The industrializing America had needed new markets, raw materials, and overseas territories to compete with the burgeoning European colonial empires. The American Imperialism of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s was aggressive, an ordeal undertaken for the economic welfare of the nation.
Economic causes also led to imperialism. As a result of the Industrial Revolution, countries needed colonies for Raw materials to feed the ever- increasing number of factories, Markets for finished products, places to invest surplus capital, and places to send surplus population. And social causes also led to imperialism. Many people believed the word of Rudyard Kipling, who said it was the white mans burden to educate the people of the underdeveloped world, spread the customs of what they perceived was a superior western culture, and to convert people to Christianity, since it was believed that the souls of the non- believers would not be saved. The new era of imperialism brought about important and farreaching effects.
Following the Civil War and Reconstruction Eras, Americans began to set their eyes on other shores. With new technology and equipment such as the telegraph and the railroads, the United States had shrunk. No longer was the United States a vast expanse of uncharted territory, but instead, it was a conquered land with a growing population and growing cities. Imperialism was born out of this desire to look across oceans for more land and trade posts for America’s expanding population and economy. Following the Reconstruction Era, the United States debated imperialist policies based on economic, social, military, and political beliefs which ultimately propelled the country to achieving a dominating international reputation.
"India 1900-1947." History Learning Site. Last modified 2013. Accessed January 16, 2014. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/india_1900_to_1947.htm. WordPress.
Economically, this would mean a growth in industry, an increasing need for natural resources, and the requirement of new markets in which to sell manufactured goods. Nationally, this would create more competition for large empires, a rise in nationalism, and the origin of the belief that the people, ideals and goals not one nation were superior to another. Militarily, this would result in advances in military technology, and growing navies.Finally, socially, new religious goals would arise, as well as a "duty" to spread the blessings of Western civilization, which is an idea that seems to have been coerced by motives similar to those of Manifest Destiny. During the imperialism debate, both imperialists and anti-imperialists would have to keep in mind the importance of their decision and it's relevance to the both the growing power of the US and the nations relationship to other nations. The imperialists saw only the most positive possible outcome to expansion.
This paper will analyze the positives, negatives and the overall influence of the imperialistic empire. Influenced by the Industrial Revolution, imperialism enabled countries such as India access to advanced technology and innovation, which in turn made is possible for them to become major players in trade. In addition to increased trade, British influence also prevented the political and social system of their colonies from crumbling within. However, there were still negative aspects of the British rule upon the different peoples. Moreover, each different colony the British ruled longed for a sense of nationalism and hence the revolts and turmoil.
European nation-states had become very powerful because of industrialization. Imperialist projects will unite European industrial power with smaller nation-states. The main causes of imperialism in Europe were to search for new markets, raw material, cheap and profitable labor and land, and goods demanded by a mass consumption market (Imperialism). Europeans wanted to manufacture goods including oil, cotton, rubber, tin, copper, and gold and they hired Indian laborers for cheap to grow cotton and opium (Imperialism). They also wanted a mass consumption market of coffee, chocolate, tea, bananas, and oranges.
"The Meaning of Independence." the william and mary quarterly 65, no. 2 (2008): 347-349 . http://www.jstor.org/stable/25096788 (accessed March 11, 2014). Armitage, David .
This paper will discuss how prior to World War II colonial rule affected development in the region as well as economic and societal changes. The Far East, more specifically South East Asia, was seen in Western eyes as a vast opportunity to develop a region which up to this point hadn’t become industrialized. (Borthwick 2007, 80) South East Asia had been known to the western world for centuries due to land trading routes established previously throughout the region. (Borthwick 2007, 65) While there were many nations that were imperialistic, Great Britain and France were among the most vigorous in their pursuit of greater power. Imperialism in South East Asia took off with the ability to transport military might via sea from far distances.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2014. . http://www.lsrhs.net/departments/history/CrawfordS/MEHsite/Imperialism/imperialismpdfs09/ImperialismIndia.pdf Bibliography: Chandra, Bipan. India's struggle for independence, 1857-1947.