Imperialism in India and Africa

1236 Words5 Pages
British imperialism was the British setting out and building nations in foreign lands. Of these lands Africa and India were one of the most important and economically beneficial to the British. They did this because these regions had many raw materials of value to the British and they believed they were superior. The British would often refer to these conquests as the “white man’s burden” because the people were seen as savages they were bettering. The social, political, and economic consequences brought on weren’t always the best. The British believed they bought prosperous things to Africa and India through imperialism such as social affluence, internal improvements, and a strengthened government system. In reality they brought many troubles such as stripment of their land, overthrowing their already stable government, and a decrease in the standard of living. The British, and even some natives in Africa and India, thought that imperialism was socially enhancing these nations; but in reality they weren't bringing much prosperity. Document 3 is the writing of an Indian author, Romesh Dutt. In this excerpt he talks about all the wonderful things Englishmen have brought India. This included peace, Western education, and exposure to modern ideals, strong non-administrative government, and a sufficient law system. Document 5 further expands on education, showing the constant increase in India’s population in secondary and primary education, starting in 1881, and so on. These documents both argue for imperialism, and that the British were civilizing these nations. But a man who had an English education in London and served as a divisional commissioner in the Indian Civil Service wrote document 3. He was one of the privileged members of Indian society; because of this status he wouldn't recognize any fault in British tendencies. He also wanted to keep this
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