Imperalism Essay Research Paper imperialism Colonialism is

Imperalism Essay, Research Paper

imperialism

Colonialism is an important concept to address because it has had such a major impact on the modern world. It is often responsible for the movement of peoples throughout the world and is often a factor in the rate of development of nations. In their acquisition of Asian colonies, the European imperialists were driven by several motives. They wanted new sources of raw materials and precious metals, and (later) new markets; but they also claimed that they were assuming responsibility for bringing Christian salvation to the heathen. There was, moreover, a prestige to be gained from the possession of colonies. These three motives for early imperialism are often summed up as ‘Gold, Gospel and Glory’. By 1900 the European nations held a dominant position in both Asia and Africa. They tended to claim that their imperialist activities were BENEFICIAL to their subject peoples. How could this be so if the rivalries between imperialist powers generated tension, especially between Britain and Germany, which would eventually contribute to the first world war. My opinion is that Imperialism is a natural phenomenon occuring in social species. I mean, look at ants… they’ll take over other nests and steal the eggs to eliminate competition and give themselves a boost. It’s survival. Humans are that way, only more complex and less instinctive. That in no way makes imperialism right… but it does remove some blame from Europeans. The world powers had a “right” to take the land because they said that they did, and back then, as now, supreme rule makes the rules. Also, they thought that they were civilizing the “poor” Africans. Unfortunately, their involvement in Africa held catastrophic results for the Africans: slavery, poverty, civil unrest, not to mention years of already successful civilization, if primitive, wasted. The worst thing in the world is a well-intentioned idiot. Not to say the Europeans were stupid, just nearsighted, ignorant, pompous, greedy, and selfish. Politics are like that today… when someone gains power, they often forget the original reason they worked towards it in the first place, blinded by new temptation. The European leaders could hardly be expected to understand the Africans; they weren’t even aware of the problems in their own lower class of citizens. The right of one nation to take over another for whatever political, economic, social or religious reasons is never justifiable. When nations like Britain, the U.S, Germany or Japan engaged in imperialism their primary concerns were not the welfare of the lesser nation. They intended to “rape” the African countries, the Far East of whatever cheap raw materials could be extracted and used for the expansion of their own industries at home. If their interests were not in cheap raw materials they were searching for new markets to sell the surplus of manufactured goods they had produced. Therefore their own greed cannot be a justifiable reason for their territorial aggrandizement. The claim that they wanted to christianize the pagan societies of the world was a facade to hide their underlying economic motives. Imperialism had many causes, many people were driven to spread thier religion because they felt obligated to tame the savages and share with them the glories of civilization. Although this probably wasn’t the major cause of the Imperialization it not only made poeple want to help others but probaly more importantly justified many poeples morals. Europeans also used social Darwinism to justify themselves. Nationalism also played a large part in imperialism, when the English started creating Empires, other people said if the brittish can have a empire so can we. Imperialism was used by politions to gain popularity. One of the major reasons for creating empires was the gain of raw meterials. Mainly it seems that the spread of Imperialism was simillar to a child busting open a pinata and all of the other kids fraticly grabbing for the candy, not really thinking about what they were doing of what they were destoying. There were different reasons for building an empire. One was a search for market and raw materials. Religion made people want to build an empire because it helped spread imperialism. Domestic politics and nationalism influenced the spread of imperialism because politicians wanted domestic support by being an emperor. Domestic politics lead to building an empire. International politics caused people to build an empire because it put their country ahead and gave them more oppurtunities. Nationalism lead to imperialism and the building of empires. Any ruler could build an empire, they weren’t always good or evil. Countries built empires because their rival countries were building empires. Imperialism was also caused by new technology so people thought that they were superior and they built empires because they thought they were entitled to it. Everyone had their own reasons for imperialism. The reasons were good reasons except for the one where people thought they were superior and were entitled to having an empire. I believe that Imperialism was definatly justified. The public and the government both wanted their country to succeed. Their reasons might have been different but the major one was Nationalism. Nationalism made people want even more to see their country succeed. They decided to make their country into and empire by settling or controlling other lands in Af