European Imperialism Research Paper

Improved Essays
As late as 1870, only 10% of Africa was under European control, but this changed when King Leopold came in and the “Scramble for Africa” started. The European nations realized that Africa was filled with incredible natural resources and this created competition between the European powers. The European nations divided up Africa by claim at the Berlin Conference. The nations then went on to imperialize their parts of Africa and it would not have been possible for them without the inventions that proved to be very useful. The inventions such as the first machine gun and the treatment for malaria are what gave the Europeans an advantage. Motivated by many different forces, the Europeans imperialized Africa. The powerful European nations conquered …show more content…
European nations wanted their nation to be the strongest. For example, John Ruskin, a well regarded English intellectual, spoke about what the people of England needed to do for their country. He explained “... that their first aim is to be to advance the power of England by land and by sea” (Ruskin). He shows here that they wanted to advance England’s power; therefore, making England a more powerful country. This was the same for all the countries, they all were striving to be the largest and most powerful. This is an example of nationalism because it reveals how Ruskin said that the first thing the people should do is advance England’s power, and that shows how power was something the countries were all fighting for. In the end, Ruskin’s speech supports the idea that Nationalism was a driving force behind European Imperialism in …show more content…
The overall motivation of morality, nationalism, and industrialization that the Europeans had is what pushed them to industrialize Africa. This also would not have been possible without the technological inventions that gave Europeans an advantage. The driving forces of wanting to help the African people, wanting to grow their country’s power and size, and the vast amount of resources useful for the industries, are the reasons behind European Imperialism in Africa. Overall, the Europeans used these forces to conquer parts of Africa, increase their power and become stronger

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    As political and industrial revolution scoured across Europe in the 19th century, governments and businesses began to take a particular interest in a continent of Africa. Due to the challenges it presented in previous centuries, it was not susceptible to imperial conquest similar to the Western Hemisphere in the 16th century. With the outset of the Industrial Revolution, along with its subsequent aspiration for raw materials and potential markets, a new set of motivations helped shape the dispute whether or not to make a presence in Africa. From economic gain, to building a sense of national honor and pride, European powers consumed the continent below them with a mentality that only the “survival of the fittest” being able to prevail.…

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the 1880’s harsh European imperialism took place in Africa. Africa was divided up for other European nations and in the end only two African countries remained free. European countries fought for rule in Africa to the brink of war. But, what was the driving force behind this European imperialism? Based on evidence provided by Docs A-F, Technology, political and economic causes were all factors in the Europeans imperializing.…

    • 415 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The word “imperialism” is derived from the Latin noun “imperium”, which means the power to command. Whether or not one has the “power to command” is strictly subjective, however many European countries in the 1800’s felt they were worthy of a world wide empire. This belief led to imperialism, in which Europe competed for land in Africa and Asia. While there were many factors in this drive for expansion, the three that heavily influenced this age were as follows: nationalism and the feeling of superiority in various European countries, the technology created by the Industrial Revolution, and the need for more natural resources and markets.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Imperialism DBQ Essay In the 19th and 20th centuries Europe (the stronger nation) dominated Africa (the weaker nation) economically,politically,culturally, and militarily. It all started in 1880 when European started slowly to control countries in Africa then it began to go faster, starting the scramble for Africa. The European brought imperialism in the 19-20th centuries to Africa to gain power,resources,and other things that could profit them.…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    There was a lot of need for power and it was easy to take power of a country that was considered ¨lower¨ on the class scale. Europeans had a lot of reasons for taking a hold of Africa, but they justified it by saying the land had not been claimed yet, this might have done some good for Europe but looking at it from Africa's point of view, it was a bunch of white men enslaving them, torturing them and taking their land, the Europeans claimed it wasn't the Africans land simply because of the color of their skin and how much they were…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    By taking control over Africans, European imperialism left the nation unprepared for their own independence, changing all aspects of Africans lives negatively. European imperialism took control over Africans lives politically. By controlling their entire government. Many countries were trying to gain power with the politics in Africa. Some of the countries…

