6.1 Flashcards
Ideas that Justified Imperialism
New motivations for imperialism
Old motives: God, Gold, Glory
New motives:
- NATIONALISM
- SCIENTIFIC RACISM
- SOCIAL DARWINISM
- CIVILIZING MISSION
- ECONOMIC INCENTIVE
Nationalism as a motive for imperialism
The new wave of nationalism contrasted to the past, when people affiliated as subjects of a king.
Can be seen moving through Italian and German Unification.
Empire expansion/imperialism seen as powerful status symbols that showed off power and superiority, so nationalism intensified and created rivalries between imperialistic states as they competed to gain honor for their nation.
Side note: Italian/German Unification increased rivalry and competition between European states, which in turn spurred imperialistic fervor
Scientific racism as a motive for imperialism
Definition: the idea that humans can be ranked in a stratified hierarchy based on biological classes and rank, like how botanists classify plants.
Previously, Europeans saw themselves as superior due to their practice of Christianity, and believed people of other faiths to be heathens.
After secularization, scientific racism began to replace religion as a primary justification for why Europeans were superior.
Europeans would use the observations and “scientific studies” of phrenologists (same thing as craniologist btw), biologists, and physicians. E.g., they found that on average, European skulls were bigger than those of other races, so therefore, they were more intellectually developed and advanced. This justified white imperialism, because it was seen as right for the superior race to take authority over the “child (less developed) races”.
Social Darwinism as a motive for imperialism
The idea of “survival of the fittest” and natural selection in nature applied to human societies.
It justified Europe’s imperialism, because they were simply the “best adapted” in the world of societal natural selection, and so it was acceptable and natural for them to imperialize weaker entities.
It was believed that they were superior due to:
- Their roots in the Enlightenment, Scientific Revolution
- Industrialization starting in Europe
Civilizing Mission as a motive for imperialism
Referred to often as the “white man’s burden” - the duties of white/European states to introduce their societal grandeur to the less-favorable societies of the “child races”.
This included forced European education, which had indigenous populations learning English, French, and suppressed indigenous cultures/languages. Christian missionaries made it their duty to spread the Christian faith, while colonial holdings often reorganized the existing political structure so as to model those of the West.
Missionaries, however, also established schools with somewhat secular teachings in math, science, and established hospitals. They also aided in the abolition of the African slave trade.
Examples of imperialism
- Britain:
Lost British colonies in America during the American Revolution, and set its eyes on India instead. - France; colonized
North Africa (Algeria)
West Africa (Senegal)
Indochina
Parts of Southeast Asia - Japan:
In the late 19th century, Japan imposed influence on Korea. This upset China, and led to the Sino-Japanese war, which was won by Japan due to their thorough industrialization after the Meiji Restoration. Japan then established a Korean colony.
Economic interests as incentive for imperialism
Europe required more raw materials and new markets to sustain industrialization.
British, French, Dutch governments made agreements with leaders of India, East Africa, and the East Indies, which gave the European entities open trade posts and the right to defend them. This led to the development of colonial armies, and imperialism in the areas surrounding these trade posts.
Britain’s economic standing by 1st half of the 19th century
The wealthiest economy in the world, largely due to its sheer size. Later it would be challenged by the U.S.’s growing economy.
