The Origins, Consequences, and Importance of the European Imperialism during the 19th Century - Essay Example

The origins, consequences, and importance of the European imperialism during the 19th century Imperialism can be described as building up of the empire. When a state becomes stronger in comparison to the obstacles in the way of its expansion, expansion takes place. A state can experience a variety of obstacles ranging from small states to people. Besides, there can also be physical, technological, or geographic barriers. In ancient times, the fundamental core of an empire used to be a tribe or a city. European civilization saw a reign of unprecedented expansion all over the world during the 19th century’s last third. Industrialization and nation-state’s organizational efficiency made European nation-states quite powerful. The expansion of Europe in the world started around the 15th century and accelerated during the 19th century. Europeans first colonized the seaports of Africa and Asia, and Latin America. European rule thoroughly subjugated the Native Americans. By the start of the 19th century, most of the Latin American descendants of the conquerors from Spain had acquired freedom from Spain, but many indigenous people still remained to be governed by Spain. Most of the European colonization was delayed because of the African disease, geography, and climate until the 19th century, though the Dutch settlers’ descendants called Boers or Afrikaans had arrived in South Africa in the 16th century (“The Cape”). Ever since 16th century, slavery had a heavy toll on the development of Africa. Great conflict started as many working age young people were taken away. The large population of Asia made its civilization too powerful to be directly ruled by Europeans. While the Europeans became successful in gaining control of the trade and the seaports, places like Indonesia and India were indirectly ruled by the Europeans by dominating the local aristocracy. In the start of the 19th century, England had become the leading colonial power of Europe and had expanded its empire overseas. France was second as it had its holdings in North Africa and Southeast Asia that were established in the 19th century (Lockard 539). Being the earliest colonial powers, Spain, Holland, and Portugal retained certain colonies in the 19th century. Italy and Germany participated in the colonial race late because of their unification during the 1860’s (Bosworth). The US had spent almost a century moving from the continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean when it became a colonial power. Many American colonies established in the Philippines and the Caribbean when Spain was defeated in the Spanish-American War (Luck 755). Around 1890’s, the Hawaiian Islands were conquered. The first nation in Asia that became a colonial power was Japan. The Japanese restrained themselves from trading with Europeans in general except establishing a controlled and limited trade with Holland. In the year 1845, an American naval squadron compelled the Japanese to trade (Mooney 338) as a result of which, a political revolution happened in Japan. Adoption of the European organization and technology led to a new and modernized leadership. In the 1840’s, the British made China conduct Opium trade (Scott 22). Upset by the social upheaval brought about by the Tai Ping rebellion, China could not deter its trade being dominated by foreign countries like Britain. At the end of the 19th century, many countries including Japan, the US, Germany, Russia, and England forced China to enter into trade with them. Japan was in Korea, Britain was in Hong Kong, Germany entered the Shantung peninsula whereas Russia was in Port Arthur and Manchuria. The British, Italians, French, and Germans competed with each other in their claim to Africa in the last few decades of the 19th century. Emigration of the Europeans to different areas of the world in large numbers near the second half of the 19th century was yet another aspect of the expansion of Europe. At that time, the population of the Europeans was increasing at a faster pace compared to the non-Europeans. Improved overseas transportation along with the growing pressure of population were some of the major factors that paved way for the greatest migration throughout the history till then. The power of the Europeans can be estimated from the ease with which they were able to rule over the non-Europeans. The Europeans derived this power primarily from the nation-state organizations and industrializations. The Europeans considered themselves superiors to the non-Europeans. Many racist ideas were cultivated by the Europeans. One variation of it was the idea of (Kipling) known as The White Man’s Burden. In light of this idea, the white man assumed the responsibility of bringing their superior civilization’s blessings upon the non-European world’s savages. Another variation of this was the Social Darwinism according to which Europeans were deemed to be fitter compared to other civilizations in the fight for survival (Hawkins). It was primarily the racist attitudes that separated the northern Europeans from the Nordics and Teutons, southern Europeans, Anglo-Saxons, and Aryans. In general, the consequences of European imperialism have been more negative than positive. One positive consequence of European imperialism during the 19th century can be witnessed in terms of the services provided by the dominating nations to the smaller colonies. Dominating European countries built the submissive nations canals, railways, and roads. They introduced them to industrialization, newspapers, telegraph, improved their economy, and provided them with schools and hospitals. Modern culture entered these countries after their domination by the progressive European countries. The European countries cultivated new crops, and introduced new farming methods to the submissive nations, thus increasing both the quality and quantity of food in them. These nations had a better standard of living in general after imperialism than before it. One negative consequence of European imperialism during the 19th century was the fact that the dominating countries put the people of the submissive nations to work as cheap labor. The mother country subjugated their rights and exploited them. Using the power they had over the Africans, the white people not only took land from the Africans but also forced them to convert into Christians. The whites assassinated the innocent people. Many Africans were made slaves and were relocated. Had it not been for the European imperialism during the 19th century, many countries would never have appeared on the map of the world. Some of these countries include Pakistan and Bangladesh that came into being as a result of the British intrusion into India. The empires of Europe were at their greatest during the 19th century. This could partly be attributed to the expansionist policies made during the earlier centuries, yet the efforts of the European nations to expand over the globe were maximal during the 19th century. Imperialism cannot be thought of as a good cause and effect. Imperialism apparently seems to bring about positive effects in the start, but many negative effects are realized with the passage of time. In spite of the fact that roots of the modern culture were planted in the submissive countries by the dominating mother countries, rights of the Asians and the Africans were heavily exploited. Imperialism deterred people from becoming a free nation. The mother countries ruled over other countries to gain national glory, raw materials, balance of power, markets for goods, and to some extent, their governance was also motivated by an implication upon them to help other communities as typically understood by them as White Man’s Burden. Productivity of this newer modern imperialism was marred by the civil wars happening between the ethnic groups and smaller nations dominated by the mother countries. The consequences and importance of the European imperialism in the modern world cannot be overemphasized. Works Cited: Bosworth, R. J. B. Italy and the Wider World: 1860-1960. Routledge, 2013. Print. Hawkins, Mike. Social Darwinism in European and American Thought, 1860-1945: Nature as Model and Nature as Threat. Cambridge University Press, 1997. Print. Kipling, Rudyard. The White Mans Burden: A Poem. Doubleday and McClure Company, 1899. Print. Lockard, Craig. Societies, Networks, and Transitions, Volume 2: Since 1450. Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Luck, Steve. The American Desk Encyclopedia. Oxford University Press, 1998. Print. Mooney, James L. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Government Printing Office, 1976. Print. Scott, David. China and the International System, 1840-1949: Power, Presence, and Perceptions in a Century of Humiliation. SUNY Press, 2008. “The Cape – The Boers.” N.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. . Read More