    • 875 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imperialism Dbq Essay

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Imperialism is the extension of a nation’s power over other lands through colonization and imposition of European customs and commerce. Today, many are aware only of the period of “new imperialism,” which took place during the late nineteenth century. Nonetheless, at this time, imperialism was neither a new or unfamiliar concept. In fact, by the sixteenth century, Europeans had set up colonies and trading posts in areas like North America, South America, and Africa. New imperialism was much different than that of the sixteenth century though.…

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    African Americans Dbq

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The reason for them to do that was materials, wealth and power. One of the reasons for the Europeans for conquering Africa was its vast majority of materials it produced such as cotton, rubber, ivory, copper, and lead. These we was important metals and raw…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    England is often depicted as an octopus; colonizing other nations, but it is not the only one. In the late 1800s, many European countries have taken an interest in the country of Africa. Many historians have researched the causes for this sudden invasion into the large continent. The main motivations they believe to have enabled the colonization were nationalism, economy, and “The White Man’s Burden”. The industrial revolution, that occurred during this, boosted the economy significantly and the Europeans got even greedier, resulting in the people of Europe to settle in Africa.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The last reason for the European imperialism in Africa is the strong influence of Anglo-Saxonism. Africa was deprived of its rights, freedoms, resources, and culture all due to white…

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    African Slave Trade Dbq

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages

    African slave trade and European contact with sub-Saharan Africa during the Age of Discovery is a very debatable topic in world history. However, this was not mutually beneficial in terms of economic exchanges and political relationships. Europeans almost always took advantage of those in sub-Saharan Africa as well as treating them horribly in many different scenarios.…

    • 890 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    All the Europeans did was take all of their resources and have them do all the labour behind it and ship it to there home town. The examples to prove the driving force of the European imperialism in Africa is in the White Man’s Burden, imports and exports of Great Britain and South Saharan Africa, and the technology and imperialism comparison. The first example of the European Imperialism is the White Man’s Burden document. This document shows that the whites thought they had something above the Africans that's why they conquered them and made them work for them and or they would sell them. The Europeans did this because they thought they were someone better than the Africans when in reality they were the same in a way.…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Nationalism is an exaggerated pride in a country that is based on unity, often times related to religion or race. Russian National Anthem / Scottish Poem shows that Vasily and James thought that no one can beat them and that only God’s power can save their country and also that their country will never be slaves or defeated by an enemy, because the text state, “God save the noble Tsar! , long may he live, in power, In happiness,..... Dread of his enemies,”(God Save The Tsar!)…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Industrial Revolution started in 1790 and ended in 1870. The Age of Imperialism was started in 1870 and ended in 1914. The Industrial Revolution started the Age of Imperialism because of economics, nationalism, and because of a balance of power. The more land the countries took in the Age of Imperialism, the better the economy, the more the people believe in their country, and the more power the countries will have. Without the Industrial Revolution, countries would never have been able to take over most of Africa, or England would have never been able to turn India into a place that gave free labor.…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Brilliant Essays

    Negative Effects Of Imperialism In Africa

    • 1743 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 7 Works Cited

    Politically, European imperialism created tremendous conflict among African people, expanded Europe’s colonial boundaries by carving up Africa, and attempted to restructure society, only to leave Africa’s political structure weak and corrupt. Economically, European imperialism destructed Africa’s self sufficiency and increased dependance on colonial powers; strengthened Europe’s own economy, therefore further weakening Africa’s economy; and exploited many raw materials within Africa. Culturally, European imperialism uprooted Africa’s spiritual and traditional values, exploited the people of Africa, and prompted colonial racism. Works Cited Barnes, Andrew. “Economic Parasitism: European Rule In West Africa, 1880-1960.”…

    • 1743 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 7 Works Cited
    Brilliant Essays