The Industrial Revolution increased countries’ needs for both raw materials and markets for their goods.
The Industrialized countries of Europe competed for control of different parts of the world. Their policy of conquering and ruling other lands was known as imperialism
Imperialism was viewed as being a necessary policy if a country was going to have a strong economy and become a world power.

Nationalism furthered imperialism as each country felt it needed to show its power by building an empire. Pride motivated as well as profit.
Racism. Europeans had led the industrial revolution and believed the new technology they had developed was proof of their racial superiority. Some believed it was their calling to dominate the world.

Christianity also played a big role in imperialism.
By the 1800s missionaries had done lots of work in Asia and Africa, and had written accounts of what they had seen. These accounts motivated many to expand imperialism.
The slave trade still existed in parts of the world such as East Africa, and missionaries believed that only European domination would end the slave trade.

Imperialism took different forms, however all pretty much had the same purpose: Serving the mother country.
Colonies: settlement in a new territory by a group who keep ties with their home government
Protectorates: a country or state that is controlled by another government
Sphere of Influence: an area dominated by, but not directly ruled by, a foreign government

Great Britain, the leader of Industrialization was also the leader of Imperialism.
Britain had started imperialistic policies by the 1600s, forming colonies in the new world and had built a trade network in Asia and India by the 1700s.
By the 1800s, Britain gave some of its colonies self rule (Canada, Australia) but tightened its control on other areas.
Britain also faced competition from other industrialized countries by the mid 1800s and was trying to maintain its economic superiority.

Africa was still a relatively unknown continent well into the 1800s.
Africa with its vast natural resources would become a target for imperialism. European countries (many who never had owned a colony) scrambled for control of different parts of the continent
In 1875 only 10% of Africa was controlled by Europe, by 1900 90% of Africa was divided into European colonies

Belgium’s King Leopold claimed the Congo river Valley for Belgium.
France claimed most of West Africa
Britain claimed much of East Africa, and struggled with the Dutch for control of South Africa
Italy, Spain, and Germany all took control of parts of Africa

France had an initial interest in N. Africa as they controlled Algeria.
In 1869 a French company built the Suez Canal which linked the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, providing a faster route to the Indian Ocean
Britain had great interest in the Suez canal as they wanted to maintain contact with India and Australia

A Nationalistic movement broke out in Egypt as many wanted to eliminate British influence and presence in the area.
Britain responded in 1882 by crushing the rebellion and made Egypt a protectorate of the British empire.
Britain now had direct control of the Suez Canal.

The effects of imperialism were drastic.
Europeans forced Africans to pay taxes, which caused them to focus on growing cash crops such as peanuts. This led towards a shift towards a money economy.
European manufactured products also replaced traditional industries in many areas
Europeans created some services such as schools and hospitals in Africa, but most were strictly for European use. They did very little to train Africans in skilled jobs.
In addition, Europeans wanted to avoid uprisings and encouraged rivalries between different ethnic groups to try and discourage African unity.