European Imperialism Dbq Analysis

From 1880 to 1914, there was an increasing trend of European nations dominating African colonies. Belgium, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Portugal were all overtaking and claiming lands in Africa during the late 1800’s and throughout the early 1900’s. The European acquisition of African colonies was influenced by strong feelings of nationalism and Social Darwinism. Althoughter, political and economic incentives and racial attitudes are what drove the European accessions of African colonies. Social Darwinism had a massive effect on the attitudes of Europeans during European imperialism in the late 1880’s. Charles Darwin’s theory applied ideas of “survival of the fittest” to establish a theory that non-europeans were inferior to europeans …show more content…
Louis Bernard, a French colonial officer wrote in a memoir “I found the image of victorious and conquering France, which allowed me to forget the humiliated France on the other side of the water”(Document 12). Clearly, Bernard expresses strong feelings of nationalism, a strong allegiance to your his county. Evidently, the French colonial officer was seeking repossession of national glory and he achieved it through French accession of African colonies. Similarly, Eugène-Melchoir de Vogüé, a French diplomat stated “What used to be a European balance of power is now a world balance of power...and any country that does not wish to become less important must obtain as much new territory relatively as our rivals are doing”(Document 10). Undoubtedly, Eugène-Melchoir de Vogüé is explaining that to maintain relevance and glory, a country must secure land in Africa. Certainly acquisition of Africa represents global political power. Eugène-Melchoir de Vogüé comments “Diplomacy used to be concerned with the Mediterranean and the Bosporus; now it has to do with China, the Niger, and the Congo . . . The great states of Europe are dividing up the other continents of Africa and Asia in the same manner they would divide such countries as Italy or Poland”(Document 10). British prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli says in a speech to the …show more content…
The Resolution of the German Social Democratic Party Congress states that the accession of Africa will bring “...[the] bourgeoisie...new opportunities to invest its ever-increasing capital which is no longer content with exploiting the home market...”(Document 9). Namely, when countries imperialize other countries, a new market of trade opens up for the both countries which is very beneficial to the economy. Prince Leopold, the heir to the throne of Belgium and future king stated “...Since history teaches that colonies are useful, that they play a great part