Essential Question

What economic factors contributed to imperialism in the global economy between 1750 and 1900?

Economic Imperialism: the use of economic power to exert control over other countries, regions, or peoples. This can take many forms, including the control of natural resources, the manipulation of trade and investment, and the exploitation of labor and markets. Economic imperialism can also involve the use of economic aid, loans, and other forms of financial assistance as a means of exerting influence and control

Goals of Economic Imperialism

access to natural resources: Countries may seek to control resources such as oil, minerals, and agricultural land in other, in order to secure supplies for their own economies.

markets for goods and services: Countries may seek to control or dominate markets in others to their goods and services and increase their exports.

investment opportunities: Countries may seek to invest in others to gain access to new markets, resources, and labor.

political and strategic advantages: Countries may seek to control others to gain strategic advantages such as military bases, naval ports, or access to key waterways.

ideological reasons: Some countries may spread their economic systems, culture, and values to other countries, believing that their way of life is superior.

Formal vs. Informal Economic Imperialism

formal: the direct control of a colony or territory by a foreign power through the establishment of a formal political and economic system. This type of imperialism typically involved

colonizing a country, the imposition of tariffs and trade regulations, and controlling resources and labor. Examples of formal economic imperialism include the British colonization of India and the establishment of British trading posts in China during the 19th century.

informal: the indirect control of a country's economy through economic means, such as trade agreements and investments, rather than through formal political control. This type of imperialism typically involved the exertion of economic influence over a country without the need for formal colonization. Examples of informal economic imperialism include the economic influence of the United States in Latin America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the economic influence of China in African countries today.

Ways it can be Achieved

formal colonization: A foreign power establishes settlements and administrative control over a territory, imposes tariffs and trade regulations, controls resources and labor, and extracts wealth from the colony.

informal colonization: A foreign power exerts economic influence over a country through trade agreements, investments, and other economic means, without the need for formal colonization.

control of strategic locations: A foreign power establishes control over strategically important locations, such as ports, transportation routes, and access to gain economic advantage.

the exploitation of resources and labor: A foreign power exploits the resources and labor of a counter to its benefit.

control of markets: A foreign power establishes control over a country's markets, either through direct ownership or control of key industries, or manipulation of trade agreements and tariffs.

Economic Imperialism in Asia

The Opium Wars were two wars fought by the British and the Chinese in the mid-19th century over the opium trade. The First Opium War (1839-1842) and the Second Opium War (1856-1860) were both sparked by China's efforts to stop the opium trade, which was being conducted by British merchants.

Causes of Imperialism

The opium trade had been going on for decades, but it had grown significantly in the early 19th century. British merchants, primarily the British East India Company, had been exporting opium grown in India to China, where it was in high demand. The Chinese government, however, saw the opium trade as a threat to the health and well-being of its citizens and made efforts to stop it.

In 1839, the Chinese government confiscated and destroyed a large quantity of opium held by British merchants. This led to the First Opium War, in which the British, using their superior naval power, defeated the Chinese and forced them to sign the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The treaty forced China to open several ports to British trade, pay an indemnity to the British, and cede Hong Kong to the British.

The opium trade continued, and the Chinese government continued its efforts to stop it. This led to the Second Opium War in 1856. The British, along with the French, again used their superior naval power to defeat the Chinese and forced them to sign the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858. The treaty forced China to open more ports to foreign trade, legalize the opium trade, and pay an indemnity to the British and French.

Effects of the Opium Wars

The effects of the Opium Wars were far-reaching and long-lasting. China was forced to open its ports to foreign trade and cede control of Hong Kong to the British. The country also had to pay large indemnities to the British and allow foreign diplomats and traders to operate in China with few restrictions.

These concessions weakened the Chinese government and made it more vulnerable to foreign influence. The opium trade also had a devastating impact on Chinese society, as addiction and crime rates soared. The wars also solidified the western powers' position of economic and political dominance over China for the next century.

Treaty of Nanjing (1842)

The Treaty of Nanjing was a peace treaty signed in 1842 between the Qing dynasty of China and the British Empire, following the First Opium War. The treaty was the first of the "unequal treaties" imposed on China by foreign powers, which forced China to open its ports to foreign trade, cede the island of Hong Kong to the British, and pay a large indemnity to the British. The treaty also granted extraterritorial rights to British citizens in China and gave the British the right to set up a consulate in the city of Canton (Guangzhou).

Treaty of Tientsin (1860)

The Treaty of Tientsin, also known as the Treaty of Tianjin, was a series of treaties signed in 1858 and 1860 between the Qing dynasty of China and several foreign powers, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, following the Second Opium War.

The Treaty of Tientsin expanded on the provisions of the Treaty of Nanjing. It further opened Chinese ports to foreign trade and residence, established diplomatic legations in Beijing, and ceded the Kowloon Peninsula to the British. It also forced China to pay a large indemnity to the foreign powers, legalize the opium trade, and give foreign Christian missionaries freedom to propagate their religion. The treaty also extended extraterritorial rights to the citizens of all countries, not just the British.

Economic Imperialism in Africa

Cotton in Egypt

Cotton production in Egypt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a form of economic imperialism. During this period, Egypt was dominated by foreign corporations and investors, primarily from Britain, who controlled much of the country's economy, including the production and export of cotton.

British corporations and investors saw opportunities for profit in Egypt's fertile cotton-growing regions and began to invest heavily in the country's cotton industry. They established large cotton plantations and dominated the production and export of cotton.

The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of British corporations and investors resulted in the exploitation and oppression of the local population, particularly in rural areas where British-controlled cotton plantations dominated. This exploitation took many forms, including low wages, poor working conditions, and land confiscation.

Cash Crops in the Gold Coast

The cultivation of cash crops in the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was a form of economic imperialism. During this period, the Gold Coast was dominated by foreign corporations and investors, primarily from Britain, who controlled much of the country's economy, including the production and export of cash crops such as cocoa and palm oil.

Slavery in Africa

Slavery in Africa was a form of economic imperialism in which European colonizing powers forcibly captured and enslaved Africans to exploit their labor and resources for their gain. The slave trade, which involved the forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas, was a key component of this exploitation.

The slave trade provided a cheap and plentiful source of labor for the European powers and helped to fuel their economies. At the same time, it had devastating effects on African societies, leading to the loss of life, culture, and economic prosperity. In many cases, the enslavement of Africans was a precursor to other forms of economic imperialism, such as the imposition of exploitative trade agreements, the extraction of resources, and the establishment of colonial economies.