...the years of 1900 to present day. New Imperialism characterizes a period of colonial expansion by European powers toward Africa and Asia turning them into vast colonial empires. Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, and many more European countries participated in what was known as the scramble for Africa. One of the many reasons why this “scramble” happened was to gain more power, land, etc. For instance during this time, Europe needed the raw materials that Africa had to make more goods. This need lead to them to mistreating the Africans and treating them like slaves to get the raw materials they needed. Overall...
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...African Imperialism When the Age of Imperialism began in 1875, it affected Africa in many ways. Nowhere was the competition for settlements more intense than in Africa. Europeans went after North and South Africa splitting up the continent. Egypt and Sudan were taken over by Britain to obtain the Suez Canal. Imperialism helped to develop Africa’s economy and turned it into a continent of settlements. Until well into the 1800’s, Africa was relatively unknown to Europeans. They controlled less than ten percent of the continent. By 1882, Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain were all claiming parts of Africa. In 1900, they had divided ninety percent of Africa into settlements. Although European ships had for centuries traded at ports along the coast, they brought back little knowledge of Africa’s interior. Later, Europeans started exploring the continent. The best known of these explorers was David Livingstone. This Scottish missionary spent thirty years in central Africa, and gave Europeans their first detailed information about Africa and its people. In the mid-1800’s, Africa south of the Sahara contained more than seven hundred different ethnic groups. Most were organized into communities based on ties of tradition and family. Occasionally, a powerful group formed a state that was strong enough to conquer neighboring groups and form an empire. Europeans had already moved into North Africa. The once-powerful Ottoman Empire had become too weak to prevent local rulers...
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...Adam Dees Dr. Herman WOH1030 2 April 2015 Impact of British Imperialism In the late 1800’s, European nations only controlled about 10 percent of the continent of Africa, France to the north and Britain to the south (Edgar, 2008). As time goes by, other countries gain conquests, mostly in western areas of Africa. This essay will go over a few key points in history that led to the Age of Imperialism and the British colonization of Southern Africa. The essay will also identify key players in this age. Southern Africa was known for its gold and other valuable items that made it so appealing to Europeans. This and many other reasons led to wars over the areas that had high gold content. In the mid-1800’s European nations begin seizing power over countries in Africa. “By World War I Ethiopia and Liberia were the only countries not under European control.” (Edgar, 2008). In Belgium, King Leopold II had aspirations of conquest in African nations (Edgar, 2008). In 1876, he started the IAA or the International African Association in which he hires Henry Stanley to lead up exploration of this uncharted area (Edgar, 2008). Stanley was also dispatched to ascertain the whereabouts of David Livingstone, another famed explorer that was lost in the Congo (“Sir Henry…). When Stanley found Livingstone they became friends until his death in 1872 at Lake Bangweulu. Stanley continued where Livingstone left off, however and helped in the development of the Congo (“Sir Henry…). In a journal...
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...DAVID DAMIETE DOKUBO 0-7682090 THE REASON FOR THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA, AND WHY THE AFRICANS COULDNT STOP COLIONIALISM. During the scramble for Africa, the Europeans basically had a lot to prove to each other. It is very easy to understand that at the time (1800-1900) European countries still struggled in crude ways to show dominance. This fact however couldn’t have single handedly driven the Europeans to Africa. There were also very rational reasons why. In this essay, those reasons will be stated. There were economic causes. The 1800s were very economically unsettled times that even lead to a depression in 1873. During this period, every industrial country was hurt, and Britain was seriously affected. Britain relied on raw materials, thus damaging its balance of trade. It also shouldn’t be forgotten, that there was a serious competition between newly industrializing nations that had new factories, and cheap labor. There was also the problem of political direst. These issues are known to arise in a state of economical instability. Europe at the afore mentioned time, experienced that problem. Britain particularly was undergoing significant changes in their system. The country that was once used to a unified political party system, had to evolve to a more fragmented patchwork of special interest groups like labor unions, landowners, bankers, industrialists etc. The people in power were eager for a new cause to unite the people when it mattered. In the year 1871, the...
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...own region throughout that time period. Such as the migration of the European people to the Americas, due to imperialism, starvation, and industrialization. Also, the migration of the African people to the Americas, due to the beginning and end of slave trade. However, when the Europeans migrated over to Africa and Asia, they colonized and conquered territories. During the 18th century, migration of the European people into the Americas was mostly based around imperialism. European countries felt the need to expand and colonize, such as Great Britain, which had many colonies along the east coast of North America. Additionally, Spain colonized the Caribbean and also areas in South America. However, when the Africans came over to the...
