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Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism would support Imperialism. Charles Darwin wrote a book called "On the Origin of Species." He put forth the theory of Natural Election. Social Darwinism created the expansion of imperialism by saying more people were more advanced than others. As Europeans and as a white race they were more dominant and it was only fair to take takeover inferior people to improve their nature and mankind. It was natures law to destruction the weaker races. -
Suez Canal
The Suez canal was a for European Countries especially Britain. The canal gave Britain an important trade from from the home land to its resource rich colony of British Raj (India). Under the control of the British Empire, wealth and a forward base of power military power could be held. -
Economics
European nations became very industrialized and they needed to expand their global markets. Having colonies under direct control of businessmen and bankers would allow greater profits and cheap labour. On the other hand colonies were too poor to spend on European goods. -
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The Age of Imperialism
After the age colonialism came the age of Imperialism. The major powers of Europe wanted to strengthen and expand their economics, military, humanitarian efforts and religion. The dawn of Imperialism created a new theory called Social Darwinism and accelerate their technology. -
Military and Politics
In times of war Navies need harbours to take on coal and supplies. Leaders of the military concluded that naval supremacy was needed in order to become a great power. Islands and horbours were sexied and built all over the world by European nations. Governments considered that colonies were vital and needed to ensure strong military power, national security and nationalism. -
Before the Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa
Africa had many native "nation-states" during before the Scramble for Africa. It all changed after the Berlin Conference was finalized. Why did these native populations of Africa get annexed when they could've made their own nation similar to Ethiopia or Liberia? Because of Social Darwinism. -
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Scramble for Africa
Powerful European nations scrambled to colonize the rest of Africa before other powerful European nations could take the land and resources or in most cases desert. The scramble for Africa would eventually lead up to the Berlin Conference. -
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Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was planed and organized by German Chancellor Otto con Bismark and French Premier Jules Ferry to outline the rules for the colonization of Africa. It states that European powers will work together and recognize the effective occupation of one another's land. The nations of Europe will divide the continent of Africa except for Liberia and Ethiopia which were fully independent counties. -
The new age of Industrialism and the starting out of the Women's Suffrage movement
With Imperialism expanding the production of nation's goods, trade was following nicely and all men had the right to vote in elections. Woman stated to work in the factories with the men. With the surge of industrialism in Europe women claimed it was their right to vote also. People though women did not have the mental capacity to be involved in politics. The woman did not know and disagrees were made on how to achieve the right to vote. -
Religion and Humanitarianism
Westerners in Europe thought that is was their obligation to show non-white and the indigenous people in their colonies the blessings of their technology and their civilization. A poem called "white man's burden" encouraged people so support government in Imperialism and bring medicine and religion to the people of Africa and Asia. -
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Boer War
Cecil Rhodes decided to connect Cape Town and Cairo by annexing the Boer (farmer) controlled republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal. The British won to war with the two republics but with great difficulty defeated them in 902. The two republics got combined with the Union of South Africa where white people ran the government. The Boers become outnumber compared to the whites. This laid out the starting point for racial segregation that would last to the late 19th century in the 90's. -
The Consequences of Imperialism
The European forced the people of the colonies to westernize and adapt to European Culture and Traditions.
Imperialism would abuse and exploited the colonial people but also improve their way of life. The introduction of medicine and vaccines helped saves lives increase life expectancy and more sanitary hygiene. Imperialism would also cause political turmoil and political problems. Ethic and local conflicts happened for years and can be traced and blamed on for imperialism. -
Women's Suffrage - Great Britian
In Great Britain the Woman's Social and Political Union made aggressive and militant actions to try and give woman the right to vote. Violence broke out when they stated become radical by breaking window and telegraph wires. It was't until World War One ended the British Parliament allowed the right for women as long as they were over the age of 30. In 1929 the voting age was lower to 21 making it equal for both sexes at the same voting age. -
Woman's Suffrage - France
The women's suffrage moment in France was much more successful. Unlike Britain's movement they went for a much more peaceful approach using legal protest. It was't successful and women in France never got the right to vote until after World War Two. -
After the Berlin Conference and Scramble for Africa
Africa has gotten divided up by the Empires of Europe. The only two nations that have been spared were Ethiopia and Liberia. Imperialism would soon change the world and fuel the lead up to World War One. -
Start of World War One
Imperialism caused and created tension between the European powers. Conflicts and disputes between France and Great Britain , France and Germany, France/Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire made conditions to hostility that led up towards World War One.
