Forms of Imperialism

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Political Imperialism

At the most basic level

• one country attacks another,
• takes control of the government,
• and governs the people who live there

Some empires, such as the Roman Empire (pictured here at its height), became huge through conquest and extremely wealthy as a result of their conquests.

A less extreme example is

• where one country conquers another,
• but still allows it to govern itself,
• or the conquered nation retains its own independence,
• but must pay taxes or give resources to the controlling nation.

The Mongols, a primarily nomadic culture, often employed this form of imperialism. They had their conquest submit homage and left the people alone to govern themselves.

Colonialism is a form of political imperialism in which the mother country establishes a colony and then governs and protects it.

the british empire - all the pink here -is an example of colonialism

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Economic Imperialism

This can happen in several ways

• loaning money
• setting up factories
• investing in the economy of the poorer nation

The poorer nation is then under the control of the richer country - it is economically dependent

Many developing nations are examples of this type of economic imperialism.

Historical example

• the early relationship of Great Britain with the rulers of the small states in India

More modern example

• during the Cold War period of the 20th century where powerful nations such as the United States and USSR (Russia) used economic control of nations to extend their control of world markets.

This kind of control can be as powerful as political control because the poorer nation must follow the demands of the richer nation.

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Cultural Imperialism

examples

• the more dominant cultures of the French and English undermined and suppressed the indigenous peoples of Canada
• the French Canadians worry about their culture being overpowered by the much more dominant cultures of English Canada and United States.

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Modern Imperialism

From Columbus (1492) through to the First World War (1914-1918), European imperialism was based upon three motivating factors:

desire for wealth

desire for power

desire to spread new ways of thought, such as Christianity

European nations, many of whom were just beginning to think of themselves as nations, began to push out from their isolation to explore, conquer, and settle new lands.

The first wave of imperialism in Europe was primarily for resources and wealth with the added impetus of spreading Christian beliefs.

Nations such as France and England used private companies, whose main goal was profit, as their colonizers

The Hudson's Bay Company in Canada is an example of this type of Modern Impreialis

Other nations, such as Spain, controlled overseas colonies directly through the king's court. However, as nations began to feel more powerful and confident, their governments became involved by setting up direct control of colonies and protectorates.

As nations gained more prestige from having large empires and power based on the wealth of their colonies, they came into greater conflict with other imperialistic countries.

Nations raced to grab more lands or to encroach upon another nation's colonies.

This era of growth, confrontation, and conflict was part of what is called the Age of Imperialism or the New Imperialism.

Eventually, the growing tensions arising from the race for greater imperial control over world resources led to World War I.

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Imperialism has had a huge impact on history and the formation of the modern world. New nations, such as Canada, were formed through the imperialist actions of France and Britain.

Likewise, most nations have been affected by imperialism, in both good and bad ways. Legacies left by imperialism are still affecting many new developing nations today in one form or another.

The growth of imperialism was not begun on a whim. Modern imperialism is grounded in several factors arising from change in European nations. These factors motivated the drive for imperial power.

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Motives for Imperialism

Three major factors motivated the drive for imperial power:

• politicial
• economic
• social "responsibility"

Political Motives

National pride in European nations grew as people began to think of themselves as citizens of a country.

It became a source of national pride and prestige to have and hold large colonies.

Military strategy included consideration for colonial war as an extension of the confrontations in Europe between expanding nations

For example, New France (Canada) and the Thirteen Colonies (United States) would be a constant battleground between the two competing nations of France and Great Britain.

Fort Necessity National Battlefield in the Laurel highlands, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, where the American colonists led by George Washington attacked the French and precipitated the French and Indian War in North America

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Economic Motives

If they could control another region, then their nation would gain access to that region's natural resources, which they would access cheaply, sometimes using slave labour.

Often the use of this type of labour was abetted by the belief that people of other lands were somehow less developed or of little worth.

These cheap natural resources were used to fuel the growth of home industries to produce goods which were sold in the new markets of the colonies.

Imperial nations gained tremendous wealth from this system of mercantilism.

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Social Responsibility Motives

In some ways, the belief that people of other lands were inferior would also create the idea that there was a need to make these people's lives "better".

Humanitarian and religious concerns motivated nations and individuals to pursue imperial growth.

Christian missionaries were convinced that people in other lands would be better off or more "civilized" if they learned "proper" Christian beliefs.

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