What they were thinking

Popular ideas behind imperialism

Official Definition!

Imperialism: the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.

White Man’s Burden

1899: Rudyard Kipling publishes “White Man’s Burden” in McClure’s magazine.

This poem was aimed at the United States’ relations with the Philippines

Kipling justifies the noble cause of colonizing “less civilized” areas of the developing world, usually for the benefit of the colonizer.

The “burden” for the colonizer is taking control of a land and being responsible for Westernizing its people and making them civilized, which means, more Westernized.

This also advocated spreading Christianity

Manifest Destiny

Coined by John O’Sullivan in 1845

“From sea to shining sea”

American belief that the United States (in particular Anglo-Saxons) were destined to inhabit all of North America from Atlantic Coast to Pacific coast

Used to justify the Mexican-American War

Economy

Imperialism helped the economy of the colonizer countries because they could take advantage of the natural resources of the colonized country.

Spain-got rich from the Americas

England-got rich from India

For power

Ultimately, imperialism was the desire for prestige and wealth among European countries and America.

IMPERIALSIM IN THE IMPERIALSIM IN THE U.S. U.S.

REASONS FOR REASONS FOR IMPERIALSIMIMPERIALSIM

Defeating Native Americans set a precedent

Everyone was doing it (European powers)

“survival of the fittest”

Sea power important to becoming a major power

Depression beginning 1893-businessmen looking overseas

Fear of natural resources declining

U.S. wanted to be a super power

MANIFEST DESTINYMANIFEST DESTINY

Monroe Doctrine 1823: U.S. said Europe could not colonize and expand in the Western World

Most Americans believed their country was better than all others & they had a God-given mission to expand

Americans were deemed superior by God and should expand in order to bring freedom everywhere

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: 18981898

Many uprisings in Cuba to try to gain independence

U.S. said they would not get involved but on Feb. 15, 1898 the USS Main was blown up; U.S. declared war on Spain

Rough Riders led by Theodore Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill, destroying Spanish army

Dec. 10, 1898: Spain & U.S. sign Peace Treaty: Cuba declared independent. Puerto Rico & Guam given to U.S. Philippines could be purchased by U.S. for $20 million

Spain lost its empire in the West

This war allowed the U.S. to exercise total control over the Western Hemisphere

YELLOW YELLOW JOURNALISM AND JOURNALISM AND

THE WARTHE WAR

Joseph Pulitzer: World William Randolph Hearst: New York Journal, Sensational style—published stories about Spanish-American War

Brought the war into U.S. homes, big influence on the war (anti-Spanish sentiment)

POLITICAL CARTOONSPOLITICAL CARTOONS

They were an important way of expressing what Americans were thinking and of swaying Americans views on imperialism, the Spanish-American War, etc.

OTHER TERRITORIES OTHER TERRITORIES THE U.S. CONQUEREDTHE U.S. CONQUERED

Hawaii

Samoa

Alaska

Imperialism in World History:

The British in India

Background

India’s difficult geography, lack of centralized govt.

British influence initially start with the East India Trading Company in India in 1613-14.

The Company establishes a monopoly in India, exploiting production and sale of opium.

1857 marks Indian Rebellion and the end of the East India Trading Company, rule in India is formally turned over to the British Crown.

British JustificationsHad the capability to

Political pressure for conquest and expansion

Claims for an interconnected world

Racial justifications

Moral: benefitting the conquered nations, chance of a better life under colonial rule

Religious benefits: spreading Christianity and the word of God

Military: naval ports, human resources for army Used Indian soldiers in WWI

Economic benefits: importing, trading, resources Ex: Opium from India going to China Ex: British tax on salt to generate revenue

British TechniquesMassive investment in infrastructure

Roads, construction, large-scale farming

Anglicization: spreading of Western language, culture, intellectual attitudesTeaching and writing in EnglishBackfires: ideas of democracy, freedom of speech, etc.

“Indianization”: giving British rule an Indian faceCreates new Indian middle class who demand

increased power

Mahatma Gandhi

Lawyer- studied in London and worked in South Africa

Inspired peaceful resistance against British colonial rule

Peaceful resistance contrasted against the violence of the British undermined the moral legitimacy of imperialism

Successfully oversaw the expulsion of the British

Gandhi's Policies and Influence

Gandhi leads wave of peaceful protests in 1919, at conclusion of WWIAmritsar Massacre- proved British rule relied on

violence

Gandhi encouraged:Use of non-violenceRenouncing AnglicizationSelf-sufficiency

Pressures for Decolonization

Decolonization: the act or process of eliminating colonialism or freeing from colonial status

Gandhi’s pacifism undermined moral justifications

Undermined by hypocrisy. Allied view that WWII was against the imperialism of Hitler

Legitimacy also undermined by criticisms of the new, expanding Soviet Empire

WWII devastates European countries. Imperialist powers concerned about rebuilding after the war. Economies devastated, making colonial upkeep expensive

New found criticisms of imperialism

The End of British Rule

Unrest in India, possibility of uprising in 1942

India gets promise of independence in exchange for not revolting and splitting British attention and resources

British officially decolonize India in 1947

Imperialism’s Impacts

Leaves India divided with two political parties in charge, thus dividing the country

Skepticism towards Europeans causes cooperation with Soviet Union

Emphasis on Protectionism- limiting trade to protect domestic industries from global competition

Left India unstable, shut off, and in need of vast reform. In danger of falling victim again?