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US imperialism
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European imperialism began as countries in Europe were competing to become the largest and most powerful. In the heat of competition European powers were forcefully traveling all around the world and conquering lands in order to create more revenue. This forceful expansion created problems and brought danger to the European countries main-lands. J.A. Hobson argues that imperialism only benefits a small group of elites while negatively affecting the vast majority of the population. Thus imperialism could be seen as a dangerous way for a country to expand its borders and create more revenue. Hobson’s main argument in Imperialism is that imperialism is almost an oligarchic topic. He claims that it is a way for the elites of society to make money at the expense of their countries people and welfare. He says that these powerful men are taking their businesses into foreign lands and then calling upon their home country to defend these actions. Thus these men are creating revenue from their business, interrupting the peace of the country they are invading, and …show more content…
By investing capital into a foreign nation one is taking away from the economic prosperity of his own nation. Jobs that were once being done by common people were now being done outside of the country by slaves or with cheaper labor. Though in this system the wealthy businessmen that could invest in outside capital gained wealth at the expanse of the common person. Hobson then makes the point that the only way to combat the dangers of imperialism would be in a perfect democracy in which all people have equal representation. Since this type of government did not exist, these imperialistic societies ran the risk of political uprising from the common people. Hobson and many other scholars at the time saw imperialism as having a severe negative impact on the social and economic welfare of a
Various justifications were offered to explain the cause of imperialism, for example the British economist J. A. Hobson and V. I. Lenin’s. Lenin used some of Hobson’s analysis in his 1917 tract Imperialism, the Highest Stage of
J.A. Hobson, a wealthy liberal who sought to initiate economic and social reform, was strongly averse to the British imperial system because he viewed it as a corrupt scheme meant to deplete Britain’s national resources and secure more profits for the individual benefit of British elite classes. Hobson saw that imperialism facilitated conservative capitalism by “securing private material benefits [for entrepreneurs]...at the public cost,” consequently allowing business owners to advance to higher social positions (Hobson 2). By promoting entrepreneurs further up the social hierarchy ladder, imperialism widened the social division between elite business holders and proletariat workers As a liberal, Hobson was naturally opposed to such divisions between social classes: he protected the working class and sought to promote equality among the various classes. Since imperialism promotes divisions between social classes, Hobson was instinctively opposed to Britain’s imperial system.
Imperialism is the domination of a weaker country by a stronger country. For instance Britain dominated India and China in the mid 1880s to the beginning of the 20th century. Imperialism has had both a positive and negative effects on the countries involved. Britain was imperialistic for many reasons, it could dominate because it had the technology and power to do so. They also needed land to acquire raw materials for growing markets.
Imperialism took place in the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s and it defines one country’s superiority over another. Specifically, The United States practiced imperialism for the desire to strengthen military and create new markets for money. It led to many wars and disputes over countries, heavily in Latin America. Imperialism was not a proper and legitimate policy for the United States to follow.
When one thinks of imperialism they often refer to the concept with very strong feelings. The general population will either agree with it or disagree. There tends to be no middle ground. The best way to look at imperialism is with an impartial mind. If one looks at imperialism with an open mind then they are able to see both the strengths and the weaknesses that it harbors. Throughout history one is most likely able to name several circumstances where imperialism took place and also point out the obvious aftermath of. Imperialism tends to have a greater good behind it, but unfortunately may have been executed poorly.
Imperialism is the practice by which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. By the 1800’s, the Western powers had advantages in this process. They led the world in technological advances, giving them a dominance when conquering other countries. The European Imperialists made attempts to conquer China and Japan. In this process, they succeeded by influencing Japan greatly. However, they were not as successful with China.
In the 1600’s there was the foundations of representative government. In the 1600’s the colonists came up with something called a democracy. A democracy is a government in which people rule themselves. The colonists had voted for many certain laws. They ruled themselves by using the laws of society. The carter named “Magna Carta” was a character of liberties which was agreed by King John of England, it had made the king obey the same laws as the citizens. Protestantism is a branch within Christianity; this was mostly participated during the 16th century. These were people who had reformed certain practices in the Catholic churches. On November 11, 1620 the Mayflower Compact was signed. The Mayflower Compact is a legal contract which was agreed to have fair laws to protect the good.
