Dbq Essay On American Imperialism

Perspectives

To imperialize is to take control of a culture or a group of colonies and teach them the value of another culture. Historically, Imperialism began in Europe because of Social Darwinism, the desire for humanity to make the best possible traits. Therefore, Europe began the idea that it was their duty to influence other colonies and help civilize them. However, imperialist took control of the power they gained and it later became a controversial topic. Imperialist gained power and control economically, politically and socially over the colonies while the colonized people lost cultural values and wealth.

Imperialist believed that they were helping to civilize these countries by taking control over their economic, government and social life. Great Britain

Not only was Great Britain an imperialist, but also Japan. During World War 11, Koreans were forced to be people they did not want to be. In other words, imperialized by another country, “in order to make Koreans just like Japanese, the Korean people were forced to change their family names.” Therefore, Koreans had no choice, but to be like Japanese, which led them to lose cultural values. Colonies believed that imperialist took away cultural values, which is shown when Japan took away Koreans’ total identity by forcing them to change their last name. Imperialism also took away the economy; because colonists’ economy was taken away it meant daily lives were too. Kwame Nkrumah explains the imperialist as “rapacious” and that “they [Europeans] took our lands, our lives, our resources and our dignity, without exception, they left us nothing,” clearly claiming that imperialist took away everything. Although colonist believed there was more to than just cultural values and their wealth being taken away, these are the general ideas from what we have