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...and expand over time. Members from the countries in the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries had traveled to the extent that trade routes were established and it opened up the eyes of each country and their opportunities. European nations would travel to the Americas and Africa hoping to gain land and other resources, while the Americas and Africa hoped to gain resources they could use for their own gain. Resources such as plants, foods, and animals are native to different lands around the world; over time, as cultures came into contact, it was inevitable for global interactions between Europe, the Americas, and Africa to arise. Without these cultures coming into contact, the expansion of each of these countries developments would not have happened. Between the 1400’s and 1800’s, European mariners had a series of expensive voyages that took them to all the earth’s waters. These voyages helped them discover the world’s geography, but helped them gain something much more. European merchants established a network of communication, transportation, and interaction. The reason behind establishing these networks was to search for basic resources and lands to grow cash crops, establish trade routes, and to expand the influence of Christianity. One European voyage that took place was by Amerigo Vespucci. He traveled to the coast of Brazil and sailed as far south as the Rio de la Plata. Vespucci describes the areas in great detail the outstanding things he saw as pleasing and things...
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...Standard oil companies were in California, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey, but were brought together, and Standard Oil Company gained control of competing companies such as Acme oil, Atlantic refining among others. On the other hand, Japan became successful because of its revitalizing relationship with the United States. The combination of the Chinese ports to regular trade ensured that there was steady stream of maritime traffic between North America and Asia. The combination of its advantageous geographic position and rumors that Japan had deposits of coal increased the appeal of establishing commercial and diplomatic contacts with the Japanese. Reason for the decline of Chinese power after 1800 The imperial conquest of the British and Western countries led to a major fall of china’s power in 1800’s. This is because the imperial conquest was based on the militaristic nature of the imperial state, its non-reciprocal economic relations with overseas trading countries and the western imperial ideology, which motivated and justified overseas conquest. However, the British were unable to take over the Chinese market and led for Britain to brute military power. It mobilized, armed and led mercenaries, drawn from its colonies in India to force its exports to china and imposed unequal treaties to lower tariffs. As a result, China was flooded with British opium produced on...
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...Andres Lugo Professor William Hendricks March 17, 2015 World Civilizations II Domination of resources The European powers that were in much need for resources during the 1500s through 1800s were Great Britain, France and Germany. During 1500 and 1800 Africa seemed like an impossible feat to conquer because of malaria but this wouldn’t stop the persistence of the leaders of France and Great Britain. The idea of exploring and conquering new land meant more to these leaders because of the motivation to keep their national security strong and keep their economy stronger. These countries would use their remaining resources to look for more disposable ones so that their empires could grow considerably. Great Britain would be dug in the south and spread out through Africa, while the French would have most of the North and West of Africa, but Germany would just conquer a handful of countries before going into the 20th century (263 DBQ). These countries would soon become opponents in one of the greatest territory conquest in the world’s history. Resources is the main point in all three of these powers because Great Britain looked at the world as control, the thought of ruling land to them meant more power. A very important reason these powers would fight for this piece of land is because of the potential wealth it holds but also because the countries would see it that the Africans needed help. Turning the conquerors into saviors and that is always a good feeling when possibly...
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...In the 1800’s, Africa’s continent sparked interests of many European nations. You may ask, why? In this essay, I am going to be answering that question. This question is important to history because in modern day, the relations between the European countries and the now-free African nations have changed. In that time, many well-known historians were involved in the Scramble for Africa. The three main driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa were national competition, economic factors, and new and improved technology. The first main reason for European Imperialism in Africa was national competition. European nations wanted land in Africa to show national pride and to benefit their country. On the map in Document A, it is shown...
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...Was the driving force behind European Imperialism in Africa a good event? This time period took place in Africa, Asia, and Europe in the late 1800’s – early 1900’s. Was Imperialism a good idea for the people of Africa, Asia or Europe? Imperialism had several driving forces behind it including economic and exploratory. However the most important cause of imperialism was political. One of the driving forces behind European imperialism were economics’ main priorities were like a sphere of influence they grieved raw materials so their markets could make money. No other country relied on another country to help them, with raw materials because every country wanted a piece of raw material(s). The Suez Canal in Egypt was built to bring almost half...
