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Colonialism and Imperialism

Colonialism vs. Imperialism

  • Colonialism: Setting up colonies and exercising direct control over areas.
  • Imperialism:
    • No longer primarily about establishing colonies or direct control.
    • Driven mostly by economic motives.
    • Involves possession or control of an area for economic gain.
    • Characterized by spheres of influence and extraterritoriality rather than colonial settlement.
    • Involved many industrialized nations, including Europe, the United States, and Japan.

Imperialism

  • Began around 1875.
  • A renewed race for colonies spurred by the Industrial Revolution's demands.
  • Motivations:
    • New markets for finished goods.
    • New sources of raw materials.
    • Nationalism: Colonies equated to economic and political power.

Interlude: Late 1700s - Late 1800s

  • Europeans were mainly focused on events within Europe and existing European colonies.
  • Key events:
    • American Revolution
    • French Revolution
    • Napoleonic Wars
    • Latin American Wars for Independence
    • Industrial Revolution

Colonialism Speeds Up

  • Age of Exploration: Europeans competed for overseas colonies.
  • Growth of European commerce and trade worldwide.
  • Commercial Revolution ensued.

Economic Motives for Imperialism

  • Markets for Finished Goods: Such as British Industrial Revolution products sold in China and India.
  • Sources of Raw Materials:
    • Egypt: cotton
    • Malaya: rubber and tin
    • Middle East: oil
  • Capital Investments: Profits from the Industrial Revolution were invested in mines and railroads in unindustrialized areas.

Political Motives for Imperialism

  • Nationalism: national pride.
    • "The sun never sets on the British empire."
    • Large empires increased national pride.
  • Influence over areas of the world to protect national interests.

Military Motives for Imperialism

  • Bases: British naval bases in Aden, Alexandria, Cyprus, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
  • Manpower: British Indian Sepoys and French North African troops.

Social Motives for Imperialism

  • Surplus population: Examples include Japanese in Korea and Italians in Africa.
  • "White Man's Burden":
    • The idea, popularized by Rudyard Kipling, that white people were morally obligated to bring the "blessings of civilization" to "backward" peoples.

Religious Motives for Imperialism

  • Conversion to Christianity was a key goal.
  • Fueled by an end-of-the-century crusading spirit.
  • Missionaries operated in Africa, Asia, Hawaii, etc.

Justifications for Imperialism

  • Social Darwinism: Interpreted Darwin's evolutionary theory in terms of powerful nations.
    • "Only the strong survive."
    • Powerful nations were seen as capable of developing areas and resources being "wasted" by native peoples.
  • Racism: Increased feelings of white and Japanese superiority.

Imperialism: Standards

  • Explain factors that contributed to European imperialism in the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Explain the significance of nationalism in Europe during the 19th century.

Origins of the Nazi Party

  • Adolf Hitler, bitter after World War I, joined a German workers' party.
  • This party became the National Socialist German Workers' Party, known as the Nazis.
  • Hitler was a brilliant public speaker who spelled out the Nazi programs in his speeches.

Build-up to the Third Reich

  • Economic Depression of 1929:
    • 6 million Germans were unemployed.
    • Hitler promised to rebuild the economy.
    • He denounced the Treaty of Versailles.
  • By 1932, the Nazi party was the most powerful political party in Germany.
  • Hitler became Chancellor in 1933.

Nazi Beliefs

  • Outlined in "Mein Kampf."
  • The German people had been separated into warring social classes for too long, and by eliminating the differences between the rich and poor, Germany could be strong and united.
  • Defeat in WWI and other issues were blamed on Jews and Communists, not the German people.
  • Blond, blue-eyed members of the Aryan or German race were considered superior.
  • Strong central leadership (Dictator) was deemed necessary.

The Third Reich

  • Hitler persuaded German President Paul von Hindenburg to suspend all German civil rights.
  • Using false promises and violence, he got the Reichstag (parliament) to give him the power to make all laws without their consent.
  • In June 1934, all members of the military had to swear personal allegiance to Hitler.
  • After Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler abolished the office of President.
  • Hitler declared himself Führer (supreme leader) of the German Empire, known as The Third Reich.

The Third Reich (Continued)

  • Hitler became a totalitarian dictator.
  • He began to invade nearby lands, starting with the Rhineland (eastern border with France).
  • France and England did not take action.
  • He formed an alliance with Italy in 1936, creating the Axis Powers.

Adolf Hitler: Background

  • Wanted to be an artist, but his father wanted him in public service.
  • After his father died, he dropped out of high school and was denied entry into an art academy.
  • WWI veteran: Was a victim of mustard gas.