Causes of Imperialism
Unit 6: c. 1750-1900
Main Ideas:
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Many cultural, religious, and racial ideologies were used to justify imperialism
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European nations colonized other nations to get raw materials to supply to their industrial factories & also to gain new markets for industrial goods
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European nations colonized other nations to gain more political influence in the world
Cultural, Religious, & Racial Justifications
Europeans Justified Imperialism with many Racial Ideologies
Key Ideas:
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Europeans used racial ideologies to say that their colonial subjects were racially inferior & "uncivilized," and European colonization was actually benefiting the subjects by imposing a more "civilized" government
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Social Darwinism: A racial ideology that justified European supremacy
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Europeans used this to justify imperialism
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Rudyard Kipling's "The White Man's Burden" claimed it was a burden for Europeans to deal with "uncivilized" people → Argued that Europeans need to colonize these people to "civilize" them
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- Europeans sought to spread Christianity and European culture to their colonies
- Europeans built churches & European schools that taught Christianity & European languages in an effort to promote European culture
Economic Causes
Europeans Colonized Other Lands to Gain Raw Materials & New Markets for Industrial Goods
Key Ideas:
- Europeans colonized other lands to gain raw materials, which were then sent to Europe to make finished goods (in industrial factories)
- Europeans established mines and plantations in their colonies to create an export-oriented economy to export raw materials to Europe to be used in industrial factories
- Cotton from India, Rubber from Congo & Malaya, Diamonds from South Africa
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Europeans colonized other lands to gain exclusive rights to sell their cheap industrial products there → Often superseded local economies
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After gaining raw materials from colonies & making finished goods, Europeans sold those finished goods in the colonies
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These finished goods were much cheaper than local handmade goods → European goods prevailed → Local industries declined
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Indian handmade textile industry declined in favor of the British industrially-produced textile industry
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Political Causes
Europeans Colonized Other Lands to Gain More Political Influence
Key Ideas:
- Europeans colonized other lands to gain political benefits, such as more glory, political power, and land
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European nations wanted to gain more land so that their people could migrate there (to save living space in Europe)
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European nations wanted to build military bases in strategic locations throughout the world
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Europeans also wanted more glory and pride from their supporters → Often colonized other lands to distract their people from internal communist rebellions
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