The 19th and 20th centuries were characterized by the more developed countries of Europe acquiring the land and controlling resources of undeveloped countries. This idea, called imperialism, can be defined as the policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by establishing economic and political authority over other nations. The European powers saw imperialism as their right and duty to exert their superiority, while the indigenous people of the inferior areas resented the Europeans greed and unrightfully taking control. Western European countries and developed a variety of attitudes toward imperialism. Economic factors were a chief motivation for colonization to European countries.
Strategic factors played a changing role in Britain’s relationship with its African empire throughout the expansion period 1870-1902, the consolidation period 1902-1955 and the de-colonisation period 1955-1981. In some of these periods Strategy was right at the foreground of Britain’s rule in Africa and other times it was pushed to the back by other major factors. These include economic considerations, International relations, changing attitudes and nationalism. Many historians such as Martin Pugh saw that ‘the most obvious motive for British expansion was strategic’. Britain’s strategic motives in Africa centred on thwarting the growth of rival European powers as well as securing its interests in Africa.
Underdevelopment There was several immediately obvious aspect of that underdevelopment that we need to elaborate. Colonialism has its own logical concept on the Europeans and Americans. It was not true that the idea to colonize Africa was the issue to make profits. But their target was human capital associated with slavery. Africans were skilled, knowledgeable and creative individual who manage themselves without outside help.
In this chapter, Collins explains and depicts how Europeans destroyed Africa through their actions. European countries like German, Britain, and France scrambled to gain as much land in Africa. This created sort of a rivalry between the countries, which only made them obtain more resources from Africa to Industrial their countries. They chose their colonies based on the advantage they would gain by it’s strategically location. Colonies on rivers usually gave European countries an advantage because it allowed for easier trade.
An opportunity for him emerged when he was sent to Africa to search the whereabouts of an explorer, Livingstone, who had gone to Africa on an exploring mission and never came back. When he went back to America, his articles, books and interviews brought him wealth and fame. 10. How did the Industrial Revolution contribute to the Scramble for Africa? The industrial revolution contributed to the Scramble for Africa because Europe hoped that Africa would be a source of raw materials to feed on the industrial revolution.
ETHS 305 June 14, 2011 Exam 2 A. The history of the world seems to be closely tied to the process of imperialism. But the biggest Nation in Europe took imperialism to its highest level from a couple of centuries ago. Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany and Japan in Asian managed to carve up the world among themselves by slashing and dicing through civilizations around the world in order to satisfy their thirst for prestige, power and wealth. During the 18th century when these kingdoms need raw material and market for their production, they turn to Africa, North and South America, Asian and Australia.
They even practiced their religion and cultural beliefs toward Africans. Then Europeans soon began to industrialize soon after. And what the Europeans wanted and needed for their industry was raw materials. And since Africa had the resources they needed, they ended up taking control. Though they struggled to involve the proliferation of conflicting European claims to African territory during the imperialism period.
European Imperialism in Africa and Asia European nations followed to establish trade contacts in Africa and Asia. Their influence in the non-Western world increased gradually in the next three centuries. Beginning in 1870, European nations moved rapidly to extend their control over almost all of Africa and in most of Asia. The industrialized nations competed with each other for natural resources and raw materials such as copper, rubber, petroleum, and cotton after the Industrial Revolution spread within Europe. The industrial middle class, who had gained greater influence in the governments in Europe, encouraged imperialist ventures to seize control in Africa and Asia.
How Effective was the National Government? • Some National Government policies, did help reduce unemployment and encourage economic recovery, but others were of limited value. • Cutting government spending in 1931, including the wages of public employees like teachers and policemen as well as unemployment benefit, helped to maintain international confidence and stopped the banking crisis. • Leaving the Gold Standard meant that Britain sold more exports to the empire within the 'sterling area' as British exports were cheaper as the pound was allowed to fall. • A more important benefit of coming off the Gold Standard was that the Bank of England was able to lower interest rates.
There are many motives for which the Europeans pursued imperialism in the 19th century, either for national prestige and glory, social Darwinism or even the White Man’s Burden. However the motive for which is most importantly noted for is profit from trade of materials and slaves from the new colonies of the European Empires. The colonizers traded slaves from Africa to the Americas and gained access to raw materials spread all throughout Africa. Europeans began conquering Africa and Asian in the early 16th century. Portugal was the 1st country to colonize.