Imperialism: The Role Of Nationalism In Early Nineteenth Century

Under the Meiji government, there was a wave of Japanese nationalism that swept the nation with phrases such as "Revere the Emperor!" and "Rich country, strong army". This sense of nationalism also allowed the Japanese government to modernize scientifically, economically, and militarily. After careful study of the United States and European defense systems, the Japanese favored Germany 's. The Japanese adapted the Western ideology of imperialism which involved the occupation of foreign lands in order to seek economic benefit for Japan.

Because Neo-Confucianism became the dominant ideology of the three greater Asian countries (Japan, Korea, and China), it served “as a moral basis for international dealings”, thus increasing the efficiency of intra-Asian trade. Neo-Confucianism became so widely accepted that scholars of Japanese Neo-Confucianism even perceived themselves to be the original bearers of its ideologies and the “homeland of the gods”. Moreover, many Japanese continued to follow this ideology into the late Edo Period, as seen in Fukuzawa Yukichi’s autobiography. He recalls that his father “was a Confucian to the very heart”, while Fukuzawa himself follows the ancient words

Britain’s forced introduction of opium in 1825 in China had devastating effects on its population and economy. The people of China express their just displeasure with the British people and its monarchy in documents 1, 2, and 9. In Document 1, a Chinese emperor is addressing the King George of England in 1793 in a letter. The letter states that the Celestial Empire (China) has all the things that it needs in abundance and therefore does not need to trade with the “barbarians” of England. The excerpt goes on to say that because tea, silk, and porcelain are so important to Europe that they would allow a foreign hongs (businesses) in the town of Canton, so that they may be beneficial to China.

The tensions cause these countries to go against each other even more and really strive and achieve what they want, simply because they want to prove that they are the best and most powerful. The causes for these tensions and the cause of the war in general will be named and explained with 3 main ideas below. The question that will be answered is what factors did really cause WW1. Imperialism as a cause of ww1: Imperialism is a system where a powerful nation rules and exploits one or more colonies. The main advantages of imperialism were economic and beneficial for a country occupying the territory.

United States trade with China really weakened under Taft’s presidency. Furthermore, Taft’s program which was aimed at commercial advantages in Central America provoked the existing hostility that had been created by Roosevelt 's military intervention in Santa Domingo and Panama. The appalling relations between the United States and the other American nations to the south lead to the assembling of a Pan-American Conference. The intent of the conference was finding ways to limit U.S. influence, intervention, and commercial penetration. Congress gave firm disagreement when Taft ordered over two thousand troops to the Mexican border ready to intervene in a revolutionary-torn Mexico to protect the U.S. investments.

They paid taxes, but most were external taxes to regulate foreign trade, even then Britain 's laxity over colonial affairs brought a quasi-independence often called “Salutary Neglect”. Upon the wake of the French and Indian war, Britain redefined its approach to imperialism and began imposing and enforcing new taxes on the colonies to pay off its immense war debt. These new policies sparked discourse throughout the colonies as they demoted the American colonist to second class subjects by denying them parliamentary representation. Most colonies, vocalized their opposition through formal pleas to King George III. The Virginian house of Burgesses sent a formal petition pleading for parliament to revoke the illicit taxes.

Winston Churchill once said, “I think I can save the British Empire from anything - except the British.” Britain had a drastic role in World War II, which began in 1939 and ended in 1945. Britain’s role in the war involved victories in land, air, and sea battles as well as ending Hitler’s dictatorship, taking down borders, and reestablishing the United Nations. Appeasement in a political context is a policy of making political or material concessions to an enemy power in order to avoid conflict. In the British perspective appeasement was their pre- World War II policy of allowing Hitler to expand German territory freely. Hitler took this policy for granted and shortly after the “policy” was signed he attacked and invaded Poland.

The development of empires created tensions in Europe during the late 1800 's and early 1900 's (World). When new empires came, they more than likely wanted power. That probably made the other empires and countries, angry, which lead to tension between them. A system of military alliances gave European powers a sense of security before World War I (World). Before Europe could start war they had to know they had a good military.

People became free citizens under the law, not just objects. The former wars between rulers evolved to the wars between citizens of a nation. The population in France became nationalistic, and the national ideology led to the people fighting not just for the nation, but also for the revolutionary ideology. The nationalistic support to the nation made it possible to convert to a system of conscription, which still is a cost-effective way to recruit large

However, once the Fascist leader realized how much power the institution held in Italy, he mended their relationship. Bringing them into his side proved to be very beneficial. It added a significant amount of support and added credibility to his regime. To officially signify their new relationship, they signed the Lateran Treaty. In this, the Papal State recognized Rome as the capital of Italy while, in return, Italy understood the Papacy had dominion over Vatican City (cite).

Prussia lead German Unification, Prussia appreciated a few favorable circumstances that would in the long run offer it some assistance with forging a solid German state. Accordingly, patriotism really bound together Prussia. Conversely, ethnic gatherings in Austria-Hungary destroyed the realm. In addition, Prussia 's armed force was by a wide margin the most powerful in focal Europe. In 1848, Berlin agitators constrained a sacred tradition to review a liberal constitution for the kingdom, making ready for unification.

Gail Bederman from the university of Notre Dame claims that Theodore Roosevelt, who was the greatest supporter of the attack on Spain and Philippines, had it engineered by both race and gender. These two concepts made him perceive imperialism as being the next stage of growth in a healthy republic. To him, expansion and domination were necessary if America was to civilize the world. For people like Theodore Roosevelt, as the United States advanced, the democratic vision was also progressing (Bederman, 1996). Theodore Roosevelt, just elected to office in 1882, felt that he was very important and had many ambitions.

De Gaulle’s view, removed from the immediacy of French-German conflict, started agreeing with the idea of a French and German led Community, united by similar economies and therefore similar interests. In the beginning of this Community, Robert Schuman, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1950, stated, “Such a transformation will be born out of all this, a Europe that is firmly united and solidly built.” (Doc 5) Schuman is supportive of a French and German economic alliance, believing that establishing common markets with Germany wouldopen new opportunities for French growth following World War

In America, with the Korematsu vs the United States case, the constitutionality of Roosevelt’s 9086 Order was argued and deemed the order constitutional during the War. The case also stated that the Order was not racist although it specifically targeted the Japanese. By the end of the war in both nations, japanese emigration increased greatly due to the hostile

A good example of this would be Lewis writing on the fall of The Eastern Han Empire. Lewis presents several factors as to their decline, however there are two major reasons, decentralization and corruption. Lewis explains that The Han dynasty had based its governmental power in a two tier system that broke up local power in order to keep the central government remaing supreme, however the power deviated from this system. Lewis explains “The provincial governor, however, became a third tier, with command of large populations, great wealth, and significant armed forces— resources that could challenge the authority of the imperial government”. This broke up the power of the central government and decentralized the empire back into states.