Imperialism
What, Why and How
Definition of Imperialism
• A policy in which a nation establishes economic, political and cultural dominance over other territories
King Leopold II
Motivations to Establish Empire
• International economic and political competition– Demand for natural
resources– Demand for cheap
labor– Search for new
markets• Racism and
ethnocentrism
Necessary Conditions for Building Empire
• Political stability• Wealth• Technological
superiority• Large Population• Sense of purpose
– Patriotism?– Racism?– Religious conversion?
How are mercantilism, the Industrial Revolution and Imperialism connected?
Mercantilism
Accumulation of National Wealth
Industrialization
Increased ProductionConsumer GoodsNeed More ResourcesNeed New Markets
Imperialism
Two Stages of Imperialism
• First Stage: Conquest– Usually requires military force
– Economic and political manipulation
• Second Stage:Colonialism– Imperial power establishes a
government through which it controls the affairs of the nation
– Direct• Imperial power sends its own
officials to rule
– Indirect • Imperial power rules through
existing leaders (natives)
Establishing Colonialism
• Imperial power– Sets up government and
economic systems– Turns native population
into laborers• Taxation
– Requires natives to become consumers
• Ex: Export wheat, sell cereal
– Imposes “education” and religion on native population
African Proverb
Until Lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always
glorify the hunter
Hunter or the Lion
• “Modernizing”
• “Civilizing”
• “Progress”
• “Uplift”
• “Robbed, cheated”
• “Racism”
• “Set back”
• “Oppression”
Which story or perspective of imperialism became the dominant one?