Imperialism, which is the policy of a strong country extending power and influence through diplomacy or military force to take control over a weaker country. In simpler words, imperialism is when a strong country takes control over a weaker country. Imperialism has been present throughout the world 's history and still has influence today. Some specific causes of imperialism are economics, ethnocentrism, exploration, politics, and religion. An event that was caused by imperialism was World War One. Overall, imperialism causes a copious number of issues in society that took place in the past and still take place in today 's world. To start with, a few major causes of imperialism are economics, exploration, ethnocentrism, politics, and …show more content…
European nations scrambled to take control of Africa due to the opportunity of exploiting resources and colonization. European imperialism was in Africa partly present because of the rivalry for power between Britain, France, and Germany. These countries were each trying to increase their status by accumulating countries located elsewhere on the continent. European countries entered Africa to claim territories, since owning multiple territories with colonies showed their power. Britain. The natural resources in Africa motivated European countries to take control of certain areas. The resources that fueled European imperialism were slave trade, and the mining of gold and diamonds. Europeans got all the resources from Africa cheap and then sold them with high prices. Beside having control over resources, Africa also gave Europeans strategic areas of land that helped their militaries or trade canals. The Southern portion of Africa provided useful stops for ships. By taking over Africa they could control over the market, and how the goods were …show more content…
European imperialism had immense effects on Africa. A few of the negative effects included slavery, loss of independence, decline of African culture, and resource exploitation. They removed so many resources that Africa was exploited of natural minerals. A couple positive effects the Europeans had on africa were the introduction of trade and education. European nations also took it upon themselves to hold a conference to divide Africa into territories that would be controlled by European countries. By entering African the Europeans gave African diseases that they weren’t immune to like small pox. When Europeans seized Africa they requested that African grow cash crop, but by growing cash crops Africans didn’t grow enough food to feed themselves and therefore caused a minor
During the 15th century, the world was caught in the age of exploration. After Columbus, everyone realized that there were still undiscovered land masses that held numerous resources and extreme profit. Due to the fact that the Americas were occupied by Spain and Portugal, much of Europe turned its eyes to Africa. Consequently, Africa was a huge land mass that was just waiting to be explored, especially since Portugal hadn’t gone beyond the outer edge. The reasons for European imperialism in Africa were due to the want for more resources to boost the economy, the advantage of better technology, and a need to establish a position of power.
African communities were also educated in industry and political affairs (Doc 3). They received simpler methods of agriculture that helped them gain a surplus of products and comfortable living standards (Doc 2). Powerful nations prided themselves in these benefits they had brought to previously savage
Imperialism allows countries to extend their power through a policy and influence through diplomacy or military force. The late nineteenth century was known as the “Age of Imperialism” a time when the United States rapidly expanded, defending many countries with not enough power to defend for themselves. United States was on a specific world mission to spread liberty and democracy. Along the way America came across China and it’s valuable resources, U.S. could trade for. Imperialism is a positive policy for the U.S.A. because it enlarges trade, helps weaker countries allowing them to spread culture, and expands industry.
Imperialism is the act of colonizing smaller countries and territories. Many countries apply imperialism to their government, to gain power. The power can be economic, political, social, or even military benefits. In the late 1800s, America was also one of the countries that decided to include imperialism in the government, however, unfortunately in America's imperialistic era, land was gained at the cost of trust and values. Imperialism in America cannot be justified due to its contradictions of American Ideals and conflict between other countries.
The industrial revolution propelled African imperialism to a level the world had never seen before. During the late 19th century, borders in Europe became difficult to alter and the only way to expand was in other continents like Africa. Europe exposed Africa’s weakness and preyed on them, leaving the continent in disarray. The industrial revolution induced African imperialism for economic prosperity, the rise in cultural and social power, and political motives. Economic prosperity had a major impact on the advancement of African imperialism.
Founded in document D African colonies and their exports. Economic factors were more of a driving force behind imperialism since the imperialists were in search of natural resources for improving technology and their national pride. The Europeans went to Africa because of their many resources and their quantities of gold, fur, and yarn all superior resources for the Europeans. Africa had dealt with European
Europe takes advantage of Africa. The main driving forces behind European Imperialism consisted of three fundamental factors which included Political, Technological, and Economic. The way these three components are involved in the driving force because they all helped shape and push everything together to make more efficient. The first component that helped take over land or “European Imperialism” was Technological power.
Imperialism started in the 1850’s when Europe began to expand their empires into Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It started mainly for financial gain, as raw materials were cheaper in these areas and the Europeans could make higher profit from controlling these areas and their people.
The United States and Japan were also imperialist powers; however, neither was involved in colonizing Africa. Economical, political, and social causes were the roots of imperialism. Economical causes included materials and markets. Materials were a cause as countries wanted to depend on themselves for raw materials.
Due to the result of industrialization, huge problems such as homelessness, poverty, etc. occurred since not everyone in the European population can partake with the new capitalistic industries. A good way to resolve this was to acquire colonies to export surplus population which eventually resulted in settler-colonies in places such as Tunisia, Angola, Zimbabwe and other parts in Africa. Issues like these caused scramble within the European countries to get as much resources and territories as they can in Africa. There were multiple European military, commercial and even political agents sent into different parts of Africa to declare exclusive claims to individual territories in Africa for trade. They also imposed tariffs against other European traders and claim control of commercial routes and waterways in multiple regions of
In the 19th century imperialism was an important part of building European empires. The four major motives for imperialism are economic, strategic, religious and political. These motives helped great empires expand their territory and brought new cultures and languages to both the colonised countries and the countries colonising them. European countries such as Britain and France would use their colonies in Africa for economic gain. They would be able to exploit the country’s natural resources and bring them back to the “mother country” to sell and use.
When the Europeans left, little to none resources were left for the new independent African countries. In the present day, the economic role of African countries in the world is very minimal because of their lack of resources and services. The concept of Social Darwinism (It is the concept of “the fittest survives”) played a very important role during the colonization. “African countries were forced to grow according to the whims and preferences of their colonial master.” This meant that the Europeans were superior over the Africans; this enabled them to easily conquer huge areas of land.
This resulted in the entire continent to be taken over by europe except two countries, Ethiopia and Liberia. England specifically wanted to “advance their power by land and by sea”. Germany was also in it for national pride. They wanted to prove that they were “very capable, so seaworthy, so industrially and commercially minded”. The Europeans also invented useful things that could be used to acquire more colonies, like a treatment for Malaria, guns more efficient for killing, and ways to communicate quickly.
The only thing Europeans loved more than political power was increasing their trade. In the 1800’s European nations had a desire to get a lead to widespread imperialism in Africa. With the end of slavery in 1833, European interest in Africa shifted to seizing colonies. King Leopold of Belgium acquired a private country in Africa that was 95 times bigger than Belgium and his purpose was to make money by taking out ivory and rubber.