Imperalism - Book Report/Review Example

Imperialism In the 19th century, many important debates about imperialism began. The borders of Europe were somewhat settled and new technologies and economic expansion dictated looking abroad for new lands. These moves were motivated both by a sense that the world beyond the borders of Europe contained untold wealth and also by a desire (somewhat disingenuous) to help civilize or guide backwards people towards a better life. Almost all European countries engaged in the kinds of debates which this extract contains samples of.

Imperialism is a product of what Ferry called the eternal law of competition. Nations are constantly looking over to foreign capitals to see what their neighbours are up to. If one country has especially large colonial gains this can easily disrupt the balance of power, something must be done to compete. Most of these speeches and articles mention the significant power than Britain was building up through imperialism. By the late 19th century, the British had colonies all over the world. For a country such as Germany, with a large population and beginning to feel its oats, this fact spurred them on to seek new colonies.

While some of the British colonies came from exploration, newer arrivals such as Germany and Belgium brought with them brutal repression. They were forced to carve new lands out of already crowded colonial possessions. There were some benefits to the imperialism of the late 19th century, but overall the process created a legacy of tears. In their competitive drive for new wealth and power, the men who wrote these speeches and articles signed the death warrants of millions.