Free Essays on Imperialism

â€Å"In a process of natural selection, weaker individuals were weeded out and it enables the strongest to survive.† This is a quote explaining Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest). Imperialism is a perfect example of Social Darwinism. Nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. Imperialism is a necessity in order to achieve the accomplishment of being the most respected country. Imperialism should not be debated on the issue of morals, what should be debated is whether it is necessary or not. The answer is yes, it is necessary. All other major powers throughout the world continued to expand. If the United States did not follow others, they would become the weaker power and eventually they would be taken over. If others were to improve, you need to improve as well, or else you will be weeded out due to Social Darwinism. Throughout the world, only the strongest countries would survive. It was survival of the fittest. In order to become the fittest, a country needs to become imperial. Imperialism allowed for new strategic military American locations, such as Hawaii. These locations help ensure the safety of Americans as they live in the strongest nation in the world. The annexation of Hawaii strongly helped America because of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. This gave the United States a warning of war. If we did not set up Pearl Harbor, then there is a chance our country could have been bombed, causing a great loss in security(military powers), lives, and in the economy. Pearl Harbor is just one example that shows how much different the United States might have been today if it were not for imperialism. The United States needed to expand, especially with all the newly acquired technology. It enabled American farms and factories to produce more than citizens can consume. America needed new markets and raw materials for its manufactured goods. Foreign trade was a solution to over... Free Essays on Imperialism Free Essays on Imperialism European imperialism emerged in the early eighteen hundreds and continued on into the early nineteen hundreds. While Rome used imperialism as a means to acquire territory and land, Europe had other means and motives to justify their imperialistic behavior. Europeans not only wanted to obtain land, but they also wanted to achieve power, politically and economically. The majority of the motivation for imperialism derived from the Industrial Revolution. The countries strived to obtain control over colonies in order to control strategic passages, such as the Straits of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. They also wanted the control of overseas bases to keep ships and troops supplied and ready whenever needed. Not all Europeans imperialistic motives were selfish though. A large number of Europeans went overseas to try and help unfortunate people. They felt as though they were offering their "blessings" to the "pitiful heathens". European governments imposed their laws on the people and taught them how to rule in a structured fashion. European missionaries spread Christianity and humanitarians promoted public health and education. The British writer Rudyard Kipling termed Europe’s benefiting of the "backward" peoples of Africa and Asia "Th e White Man’s Burden". Many European countries also had a desire to increase their wealth and, therefore, had economic reasons for their imperialistic behavior. The great economic financiers, a few wealthy men, used their wealth and social connections to induce the government to protect their investments through political dominance over undeveloped lands. France, Britain, and Germany were the three main Imperialist Powers in Africa during the late eighteen hundreds. In February 1885, the main European powers signed the Berlin Act, which formalized the process of partition of Africa. The Act included the guidelines of how each country was to define its territories. The colonies on the West Coast of Africa w... Free Essays on Imperialism Imperialism was reborn in the West with the emergence of the modern nation-state and the age of exploration and discovery. It is to this modern type of empire building that the term imperialism is quite often restricted. Colonies were established not only in more or less sparsely inhabited places where there were few or no highly integrated native states (e.g., North America and Africa) but also in lands where ancient civilizations and states existed (e.g., India, Malaya, Indonesia, and the Inca lands of South America). The emigration of European settlers to people the Western Hemisphere and Africa, known as colonization , was marked by the same attitude of assumed superiority on the part of the newcomers toward the native populations that prevailed where the Europeans merely took over control without large-scale settlements. From the 15th to the 17th cent. the Portuguese and the Dutch built â€Å"trading empires† in Africa and the East for the exploitation of the resources and commerce with lands already developed. The Spanish and Portuguese established important colonies in the New World in the 16th and 17th cents., hoping to exploit the mineral wealth of the lands they conquered. The British and French imperialists became the foremost exemplars of colonial settlement in Africa and the East. Acting on mercantilist principles, the European nations in the 18th cent. attempted to regulate the trade of their colonies in the interests of the mother country. Later, the increase of manufactures in the industrial revolution introduced a new form of imperialism, as industrial nations scrambled both for markets and for raw materials. The eastward spread of Russia after the 16th cent. and the westward spread of the United States may also be termed imperialistic, although the United States did not actually acquire colonial possessions until the Spanish-American War. In the late 19th cent. Italy, Germany, and Japan also developed im... Free Essays on Imperialism â€Å"In a process of natural selection, weaker individuals were weeded out and it enables the strongest to survive.† This is a quote explaining Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest). Imperialism is a perfect example of Social Darwinism. Nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker territories. Imperialism is a necessity in order to achieve the accomplishment of being the most respected country. Imperialism should not be debated on the issue of morals, what should be debated is whether it is necessary or not. The answer is yes, it is necessary. All other major powers throughout the world continued to expand. If the United States did not follow others, they would become the weaker power and eventually they would be taken over. If others were to improve, you need to improve as well, or else you will be weeded out due to Social Darwinism. Throughout the world, only the strongest countries would survive. It was survival of the fittest. In order to become the fittest, a country needs to become imperial. Imperialism allowed for new strategic military American locations, such as Hawaii. These locations help ensure the safety of Americans as they live in the strongest nation in the world. The annexation of Hawaii strongly helped America because of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. This gave the United States a warning of war. If we did not set up Pearl Harbor, then there is a chance our country could have been bombed, causing a great loss in security(military powers), lives, and in the economy. Pearl Harbor is just one example that shows how much different the United States might have been today if it were not for imperialism. The United States needed to expand, especially with all the newly acquired technology. It enabled American farms and factories to produce more than citizens can consume. America needed new markets and raw materials for its manufactured goods. Foreign