Around the 1700s regions in Europe were using the method of imperialism to not only expand but to economically benefit as well. Thus, imperialism was not only a form of government but also a form of economy. Furthermore, it is when regions extend their power and wealth through their military force and diplomacy. Specifically speaking, the Spaniards and British were two different groups of Europeans who colonized different regions around the world. As a result of doing so, the Spaniards who conquered Latin America and the British who conquered Southeast Asia causes depopulation along with cultural changes within the land they colonized.
Late nineteenth-century imperialism to early and mid twentieth-century imperialism varied greatly from the previous form that was prominent in Europe. Imperialism is defined as “the extension of a nation’s power over other lands” (Spielvogel and McTighe 226). Prior to the 1880’s, European imperialism had mainly consisted of setting up trading posts or colonies and minor missionary activity, most notably in Africa and Asia. Past this point, however, Europe began a swift rush for more and more territory, and the reasons as to why varied from country to country. One such motive was economic, which was relatively common. This led to the taking of land and resources, especially in Africa, which was largely ravaged by the European conquerors, and
US Senator George F Hoar was one person who chose to see the negative side of imperialism. “Under the Declaration of Independence you cannot govern a foreign territory, a foreign people, other people than your own and govern them against their will, because you think it for their good, when they do not.” This quote showed how others same imperialism. They thought we were taking them over and we were violating the Declaration of Independance. They strongly disagreed with the idea of the White Man’s Burden. Saying it wasn’t their job to say what another person wants and does not want. This also showed how history is repeating itself. An Anti-Imperialist League Platform quoted Abe Lincoln saying that “no man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” People who did not support imperialism were basically saying we were hypocrites for violating our basic beliefs of freedom.
The sociology of imperialism seeks to define this phenomenon as an atavism in the social structure, in the specific person, in their psychological habits, which thus triggers an emotional reaction. According to Joseph A. Schumpeter - "The word imperialism has been abused as a slogan to the point where it threatens to lose all meaning. For whenever the word imperialism is used, there is always the implication - whether sincere or not - of an aggressiveness" (Conklin & Fletcher, 1999, p. 44). The history behind this word has lead us to view the corruption and destruction it has caused at the hands of people with perhaps to much power. This statement goes with debate because like it or not history in essence; has shown us that nations have pursued war for the sake of winning and expansion for the sake of expansion, we ...
This method of understanding imperialism that contrasts with the traditional ideas provides a much more complete understanding of not only European imperialists in the 19th and 20th centuries, but of the concept of imperialism as a
Imperialism, the forceful extension of a nation’s authority by establishing political and economic domination of other nations, implies the advancement of a certain state at the expense of its lesser territories. It is for this reason why imperialism essentially benefited the few expansionist states while exerting long-term damages on the majority colonized territories. Imperialism arose as a necessity for industrializing states to secure their own economic prosperity. Increasing policies in many states limited the markets, and consequently the demand, for an increasing supply of manufactured products from the growing industrial output.
The concept of imperialism is one that has pervaded nearly every major society or empire throughout human history. It seems to be a natural consequence of societies growing in size, power, and knowledge. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries vast changes occurred in Western Europe (and soon spread elsewhere) that spurred a new round of imperialism the likes of which had not been seen before. The changes were the industrial revolution that was taking place. Countries were rapidly advancing to industrial societies producing much greater quantities of goods at much lower costs. The goods produced ranged everywhere from cotton textiles to military machinery, all of which would play important roles in rounds of imperialistic expansion that would follow. The imperialistic displays by Western European nations also brought about several other industrial revolutions in other regions including the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and Japan. I will take a look at how the industrial revolution encouraged imperialistic expansion, as well as some of the results of that expansion in other regions.
Throughout history, imperialism has led countries to extend their rule over weaker countries and then colonized those countries to expand their own power. Imperialism allows the ruling countries to use the weaker countries for their resources. Colonizing other countries would then lead to growth and a better reputation for the dominating country. There are many examples of imperialism throughout European history. When many European countries “scrambled” for Africa, it seemed as though Africa had no say in anything. During the 19th century, Europe found a way to use Africa for their own growth and power. Using Africa for their resources, the Europeans colonized Africa without a second thought. European imperialism in Africa had a negative impact because of social disarray, cultural loss, and death it caused.