The “New” Imperialism – 1869

- 1914

MOTIVES for Imperialism

• Political Motives

– Status and

Competition between

nation-states

• E.g. France after

humiliating loss of

Franco-Prussian War

• British Protection of

India, the “crown jewel”

of the British Empire

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives

– Missionaries – spread

Christianity through

missionary work

– Result: Loss of native

cultures

– Sometimes good?

• Child Brides

• Suttee

• Arranged Marriage

• Human Sacrifice

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives

– Exportation of

“Civilization”

• Abolition of

slavery

• Western

Education

• Hygiene and

medicines

Motives for Imperialism

• Cultural Motives

– Technology and “Progress”

• Humans as Masters over

Nature

• Technology as proof of

superiority of West

• “Savages” vs. “Civilized”:

Eurocentricity

• Easy military victories, use

of newspapers to soften

public opinion, e.g.

Omdurman (1898)

Motives for

Imperialism

• Economic Motives

– Industrialization:

Demand for raw

materials

• Merchants wanted

reliable sources

• Military used as

backup

• High Demand for

Crops

New Imperialism –

Motives and Methods

• Seizure of Africa and Central

Asia

– 10 Million square miles, 150

million people

Reorganization of Colonies in

Asia and Africa

King Leopold of Belgium

demands the Congo

“The Scramble For Africa”

Domination of Latin

America • US’s Monroe

Doctrine

• Intervention in

Latin America

lead to economic

imperialism

• US in Philippines

Economic Dependencies

• Latin America: supplier of foodstuffs and raw materials and consumers of manufactured products

• Similar to old colonial relationships, but technically politically independent

• Western corporations controlled economies, western armies defended their interests

The Imperialist’s Toolkit

• Naval and Steam power

• Suez Canal

• Telegraph cables

• Breech-Loading rifles

– Smokeless powder = better visibility

– Repeating rifles – 15 rounds in 15 seconds

Gatling Guns