Imperialism in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Chapter 25 - The West and the World: 1815-1914

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, European powers began to expand their horizons and envision vast, powerful empires that would benefit their countries economically and politically. Due to the unifying of many countries that occurred previous to this era, especially in Germany, nationalistic and racist ideas glorifying the white man began to sprout up all across Europe. Going along with these social developments, new technologies such as steam engines and vaccines for malaria were being produced in masses, allowing exploration of many areas that were unaccessable up to this point, especially in Africa. Exploration of the Congo would now be possible through steamships, which would lead to Belgium beginning their horrible reign in that area of Africa. Commerce, Christianity, and Civilization would be the three main goals of European imperialism at this time, and all three would be brought to the various colonies, sometimes successful and sometimes not. This large spread of European ideals would change the world forever and still have lasting effects until this day.

In this blog, I hope to explain how the European age of imperialism changed the world incredibly at that time, and still has effects in today's world. Along with this I want to show in detail how the countries and continents that were colonized by Europeans were changed and affected, and if the European expansion into their territory was beneficial or not. Finally, I want to explain how the United States played into all of this, and if they too were imperialistic or not. 

EQ: "What were the main European motives for imperialism and were they effective in their endeavors?"

The main European motives for European imperialism in this time period were to improve commerce and economy, spread Christianity and its teachings to the "heathens" in Africa and other areas of the globe, and bring European style civilization and government to third world countries that they would colonize. In some cases, they were very successful in these motives, but in others not so much. Many of the colonies in Africa would bring in huge profits from natural raw resources such as diamonds, and Christianity would be spread to many of the countries there as well. However, in Asian countries Europeans faced resistance to Christianity and Civilization as the native peoples were extremely reluctant to give up their old ways of life, and even had anti-European uprisings in these areas, such as India and China. Despite these uprisings, the Europeans would overall be very successful in their endeavors in Africa, Asia, and the rest of the colonized world.