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Imperialism
Overview of Imperialism
By Scott Danford
By the late 1800's Britain was losing its lead in the economic world. Developing countries such as United States and Germany were taking valuable market share away from Britain. How would Britain keep up in this quickly changing world? Many felt that the answer rested in imperialism or the practice of gaining colonies for economic, political, or militaristic benefit. Britain used its colonies for new markets and resources. Soon countries such as France, Japan, and the United States began to gain colonies of their own. Colonies became a source of pride as well as economic benefit. Europeans felt that they had an obligation to bring their "superior" culture to their colonies. Missionaries went to colonies in Africa and Asia to introduce their religion to the natives. People were fascinated by the stories of adventurers such as Livingstone and Stanley and motivated by the writings of Rudyard Kipling.
One of the first targets of imperialism was Africa. Countries in Africa were usually not advanced, powerful, or organized enough to stop a European army. The "scramble for Africa" began when Henry Stanley claimed the Congo River Valley for Belgium. France then claimed Algeria and built the Suez Canal. Britain took Egypt in order to have control of the canal, which was crucial to their shipping routes. Britain and Egypt then took control of Sudan. France began to colonize Tunisia and Morocco. Italy took Libya. Britain fought a war with and defeated the Boers in order to gain control of the resource rich Southern Africa. Cecil Rhodes became rich from the Kimberly diamond fields, which produced 90% of the world's diamonds at the time. By the early 1900's most of Africa was taken by European colonists.
Like Africa, South Asia was also soon dominated by colonists. India was deemed "The Jewel in the Crown" by Britain. It supplied many valuable spices and raw materials. Conflict grew in China, which stubbornly refused access to foreigners. However, Britain made a large profit by smuggling addictive opium into China, which sparked the "opium wars" that China lost. Japan, on the other hand, freely accepted European and American influence, which they took advantage of rather than rejected. This policy would help lead to Japan's success in the future. Interests in the Pacific Islands grew, as countries needed naval bases to refuel and restock ships passing through the area. Britain controlled Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Southern Solomons. Germany controlled the Northern Solomons, France controlled Tahiti, and the United States made Hawaii a US state.
Although Latin and South America were not generally colonized by other countries, many of their economies were dominated by the United States and Europe. The United States built the Panama Canal which raised the US's interests in the area. Imperialism would slowly dissolve as colonies gained nationalism and demanded independence, colonies became too expensive to maintain, and public feeling was against imperialism.
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