THE RISE OF NATIONALISM AND THE AGE OF IMPERIALSIM

“The sun never

sets…”

• Nationalism - feelings of pride for your country or a desire for independence

• Imperialism - complete political, economic, and social domination of one country by another.

• Nationalism gains importance in Central and Eastern Europe.

1. Helped create unified countries. 2. Threatened to break up large empires

•Europeans rapidly create colonies in:

1. Africa

2. Asia

3. The Americas

•Reasons for imperialism:

1. Nationalism - gain prestige and power for country by creating large empires.

European powers wanted to demonstrate their power and

prestige in the world.

[Image source: http://www.modellismo-navale.it/Jpmodel/HMS-Benbow-1898-profilo.jpg]

2. Political Rivalries - claim a territory before another country.

European nations were

forced to acquire new colonies to

achieve a balance with

their neighbors and competitors.

[Image source: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WarFran.jpg]

3. Economic demands of the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution created an almost insatiable demand for raw materials and new markets.

[Image source: http://www.actis.co.uk/gridgallery/gridgal/two/imageid/historybig/1982.jpg]

•Acquire raw materials cheaply for their factories back at home.

•Claim new markets to sell their finished products.

4. Humanitarian and Religious Concerns.

•Felt it was their duty to save the savage natives souls.

•Missionaries wanted to convert natives to Christianity.

5. Land for increasing populations to move and make a new home.

France

Algeria

6. Social Darwinism - many believed it was natural for strong nations to dominate weaker nations.

The Europeans’

sense of superiority made them

feel obligated to “civilize the

heathen savages” they encountered.

“Take up the White Man’s burden –Send forth the best ye breed –Go bind your sons to exileTo serve your captives’ need;To wait in heavy harnessOn fluttered folk and wild –Your new-caught, sullen peoples,Half-devil and half-child.”

- Rudyard Kipling

Three “Cs” of Colonialism

[Image source: http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/schools/s090/history/br%20imperialism.gif]

Christianity

Civilization

Commerce

•Different forms of Imperialism:

1. Colony - a territory ruled directly by an imperial power.

2. Protectorate - has its own government but its policies are guided by a foreign power.

3. Sphere of Influence - region of a country where an imperial power had exclusive trading rights.

•Many colonial claims overlapped. •Europe almost went to war over Africa in the late 1800s.