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..."Was the ‘Scramble for Africa’ typical of the way Britain pursued imperial expansion from 1800-1900?" During the period 1800-1900, Britain rapidly expanded its formal Empire to occupy an area of 4 million square miles. However, there is no simple elucidation as to the exact factor that motivated the British to pursue imperial expansion – rather, there are several aspects to consider. The ‘Scramble for Africa’ was part of the ‘New Imperialism’ period, an era of colonial expansion involving the major powers of the World: European Powers, the Empire of Japan, and The United States of America – and involved new concepts and ideologies that made it different from the way Britain usually pursued imperial expansion. Britain was the first country to majorly expand in terms of new technologies, known as the period of the Industrial Revolution, and thus along with this came economic power and a more threatening factor: Competition. As other countries began industrialising too, Britain had to stay dominant in the Power hierarchy, and the current global affairs sector offered a resolution – Colonisation and free trade. The first era of British Empire building (1583 – 1783) had previously had an idea of just discovering and conquering other countries, but this would soon change. From as early as 1830, the ‘New Imperial’ period began taking full effect, the major powers hunting for new sources of income, and Britain began paying more attention to its Chartered Companies (companies that...
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...The European countries between 1876-1914 justified their imperialism and colonization of Africa. The Western world abolished slavery in the 1800s. The Europeans believed it was right to continue enslaving Africans. This process known as the Scramble of Africa caused multiple European countries to rush to Africa to collect raw materials and expand their marketing. The Europeans were justified by money, mainly gold, glory, and god. The justification for European imperialism in Africa can be broken into three categories: economic growth for Europe, the spread of Christianity, and most pervasively, ethnocentrism (Social Darwinism). The Europeans substantiated their economic growth with money. In Document G, The Partition of Africa, 1895, by John...
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...Teague In the late 1800’s to early 1900’s the Europeans started the colonialism of Africa. Europeans chose to use their power to take over Africa for several reasons. Europe wanted to prove its political power and one way to do so would be to acquire new territories. Europe was also over populated in some areas and so they sent some of their population to Africa new establish new colonies. Europe also had an economic reason to exploit Africa. Africa’s territory would be able to provide much needed raw materials and would help with capitalist industrialization by meeting this demand (2011 Africana). This would also provide a much-needed monetary investment for Europe. The Europeans took over control of the waterways and other routes used for industrial purposes in different areas of Africa. Africa was such a promising place for many other countries to consider colonizing so there was urgency for Europeans to claim their stake in Africa (2011 Africana). There was a concern that it could even lead to wars with other countries trying to take over Africa at the same time as Europe. A German chancellor named Otto von Bismarck helped to protect Europe’s interest in Africa and scheduled what is know as the Berlin Conference (2011 Africana). This conference resulted in the Berlin Act to put into place. This was a treaty that would give standards for conduct of the European inter-imperialist competition that could possibly take place in Africa. Africans did not...
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...webs.bcp.org Early Modern Empires (1500-1800) Introduction Before we learn about the unlikely and apparently rapid rise of The West during the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s important to understand the powerful empires of the early modern world between 1500 and 1800. Some readers may be surprised to learn about the wealth, thriving global trade, and dominant manufacturing production in Asia that held sway until at least the end of the 18th century. Throughout much of this era, Europe was, in contrast to Asia, an unimpressive backwater of small countries and kingdoms. But Europe’s “discovery” of the Americas and an ocean route to Asia, just before the year 1500, changed all that. The West gradually worked its way into the global economy and planted the seeds for its imperial rise and eventual dominance over most of the modern world. After 1500, world regions—such as West Africa, East Asia, and South America—fused together into one global trade system. For the first time in history, each region of the world now interacted with the others. For example, enslaved African labor was used in South American plantations to sell cheap sugar to Europe. Silver from Mexico bought loans for Spain, and that same silver ended up in China to buy silk or porcelain for Europeans. And so on. A new global system emerged, forged of uneven relationships, in which a small part of the world, Europe, successfully exploited the world’s human and natural resources to its advantage. This was Globalization...
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...Q4: What were some of the internal factors that contributed to imperialism in Africa? During the late 1800s, a European man named David Livingstone traveled to Africa to promote Christianity and was there for so long, an American newspaper writer Henry Stanley was hired to find David Livingstone as they feared he was dead. During his exposition, he traced the course along the Congo river, and this made King Leopold II of Belgium interested. He then had Henry Stanley help him take over land in the Congo's. Eventually, due to poor treatment of African Americans, the Belgian government took Congo away from King Leopold. When Belgian got control of the Congo's, France wanted land. They eventually got the north bank of the Congo River. Eventually...
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