Study Notes on Imperialism

6.1 Rationales for Imperialism

Overview of Imperialism

  • Definition of Imperialism: A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

    • Political, Social, and Economic Dominance: One country politically, socially, or economically dominates another country for personal gain.

Learning Objectives

  • I DO: Discuss the importance of imperialism leading to the modernization of current society.

  • WE DO: Identify major political, economic, and social motivations that influenced European imperialism.

  • YOU DO: Explain major characteristics and impact of European imperialism in notes for a daily grade.

Vocabulary

  • Imperialism: Dominance of one country over another.

  • Nationalism: A political ideology focused on the interests of a particular nation.

  • Sino-Japanese War: A conflict between China and Japan (1894-1895) over influence in Korea.

  • Pseudoscientists: Individuals who falsely claim scientific legitimacy.

  • Phrenologists: Researchers focused on skull shapes to determine intelligence.

  • Charles Darwin: Naturalist known for the theory of evolution and natural selection.

  • Social Darwinism: Misapplication of Darwin's theories to justify social inequalities.

  • "White Man’s Burden": A concept expressing the belief that Europeans had a duty to civilize other cultures.

  • Missionaries: Individuals spreading religious beliefs, particularly Christianity, often before colonization.

Guided Reading Questions

  1. What is imperialism and how is it different from colonialism?

  2. What were the motives for imperialism?

  3. What was the cause and effect of the Sino-Japanese War?

  4. Describe the rationales for imperialism:

    • Scientific Rationale

    • Economic Rationale

    • Cultural Rationale

    • Religious Rationale

The Age of Imperialism (1850-1914)

  • Engage in visual critical thinking by observing historical images and artifacts.

Motives for Imperialism

Motive #1: Nationalism

  • Definition: Political ideology centered around national identity and interests.

  • Revolutions and New Identities: Revolutions fueled nationalistic sentiments.

  • Competition for Territories: Old rivalries spark races to control new territories.

  • Historical Context:

    • Britain lost colonies to the U.S. and sought more territories.

    • France lost the Franco-Prussian War and sought recovery.

    • Unified Italy and Germany aimed for recognition in global affairs.

    • Countries like Britain and France expanded their empires, notably Britain’s control of India and France’s territories in Asia and Southeast Asia.

Motive #2: Economic Motive

  • Industrial Revolution: Created a demand for resources needed for industries, such as:

    • Rubber for tires

    • Iron for buildings

    • Diamonds for industry

    • Cotton for textiles

  • New Markets: Need for markets to sell goods grew due to revolutions in the U.S. closing previous markets.

  • Military Outposts: Establishing military strongholds for trade protection.

Control of Trade

  • East India Companies played critical roles:

    • British in India

    • Dutch in South Africa, Java/East Indies

Rationales for Imperialism

Scientific Rationale

  • Perception of Superiority: Colonial powers exhibit a belief in their superiority over those they control.

  • Pseudoscience: Claims made by pseudoscientists asserting the intellectual and physical inferiority of non-white races.

  • Phrenology: Study of skull shapes supporting biases toward perceived intellectual capability, e.g., skull sizes correlated to intelligence.

  • Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution: Natural selection driving evolution where competition weeds out weaker species.

  • Social Darwinism: Philosophers applied Darwin’s theories socially, excusing imperial actions as a form of survival of the fittest.

Effects of Social Darwinism

  • Europeans leverage the idea of Social Darwinism to rationalize imperial dominance over perceived 'uncivilized' lands.

  • Promoted racist views on civilization superiority, creating divisions between Europeans and other races.

Cultural Rationale

  • Impact of Technology: The Industrial Revolution enhanced technological advancements, solidifying the belief in European superiority.

  • Duty to 'Civilize': Europeans felt compelled to educate other cultures through forced integration of language and customs.

  • Changes to Colonies: Merging and redefining tribal boundaries often resulted in violence and cultural erosion throughout colonized regions.

Religious Rationale

  • Role of Missionaries: Arrived in colonies prior to or concurrent with colonization efforts.

    • Helped establish common languages and train young locals to adopt European work paradigms.

    • Acted in roles supporting colonial authority and governance.

    • Aimed to eliminate illegal slave trade and introduced new medical practices.

  • Cultural Loss: The spread of Christianity frequently replaced indigenous religions, leading to significant cultural loss.

Conclusion

  • Reflection: Exit ticket questions emphasizing the need to review the implications, motives, and justification behind European imperialism.

  • Need for critical thinking in understanding the historical context surrounding imperialism and its lasting impacts on the world.