Chapter 5: What were the Reasons for Imperial Expansion 1870-1900?

**aqalieh95** Fri Jun 03, 2011 3:49 pm

Introduction

Colonization by Europe and United States

Scientific and Technological Advances
- Construction of railroads and steamships made long journeys possible
- Telegraph made long distance communication possible
- Medical breakthroughs such as quinine to treat malaria
  - Explorers and missionaries were able to survive longer
- Possession of superior weapons
Social Darwinism
- Belief that European peoples were the most advanced and civilized in the world, therefore, had a duty to civilize and educate the non-Europeans
- Used Charles Darwin's scientific research to justify the superiority of white races
- Teach Christian values
- Some wanted to use to gain economic or social power
- Expanding the colonies → great power
Popular Nationalism
- Modernization and industrialization made populations concentrated in urban areas → more people received education → more books → tales of tropical adventures became popular among public → advocated expansionism
- Dramatized story, rivalries between countries
- Spread imperialism
Political Factors: Prestige and National Pride
- Bismark encouraged France to take territory → trying to cause conflict between Britain and France
- Franco-Prussian war of 1871
  - Emerge of united Germany and Italy
  - France was defeated
  - Ultimately created new great power
- French government encouraged colonial expansion in order to regain its title as great power
- German government was interested in areas adjacent to areas that were greatly influenced by British government
  - Bismark tried to create Anglo -French rivalries
  - Promote possibility of French-German entente on colonial issues
Political Factor: The Challenge of Germany
- Sudden entry of Germany into colonial arena created more rivalries, upsets balance of power in Europe
- Bismarck was seeking to protect Germany's position in Europe, didn't want territory outside of Europe, because he was a conservative
- Germany Reichstag election was approaching and claims to colonial spoils in Africa and Asia were electorally popular
  - After the election, Bismarck showed no interest in adapting expensive colonial obligation
    - Aim was to keep the supremacy of the traditional ruling elites in Germany and their authoritarian power structure
- Economic expansion, industrial and scientific achievement of Germany made her a strong commercial competitor among the globe
- Germany's interest in colonization created rivalries and imperialist tensions in Africa and Asia
The Decline of British Imperial Power
- More competition (especially Germany, France, etc)
  - Scramble for territories
  - Others had chance to become the great power
- Decline in naval power
Strategic Motives
- Britain
  - Suez canal → Britain's interest in a stable regime in Egypt → occupation of Egypt in 1882
  - Defend the imperial factor in South Africa
    - Naval base and sea routes
- Japan and Russia
  - Territories in China
Peripheral Factors
- Importance of wider world reactions
  - China was not able to respond constructively to European demands for trading
  - Japan on the other hand, was able to modernize and industrialize into 20^th century and strengthen its military power
    - Overthrows their old government
    - Wants colonies elsewhere
- Weak native regime and imbalance of power between European and non-European people resulted in conflict over territories and economic concessions
The Search for Markets and for Raw Materials
- Economic factor was important part of colonization
- More goods were created in European countries → need market to sell the goods
  - China → 400 million potential customers
  - High tariff among European countries → looked other countries to sell goods
- Demand for raw materials
  - Cotton – India, Egypt
  - Rubber – Congo, Amazon, rubber plantation in Malay peninsula, Ceylon, Dutch East Indies
  - Coffee, cocoa, tea, sugar
  - Gold
  - Britain is small country → need raw material
Surplus Capital, and Imperialism as Highest Stage of Capitalism
- Profits generated by industrialization invested overseas will bring higher profit
- One business will determine economy of a country
- Only small portion was invested
- Monopolistic businesses
  - Increasing imperialist competition for territories
  - Intensified relationship among European countries
- Cause of War in 1914 (WWI)
  - Nationalism
    - French revenge against Germany
    - French desire of return of Alsace and Lorriane
    - Pan-Slavism in Eastern Europe
    - German pride in military power and industrial growth
    - Serbian desire to create South Slav state
  - Alliances
    - Agreements among nations to aid each other if attacked
    - Russian agreements with smaller Slavic nations
    - Emergence of Allies
    - Emergence of Central Powers
  - Militarism
    - Military power seen as symbol of national prestige
    - Glorification of war by all powers
    - Arms race among great powers
    - Influential military leaders
    - Belief in Social Darwinism
  - Imperialism
    - British concern over German growth
    - British concern over German competition for colonies
    - Economic rivalries among Britain, Germany, and France
    - British and French desire to contain German territorial claims in Africa
- Opposition
  - Colonial dispute did not intensify European rivalries
  - Russia's far East ambitions were checked by Japan in 1905
  - German leaders turned away from pursuit of wolt politik
  - Most individual colonial disputes were resolved by 1900