Imperialism
From 1870-1890 there was
an explosive expansion of European imperialism into Africa and South Asia. In
this essay I will discuss the reasons for this expansion and how it affected
the newly colonized areas.
In 1885 Jules Ferry
justified French imperialism by warning, ‘in this competition of the many
rivals whose power we see growing around us…abstention is the road to
decadence.[1]
The last part of his statement means to abstain from expansion or imperialism
would lead to the countries cultural decline. This is important because one of
the most important differences between the piecemeal expansionism of the
earlier period and the imperial burst of the last nineteenth century was the
growing importance of public opinion.[2]
With the rush of European expansion all around them, European countries were
worried about being left behind militarily, economically, and even socially.
Italian dreams of an
empire in Africa were certainly intended for domestic consumption.[3]
Francesco Crispi thought that war and conflict could bring about a united Italy
and despite newspapers claiming Italy had finally found their Italians after
preparing for a war with Ethiopia, there was still little true evidence that
public opinion for imperialism had taken off in the way some members of the
government had wanted.
The major part of France’s
public opinion was also fairly uninterested in imperialistic ideas. They wanted
to spend the time, money, and effort on domestic issues at home. It was only
when their national honor was at stake that there were even sparks of interest
in expansion. That didn’t stop their government from taking matters into their
own hands.
Imperialists were also nagged
by an overwhelming sense that the world itself was, for once and never again,
to be partitioned.[4]
Some countries were under the impression that if they did not participate in
expansion now, they might never get the chance again; this was particularly
true for Germany. According to a German newspaper, ‘Germany could not watch
while other nations appropriate great tracts of territory and the very rich
natural resources that go with them.[5]
In Germany there also surfaced a quote that, ‘only those peoples who managed to
spread their culture over wider areas of the world would survive’.[6]
So for Germany, was it about the spread of their culture to different nations
as a means to live on throughout history or was it more about a greed for
resources and pride?
There were also ideas of
European superiority over the races in Africa and South Asia. Benjamin Kidd even
went so far as to inform people that ‘the natural inhabitants of the tropics
represent the same stage in the history of the development of the race that the
child does in the history of the development of the individual.[7]
Germany, France, and Britain even made it their ‘mission’ to civilize certain
African and South Asian countries. Some countries used Christianity as a means
to this civilizing mission. It is unclear whether Christianity was a true
motivation for the bettering of the world or means to more selfish ends.
There is also some
theoretic evidence that claims imperialism was a means to divert attention away
from domestic problems. In Germany, Hans-Ulrich Wehler explains Bismarck’s
imperialism in the 1880s was to divert attention away from the consequences of
uneven economic growth, social tensions, and away from the emancipatory task of
modernizing German constitutional life and of democratizing society.[8]
However, it was always unclear about Bismarck’s true intentions and motivations
for expansion. Almost all of his imperialistic ideas were never realized and in
the end he lost a lot of his public support because he never truly put his
entire efforts into the subject.
Some contemporaries
explained the surge of European power as a natural consequence of the rise of
industrialism and as a ‘social imperialist’ safety valve for the pressure of
social change.[9]
During this time there were large movements of people from European countries
to America and Argentina. To try and keep hold of their citizens, countries
tried to promote their expanded colonies as a place for new opportunities while
also insuring that the citizens ‘mother’ country would continue to profit from
their work there.
Two of the most
important reasons countries began to expand during this time are money and
resources. Countries wanted to expand into Africa and South Asia to exploit a
weaker country into making them money. Take Britain (from a different time
period) as an example; they originally intended on having the U.S as a British
colony. In the early days of America many resources were mined, cut, and worked
just to be sent back to Britain for their consumption in the mother country.
They also exploited the colonists for extra taxes: hints why the American
Revolution took place. The surge to expand also came from a need of global
market. More places to ship and sell for European countries.
When studying
imperialism it is important to note the effect it had on the colonies that were
taken over. Different countries managed colonies in different ways. Some
colonists were treated badly. In Mozambique, Africans were not allowed to leave
the estates without permission. In the Dutch East Indies workers were forced to
give up a portion of their land for taxes that were to be given up to the
government. In modern day Tanzania, colonist’s harsh treatment led to revolts. There
is something to be said for improvements made to these countries by their
European invaders. Many countries were introduced to new technology, better
transportation systems, better education, and new crops. There was also an
effect on European countries. The culture that was spread during this time from
African and South Asian countries can’t be ignored. Western people were exposed
to new ways of life and a new culture of people. Britain modernized much of South
Africa, parts of Southern Asia, and Australia while France modernized much of
Northern Africa. They received not only materials and cultural items from these
countries but they received an understanding of something more than themselves.
Overall, imperialism came
out of the industrialization of Europe, the expansion of world markets, a need
for food supplies and raw materials, and increasing competition among the industrializing
powers for a share in these global markets and resources.[10]
While life wasn’t perfect for the colonized countries, there were a lot of
positives that came out of imperialism for them.
Bibliography
Rapport, Michael.
Nineteenth-Century Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
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