New Imperialism Flashcards
How did the industrial revolution lead to the rise of New Imperialism?
Lots of goods were produced; when domestic markets were exhausted, Europeans turned to foreign markets; they then realised they could gain full control of countries like India, killing the local industries and creating their own monopoly over those industries in those countries, making more money.
How did the abolition of slavery in America lead to the rise of New Imperialism?
Until the abolition of slavery, slave labour in the USA produced lots of raw materials like cotton and sugar for the UK; in 1851, the USA produced 99% of the UK’s cotton. After slavery ended there in 1865, the UK and other European countries had to look elsewhere for these raw materials; to countries such as India and China.
When was New Imperialism?
Late 1800s to early 1900s
What were the objectives of New Imperialism?
to build vast empires based on economic, military, social and political and religious reasons
State 4 motivations of new imperialism
military power, nationalist pride, religious conversion, civilising missions (white man’s burden)
How were ideas of social Darwinism used to justify imperialist expansion?
Herbert Spencer and others applied Darwin’s ideas to human society, claiming that competition within a species for limited resources was ‘natural’, and used this to claim that it was ‘natural’ for ‘superior’ white Europeans to subjugate other, ‘inferior’ races, and that this process would improve the human species.
Who was a key opponent to social Darwinist pseudoscience, and what were his findings?
Peter Kropotkin wrote of his journeys in Siberia and Manchuria (in Russia) that in hostile conditions, he saw members of the same species help each other in mutual aid, not compete for the limited resources, directly contradicting social Darwinist theory.
who called the berlin conference, when, and why?
Otto van Bismarck, the chancellor of Germany, called the Berlin conference in 1884 to decide how Europe would divide Africa amongst themselves while avoiding war with each other.
why didnt europeans explore the interior of africa for a long time?
diseases, getting lost and indigenous people who didn’t like them
consequences of british rule in nigeria (good and bad)
modern economy, western education system, better infrastructure (sanitation, transport, communication), increased trade (but the majority of profits were redirected to the uk), christianity
consequences of british rule in ghana (good and bad)
natural resources were expropriated by the british - certain Ghanaian tribal authorities benefitted, but the british got most of the profits
consequences of belgian rule in the congo (good and bad)
genocide of the people of the congo, torture and other crimes against humanity, expropriation of rubber on a vast scale
economic consequences of british rule in india (good and bad)
1) economy - the british took gold, spices etc from india and built factories, creating trading and manufacturing jobs for indians, but these jobs paid little and almost all of the profits were concentrated in british businesses, even though it was indian workers who produced the goods
cultural and societal consequences of british rule in india (good and bad)
2) culture/society - new legal and education systems, but british culture was forced on indians
infrastructural consequences of british rule in india (good and bad)
3) infrastructure - while vast railway systems were built and telegraphs were introduced, many indian workers died building the railways, and they were used to ship food out of india during famine of 1876-78. also, better healthcare systems were introduced, but rural areas were largely ignored in this.
