparked complex entanglements of alliances, igniting World War I.

Summary of the Global Landscape as of 1914

  • Examination of European alliances, national tensions, major imperial holdings, and evolving political landscapes that set the stage for global conflict.