Imperialism and Economics

Economic, social and political forces drove people to take over different parts of the world in the act of imperialism. Imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or colonies. Europeans felt the need to add lands to their control because of the Industrial Revolution, and as the industrialization in Europe progressed, they searched for raw materials to improve their economies. The Europeans gained a sense of nationalism during the race for colonies and the Europeans had ethnocentric views. They believed that their race was superior to others. Because of this, their attitude reflected the theory of Social Darwinism, created by Charles Darwin known as “Survival of the fittest,” or “natural selection” which meant the “preservation of favored races in the struggle of life” according to Mr. Herbert Spencer in the fifth edition of Origin of Species. The favored race was the Europeans who lived of comfort and success while non- Europeans were considered to be on the lower scale because they were not as advanced as Europe. Europeans believed it was their right/duty to bring their results of progress to other countries.

British imperialism had negative effects, including the change of Africa’s structure. This is due to the Berlin Conference or “Scramble for Africa,” which was an artificial drawing of the political boundaries of Africa amongst the European Boers. It was easy for them to enter Africa because there was a lack of unity between the African people. The British built plantations and took important minerals. The British colonial rule broke the traditional culture of the Africans and forced British cultures upon them. It separated their families because men had to work on the farms. In document 8, the poem states that the Europeans were raping women and turning the Africans into slaves. British colonialism harmed Africa for example, education was only obtainable to the privileged, Hospitals were not available...