The Age of Imperialism 1850-1914

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The Age of Imperialism1850-1914

• Imperialism The takeover of a country or
  territory by a stronger nation with the intent of
  dominating the economic, political and social
  life of the people of that nation

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Causes of Imperialism

• The Industrial Revolution caused a need for
  resources to fuel industrial production in Europe
  and the United States
• Where would these resources come from?
• Africa
• Asia
• Latin America

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Causes of Imperialism

• Economic competition between European nations
  new markets to sell their goods
• The need of European nations to add colonies to
  their empires as a measure of national greatness
• Growing racism, or the belief that one race was
  superior to another
• Because they were more technologically advanced,
  many Europeans and Americans felt they had the
  right to dominate the peoples of Asia, Africa and
  Latin America

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Causes of Imperialism

• Social Darwinism the idea that those who were
  fittest for survival and success were superior to
  others
• Because of Social Darwinism, Europeans felt they
  had the right and duty to bring progress to other
  nations
• Need to Christianize the people of Asia and
  Africa
• Need to civilize and westernize others

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What Enabled Imperialism?

• Europeans technological superiority (including
  the machine gun)
• Improvements in transportation to and within
  Asian and African colonies
• Medical advances, such as Quinine, which
  protected Europeans from foreign diseases
  (malaria)
• Disunity among ethnic groups in Africa

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Imperialism in 1914
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Imperialism in Africa

• Berlin Conference, 1884-1885
• European nations met to lay down rules for the
  division of Africa

• Any European nation could claim land in Africa by
  telling the others and showing they could control
  the area
• Europeans paid no attention to the ethnic and
  linguistic divisions in Africa when dividing it
  amongst themselves
• No African leaders attended this meeting Why
  might that be unfair??

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Impact of Imperialism in Africa

• POSITIVE
• Local warfare reduced
• Improved sanitation
• Hospitals led to increased lifespan
• Schools led to increased literacy
• Economic growth

• NEGATIVE
• Loss of land and independence
• Men forced to work in European owned mines and on
  European owned farms
• Contempt for traditional culture and admiration
  of European culture identity problems
• Dividing up of Africa artificial boundaries
  divided kinship groups and united rivals

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Forms of Imperialism
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Forms of ImperialismTypes of Management