trade was a solution to over... Free Essays on Imperialism In the late 19th century, imperialism was a major issue in many nations of the world. Imperialism is the extension of a nation's power due to the acquiring of territory or economic conditions through military force or political means. Countries revived the imperialistic movement because the need of raw materials and labor for industrial purposes was so great. Also, the countries wanted to increase their overall wealth and trade. Christianity gained power due to this imperialistic movement of the Western world. Missionaries became rampant in lands that had been acquired by countries of the Western world. The primary reasons that imperialism succeeded during this time were the technological and military advances of this time period. Uncivilized countries could not compete with the artillery and military prowess of the Western world. Latin America became subject to imperialism due to the poor economic conditions of its countries. The Middle East experienced the movement because of the d ecline of such vast areas as the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. The Western world gained control of Africa through trading companies from Great Britain, France, and Germany. Many countries gained territories during this period of imperialism. Persia was divided between Great Britain and Russia, and Britain also seized Burma and Malaya. The Dutch gained control of the majority of the archipelago of Indonesia. In Asia, Britain still had control of India. Japan took the area of Formosa from China, which was saved as a whole from the imperialistic powers because the United States intervened and no country wanted the other to have the advantage of possessing China. Japan defeated Russia for the control of Manchuria. Many factors gave the West an advantage over the rest of the world. Vaccines were developed. Telegraphs became essential tools of communication. The steamboat and railroad drastically reduced transportation costs for materials. Machine guns allowed count... Free Essays on Imperialism Imperialism, practice by which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. Scholars frequently use the term more restrictively: Some associate imperialism solely with the economic expansion of capitalist states; others reserve it for European expansion after 1870. Imperialism refers; more broadly, to control or influence that is exercised either formally or informally, directly or indirectly, politically or economically. Imperialism dates from antiquity, and throughout history it has taken many forms. In any given historical period, certain forms tend to be more prevalent than others. In the ancient world imperialism manifested itself in a series of great empires that arose when one people, usually representing a particular civilization and religion, attempted to dominate all others by creating a unified system of control. The empire of Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire are salient examples. Early modern European imperialism (1400-1750), by contrast, generally took the form of overseas colonial expansion. Rather than one state attempting to unify the world, in this period many competing states established political control over territories in South and Southeast Asia and in the New World. Imperial systems were organized according to the doctrine of mercantilism: Each imperial state attempted to control the trade of its colonies, in order to monopolize the benefits of that trade. In the mid-19th century yet another variant of imperialism appeared, the imperialism of free trade. The practice endured in this period even though mercantilism and the pace of formal empire building declined significantly. European, especially British, power and influence were extended informally, mainly through diplomatic and economic means, rather than formally, through direct colonial rule. The imperialism of free trade, however, was short-lived: By the end of the 19th century Europe... Free Essays on Imperialism Imperialism is the growth of a nation’s power by obtaining territory or economic conditions by political means or military force. Powerful countries usually try to extend their influence over weaker countries and then colonize them in order to have them expand their own power. Imperialism throughout history has had both positive and negative impacts. Imperialism can be seen as a beneficial influence, as well as a harmful influence. Although imperialism can be seen differently, it is clear that imperialism is essential for countries to grow and progress. Imperialism is a crucial step, which all countries have to make at some point. This can mainly be seen in China. China had rigorously controlled trade with other nations for an extensive period. Chinese rulers had controlled the foreign trade with a firm hand because it was in the benefaction of China. China sold tea and many other things to European merchants for silver and gold in return. This was known the balance of trade; they would export more than they import. In 1973, British desired an increase in trading rights but emperor Qianlong refused. Sometime after this demand, China has reached a period of decline. Then the Industrial Revolution had created a need for extended markets in European goods. In the 1800’s, Western nations began to use their rising power and glory to their advantage. They used this power to spread their influence over Asia along with the rest of the world. British traders discovered they could make money by trading opium for Chinese tea. In the 1830’s, British merchant ships were arriving off the coast of China. Ready to sell to the Chinese the British came with ships full of opium. The Chinese population became fixated on opium, and silver began to vanish in China in exchange for the new drug. This vast exchange had begun to disrupt the Chinese economy. The imperialism that the British were bringing on the Chinese people made thei... Free Essays on Imperialism In the late 19th century, imperialism was a major issue in many nations of the world. Imperialism is the extension of a nation's power due to the acquiring of territory or economic conditions through military force or political means. Countries revived the imperialistic movement because of political, economic, and cultural motives. This paper will serve to generally answer a few points regarding imperialism in the 19th century. It will cover certain aspects pertaining to the reasoning and outcomes of imperialism in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. All the key players who partook in imperialism had the same motives to pursue the actions they performed that we now read in history books. Europeans and Americans wanted balance in power. Well in actuality, a country would be afraid that the other countries would become too powerful and thus felt the need to acquire more political power. With this came the theory and mindset that everyone should become more like western civilizations. If countries spread to other lands and territories, it meant many opportunities from businesses and business-minded individuals. In addition, the imperialized territories would theoretically prosper from economic growth. Valuable resources of cotton, rubber, palm oil, copper, tin, gold, diamonds, tea, tobacco, sugar, and other resources were available to those who could seize them and raise the economy. The last main motive to pursue imperialistic policies was from a cultural revivalism. Apparently it was â€Å"the white man’s burden†, or duty to civilize people and teach them the ways of the western world. These three motives (political, economical, and cultural) all stemmed from a basic theory; a theory of â€Å"natural selection† and the need to be the best and the strongest, Social Darwinism. The land grab of the New Age Imperialism came about at an unprecedented speed. This would not have been the case if it weren’t for the vast economic technological ...