Reasons For European Imperialism

Africa faced aggressive imperialist efforts from the Europeans, including diplomatic pressures as well as military invasions. This push for imperialism by the Europeans into Africa was brought on by economic, political, and social factors. After the collapse of the slave trade and all of its profitability, it made the demand for sources of raw materials something that needed to be acquired. There was also a need to search for investment opportunities, as well as a stable market. This made the economic motives the primary need to push into Africa. However, there was also competition between Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain to gain power within politics. One way to gain power within this competition was through the acquisition of territories, hence another reason to push for Africa. Socially, due to the

European colonization began in 1942, when a Spanish expedition sailed west to find new trade but landed in the place we call now the new world. They came over to the new world because there religious freedom and economic reasons. They had lack of land for most in Europe running out of space.But the first bombs got the land. And the last reason was to get a better life and just start new and fresh.

There are many different motives when it comes to the US seeking overseas imperialism. The main motives I found during this reading was competition and expansion. I also found that the expansion category could be best explained if broken down into the three sub categories of military expansion, market and trade expansion, and finally expansion in the terms of spreading the US ideologies and culture throughout the world. The US felt the need to compete with its European counterparts, but the US had very different reasons for wanting imperialist expansions overseas. Europe wanted one big empire in which each colony’s resources would help benefit the main empire. The US however believed in

The British did not consider the people’s feelings in Africa, and they believed that the Africans were inhumane because the majority of them worked as slaves. Therefore, they found it to be logical for it to be okay to invade Africa and take their sugar. This obviously ended up working well for the British, for they could enjoy their tea with sugar. In addition to this, Great Britain took full control over Africa without allowing Africa a say in the procedure. Africa was divided into separate regions, and they didn’t know until what was said was done. Because Europe knew that they would greatly benefit from the colonization of Africa, it was in their greatest interest. “The departing powers left behind few Africans equipped to lead their newly independent nations.” (European Scramble for Africa). Many Africans were not prepared for what would happen to them, and when all of this occurred, they didn’t know how to react. The Africans ended up being forced to go against all of the different nations that colonized the continent in order to get their land back. Of course this resulted in a long and painful process, and this was all due to the actions of the

The initial goal of European countries was to maximize the economic potential of their colonies. Colonial rule in Africa was quite the same as Southeast Asia, most European governments ruled their new territories in Africa with the least effort and expense possible, the Europeans rule on Africa was indirect. Indirect rule meant that relying on existing political elites and institutions, the British had especially followed this approach and in some areas the British simply asked a local ruler to accept their authority and to put their flag over every official building. Indirect rule led to some negative consequences, the British were basically fraud because their administrators made all the major decisions. The colonial powers endeavored to minimize the costs of their empires.

I believe that the force that was most responsible for the new imperialism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was the social force. One reason that social is the main force is because of Social Darwinism, which is the idea that the fittest countries will survive. Another reason is Racism; racist people believed that their race was peerless and that there should be more of that peerless race. The last reason is because of “the white man’s burden”, which is the idea that the Europeans and Americans had the moral responsibility to civilize primitive people. In the following paragraphs I will explain each reason and provide evidence.

Before the Europeans began the New Imperialism in Africa, very little was known about the inner parts of the continent. However, after some explorers delved deeper into the heart of Africa, the Europeans soon realized how economically important this area was, and how much they could profit from it. At the time, Britain had only small occupations of land in Africa, but after they realized that they could make money from the rich resources from the inner regions of Africa, they wanted to invade the African countries and take over. This led to the scramble and ultimately, the partition of Africa. During the Age of Imperialism, from 1870-1914, Britain was a major country, which proved to be true

Already colonizing the New World, they wanted more land to show off so turning their eyes to Africa seem to be the best choice. Mostly Britain, could really utilize the resources given by Africa, most other countries just wanted land. Two prime examples are France and Germany who even though don’t benefit economically from the land, only wanted to have prestige to show they were powerful in some way by simply wanting the area. Another motivator was the idea of White Man’s Burden, defined as the,’ alleged duty for white colonizers to care for their nonwhite indigenous subjects.’ Even though with great intentions, it was a racist way to justify imperialism in Africa and other parts of the world.

What aspects do you think motivated Europe imperialism in Africa? Between 1500-1800, Europe traded along the west coast of Africa, but they were not able to reach the interior due to all the diseases they could catch. In the 1800s, European explorers had a cure for diseases and were prepared to push their way into the interior of the continent. By the 1880s, European nations competed with one another for control over Africa. With this being said, what do you think motivated Europe to imperialize in Africa? Many things contributed to the driving force behind European imperialism, such as politics, economics, and cultural attitudes.

Economic, social and political conditions of the Africans were also the major factors which motivated the European imperialist to start taking interest and finally start colonization in Africa. The things which encourage the European scramble and finally led to the partition and eventually conquest of Africa were the search of the guaranteed markets and profitable investments outlets i.e. primary motivation for European intrusion was economic. As the industrialization started in Europe they needed some palace to find raw material and they need a community that can act as market for the products that they made in these industries.

Imperialism in Europe was motivated by greed: the greed for money, the greed for power. The dictionary definition of imperialism is when a strong nation seeks to dominate others politically, economically, and socially. Imperialism was a big competition for power and Great Britain was in first place, according to the data on Document F Britain’s colonial empire was 12,740,000 sq. miles with a population of 400,000,000. The next closest was France who was 4,440.000 sq. miles and a population of 56,000,000. Britain’s economy was helped by their colonial empire; South Africa contributed blood diamonds and gold and both

Groups including the Europeans thought it would be best for the United States to colonize because they would be inputting their “fair share”. Britain and America started to fight for independent. America ended up winning. Most of the Americans don't like the idea of them colonizing like the other nations. Especially two groups of Americans were outspoken in their support of imperialism. Imperialism is when you extend your countries government and military, making it bigger and more powerful. One group thought that the USA should fulfill their spot in this world. The Europeans highly believed that they should colonize for these reasons. The other group was made up of business interest and opened up new markets and trade possibilities.

European Imperialism, or “Old Imperialism” (1450-1650), happened largely for political power and economic reasons. France, Britain, Portugal, Germany, and Spain, all fought for African territory. The 15th-16th centuries was an era of discovery with explorations by land and sea. These explorations opened up new trade routes across the ocean and the increase of colonization. The convenient location of Africa, with its coastal land, assisted European nations exploring new routes to Asia while seeking gold, land, precious metals, spices, luxuries, and agricultural plants.

At this time, only the trading of slaves and a minor resources interested other countries. Africa was known as a “White Man’s Grave” due to the spread of malaria throughout the country. While the end of slavery approached the drive to map out the middle of Africa grew rapidly. All of these European countries were racing to get a piece of Africa, and that is a cultural aspect to the driving force behind European imperialism in Africa. Because by 1914, 7 European countries held African colonies, leaving Ethiopia and Liberia to stay independent. While British and French holding the most land in Africa (Document A). Due to this race occurring in Africa, many European countries felt forced to colonize Africa because many others were. In Document B, John Ruskin, a well regarded English intellectual, author, and speaker states, “seizing every piece of fruitful waste ground… be to advance the power of England by land and by sea”. Meaning England needs to invade and colonize Africa for power of land and sea, because whatever they don’t seize can be used against them. Imperialism in Africa leveled the playing field between European countries because everyone had a

The British economy was the main reason for its participation in the Scramble for Africa, and it was greatly helped by the supply of natural resources in Africa.[2] British imperialism