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?