Imperialism. This was adapted from "Imperialism, 1870-1900" from "Events that Changed the World." Includes a good essay by T.K. Welliver.

1. Imperialism
The World at a Glance

2. Objectives for the lecture
• At the end of this lecture students will
understand 19th and early 20th century
imperialism by analyzing the following:
• The historical background.
• How can it be explained?
• Where did it occur?

3. WHAT
WAS THE HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND

4. Imperialism Defined
• Before explaining the historical
background, we need a working
definition

5. Imperialism Defined
• The policy of extending a nation’s
authority by territorial acquisition or by
the establishment of economic and
political hegemony over other nations.
• (hegemony=authority, power,
dominion)

6. Background
• Expansionism has occurred in at least
3 waves:
• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery
that gave us heroes such as

8. Background
• Expansionism has occurred in at least
3 waves:
• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery
• Imperialism of the end of the late 19th
century that gave us

9. OR

12. Background
• Expansionism has occurred in at least
3 waves:
• Colonial empires in the Age of Discovery
• Imperialism of the end of the late 19th
century
• And our current state of affairs today

16. Background
• 1st phase- explorers, merchants, &
priests traversed the globe
• Spain, Portugal, England, & France
leading colonial powers
• European empires gone from America
• Only GB retained American empire in
name

17. Background
• However, Europeans not determined to
build empires
• Concern was commerce
• Trade with natives

18. Background
• 19th Century – Europe focused energies
on:

19. Background
• 19th Century – Europe focused energies
on:
• Nation-building

20. Background
• 19th Century – Europe focused energies
on:
• Nation-building
• The Industrial Revolution

21. Background
• 19th Century – Europe focused energies
on:
• Nation-building
• The Industrial Revolution
• Conflict between liberalism and
conservatism
• Colonialism was an afterthought

22. Background
• After 1870, the Western world
expanded again
• Swooping down upon the globe and
figuratively devouring it
• The West had to possess- trade
agreements not enough
• Invested in colonies
• Built RRs
• Imposed European values

23. WHAT EXPLAINS THIS
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED
DEVELOPMENT?

24. An explanation
• Economics figured prominently
• Colonies promised:
• Inexpensive raw materials
• Cheap labor
• Guaranteed markets
• Political considerations
• Christianity
• Western perception of perceived
superiority

25. The Technological Imperative
• Regardless of the why, success rested
on:
• Technology and organizational
predominance
• Efficient military formations
• Modern rifles
• Maxim (machine guns)
• Battle of Obderman, Sudan 1898
British slaughtered 11,000 tribesman

26. Global phenomenon
• Late 19th century imperialism was
indeed global
• The Middle East
• Black Africa (different from say South
Africa)
• But Asia was the prize, certainly for
America

27. Three most important Asian countries
were:

28. Three most important Asian countries
were:

29. Three most important Asian countries
were:

30. Japan
• Until 1853, Japan lived in isolation
• Commodore Matthew Perry changed
that – Gunboat Diplomacy
• Japan had a revolution in 1867
• Adopted western technology an
practices yet attempted to maintain
their tradition