Imperialism - 656 Words

What Was the Driving Force Behind European Imperialism in Africa? During the 19th century, King Leopold II of Belgium compared Africa to a cake. At the Berlin Conference in 1885, seven European nations took slices of Africa for themselves without discussing any details with Africans. From a 21st century perspective, this seems like a selfish thing to have done, so why did Europeans engage in imperialism? Certainly, political factors, cultural causes, and technological advancements were important. But the primary cause was economic. European nations competed to exploit the rich resources of Africa for financial and commercial gain. Much of European imperialism in Africa came as a result of political causes. There were seven†¦show more content†¦As the African chief argues, England was preying on Africa like a chameleon, and Africa was the fly (Doc F). Although many Europeans supported the Rudyard Kipplings belief that is was the duty and â€Å"Burden† of Whites to help cure sickness and famine in Africa, the primary driving force behind European imperialism in Africa was economic. (F) As they competed for political power, Europeans wanted to increase trade (Doc B). Many Europeans, like Ruskin of England and Fabri of Germany, believed they were in a competition and trade was the game (Doc B). Europeans wanted to acquire all the rich resources available in Africa that were not available in Europe, such as rubber, ivory, and various minerals (Doc D). In addition to bringing them resources, imperialism also allowed European nations to create new markets for selling their goods that further enriched them. British imports from the sub ­ Sahara doubled between 1854 and 1900. Exports, however, grew from 2 million pounds in 1854 to over 20 million pounds in 1900 (Doc E). The wealth European countries gained from imperialism reinforced their political power, which made it the most important cause of imperialism. National competition and attitudes of cult ural superiority may have been important, but they were driven by economic motives. The competition within Europe over territory in Africa hadShow MoreRelatedThe Goals Of Imperialism714 Words   |  3 PagesImperialism has increased peace and stability for various areas of the world through limiting slavery, improving land distribution and promoting different political systems. The first topic that I will be addressing is slavery. The goal of imperialism was to help areas who seem â€Å"uncivilized†, and from the start of this movement many people stated that they wanted to abolish slavery. Thomas Sowell (an american economist) once explained, â€Å"The anti-slavery movement was spearheaded by people who wouldRead MoreCauses Of Imperialism843 Words   |  4 Pagesprevious historical tension and nationalism. Supporting evidence shows that imperialism was the main and most significant factor of the outbreak of World War 1. Imperialism is defined as the domination of one country’s political, economic or cultural life by another. European countries had been establishing colonies and building empires since the late 1400’s. The period of 1850 to 1914 is often referred to as the â€Å"Age of Imperialism†, since a lot of powers used their military, technological and commercialRead MoreAmerican Imperialism797 Words   |  4 PagesAssociate Program Material Appendix A American Imperialism Part 1 Complete the chart by identifying the following: Identify the countries or areas where the United States engaged in countries or areas where the United States engaged in imperialistic actions during the period from about 1870 to 1914. Discuss why each area was important to American empire building—political, economic, and social. Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some factors that justified AmericanRead MoreImperialism in Burma1739 Words   |  7 Pagesfertile soil, and one of the healthiest climates in the tropics. Britain desired these features, so they imperialized the whole country in 1885 and imposed colonial rule throughout Burma. Imperialism is†¦ The British benefit and hurt the country in many ways, completely changing the country forever. Western imperialism in Burma was more costly than beneficial; even though the British improved and modernized education, transportation, and daily life, they also destroyed the economy, culture, and religionRead MoreBritish Imperialism1497 Words   |  6 Pagesand rule of British imperialism. What were some of the key ideas and visualizations that geographers portrayed to their empires, to understand and perceive the world and places in a more complete sense? Firstly, I am looking to go over the history of British imperialism and what co nstituted their great success. Secondly, I will be referring to the support and importance that the Royal Geographic Society served to the empire and how they attempted to conceptualize imperialism and rule over nationsRead MoreAge of Imperialism2874 Words   |  12 PagesUniversity of Phoenix Material American Imperialism Part 1 Complete the chart by identifying the following: †¢ Identify the countries or areas where the United States engaged in imperialistic actions during the period from about 1870 to 1914. (Michele Stafford) †¢ Discuss why each area was important to American empire building (political, economic, and social). - KRISTY †¢ Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some of the factors that justified American imperialist actionsRead MoreEssay on Imperialism1350 Words   |  6 Pages Imperialism is often excused as a way of liberating people from tyrannical rule or by introducing the policies of a â€Å"better† way of life. It is based on the ground of a variety of causes running the gamut of economic pressures, greed, security, power, prestige, religion, and many other effective measures that can be taken given the circumstances. Arguments about the roots and virtue of imperialism can be put into four basic groups. The first is whether or not imperialism is economically beneficialRead MoreA Passage to India: Imperialism1677 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss Forster’s portrayal of Imperialism in the novel a passage to India A passage to India by E.M.Forster is a novel which deals largely with the political, economic and social takeover of India by the British Crown. The novel deals widely with colonialism and more specifically, imperialism. Forster presents the theme in question through the lives and minds of the characters from both the Indians and the English people. There is no subjective undertone to the novel and we see clearly how eachRead MoreAppendix a American Imperialism1314 Words   |  6 PagesAssociate Program Material Appendix A American Imperialism Part 1 Complete the chart by identifying the following: Identify the countries or areas where the United States engaged in imperialistic actions during the period from about 1870 to 1914. Discuss why each area was important to American empire building—political, economic, and social. Explain America’s expansionist ideals. What were some factors that justified American imperialist actions? Identify the currentRead MoreEssay on Imperialism in America1192 Words   |  5 PagesImperialism in America At the turn of the century, America and the views of its people were changing. Many different ideas were surfacing about issues that affected the country as a whole. The Republican Party, led by William McKinley, were concentrating on the expansion of the United States and looking to excel in power and commerce. The Democratic Party at this time was led by William Jennings Bryan, who was absorbed in a sponge of morality and was concerned with the rights of man. The