1898 Manila Bay: Darwinism and Empire Flashcards
What happened in 1898?
Spainish American war
The old established empire defeated by young, no EU country. Spain was the oldest colonial power, spain lost latin American colonies in early 19thc
‘the duty of hour’
By 1898, the US were talking the language of empires, but waging imperial wars contradicted what founding fathers wanted as it was originally a colony. US needed justification rhetoric to excuse them – e.g Cuba had been in revolt from Spain since 1895, Philippines in revolt since 1897, and the US felt the need to liberate them from the tyranny of Spanish rule.
This was the age of mass politics. What does this mean?
Going to war now must involves the people, countries need consent of the people. This was apparent in late 19thc wars and imperial adventuring is popular causes, the language was of jingoism (extreme patriotism) especially for colonial wars in late 18thc.
What did Spain do in the war?
Spain sent troops to cuba, larger than US (spain not EU major power at this time but can mobilise a larger army than supposed US superpower)
The sheer military strength of spain ensured they assumed immediate win over US.
But US gain advantage e.g 3rd July Spain’s atlantic squadron is destroyed. By 12 August hostilities end. (Took 6 weeks).
Spain humiliated, looses certain territories. Spain first of old EU powers to be stripped of colonial possessions.
What happened in the Treaty of Paris?
1898
Cuba, Puerto rico and Philippines taker by US (Cuba independent by 1902)
Areas like Caroline and marianas islands except Guam sold to Germany by treaty 1899.
US become imperial power, confirming its sphere of influence; in the Caribbean and extending out to the pacific.
What happened by the end of 19thc?
By end 19thc, different forms of empire and colonial power emerge.
EU there is still a hierarchy and Spain is stripped of empire.
New concept is emerging, the concept of the west, because US is so culturally economically politically similar to EU, there is a power shift to west (US) no longer dominated by EU.
Example of the white man’s burden?
The US and the Philippines.
The ideas was that the burden of empire was their responsibility of tutoring/ nurturing colonised people/inferior races.
RUDYARD KIPLIN 1899 work depicts this handing over this burden to US, this representation of US is represented as another white empire (even though US mixed). Its the idea that the white man will take away from ignorance and too civilisation.
Idea of hierarchy?
Need more than just an empire, you need a history in order to be imperial power, there is internal hierarchy in colonialism that is effecting history of EU and rest of the world.
Colonial power involves internal and external hierarchy and this was changing rapidly
Eu power being challenged by the US and Japan (e.g Russo-Japanese war 1904)
What did Lord Salisbury say?
May 1898:
On one level talking about colonial power struggles, as some empire as decay so fitter/ more adapted nations will compete for territorial, colonial expansion, and succeed in their conquest of territorial power.
This is the language of Darwinism, survival of fitness applied to geopolitics, nations have same process of natural selection, stronger nations more civilised. This is a significant change from early understandings of colonialism.
What happened in the scramble for Africa?
The rise of aggressive colonial expansion in late 19thc.
The scramble was defined in the Berlin Conference 1884-5 in wake of the Rose Coloured Map
which divided Africa into spheres of influence. This was done without exploring most of the continent as most of Africa’s geographical interior was still unknown.
EU was taking land they regard as virgin territory, the same way north US was regarded in early colonial days. The tribal structure of Africa was seen as not civilised in the urban sense and so seen as right for taking. The Indigenous African population written out, no suggestion of rights.
They decided in order to own African land you need to occupy it with troops, it cant be a colonial possession by colouring in a map. Previous colonisation worked on base of trade, networks etc but now there has to be physical presence (aggressive, forceful)
What were maps used for?
To legitimate realities of conquest, impose EU order and territorial claim especially on Africa (dark continent because still unexplored).
Colonial maps of Africa were often interpreted by clear/ definite lines/ boundaries. This was the demarcation of different colonial possessions, but the geographical borders and ethnocultural diversity lines aren’t as clear.
Decorative maps were sued to show strength of British empire. The representation of Britain as mistress of the world, decoration produced by the imperial federation glorified British imperialism.
Maps were used as a representation, depiction of racial power and superiority, darker figures become a ‘other’, orientalised/ exotic, white people in superior position rests on idea of whites mans burden/mission to civilise.
What is social Darwinism?
Darwin was not responsible for this interpretation.
On the origins of species (1859) suggests the idea of evolution, and how different species adapt to circumstance/ evolve/ develop/ survival of the fittest
Herbert spencer took Darwin’s ideas and applied them socially.
Principle of natural selection can be applied to human societies, which evolve from lower to higher civilised forms (but it must be remembered that human societies are culture, social constructs not biological organism)
Some will die out, ‘natural process’.
This idea of race is constructed in social Darwinist terms. Adaptability and evolution is applied in a social ecological way.
Was social Darwinism popular?
Theses ideas became the common currency of the age, more prevalent in the age compared to actual Darwinism. Idea of race, evolution all construed in social Darwinism terms.
How was social darwinism applied at home?
The poor – a product of racial weakness, moral weakness
The deviant – racial, biological, moral weakness
The criminal – Lombroso develops elaborate theory on biology of criminality, extends this to terroists. Relates it to physical appearance.
Anarchists - criminals are racially week and throwback to more primitive race.
Social darwinism and racial inferiority?
Notion of social darwinism and racial inferiority has major effects in the ‘feeble minded’. These groups develop science of eugenics, intervention on racial lines to pure the next generation, for e.g the disabled shouldn’t be able to breed.
Social Darwinism was not understood as a natural process but a sphere into which the government, people, church and other agencies can intervene.
The notion of racial inferiority among the poor, colonised/ civilised. This kind of inferiority could be remedied and intervention was needed to make the savages civilised. So, it was not a natural process where they die off. The ‘white mans burden’ idea emphasised here.
