Causes of Imperialism

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The Scramble for Africa Roots and Causes of Imperialism

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Causes of Imperialism Economics- Nationalism Social Darwinism Religion In 3-5 minutes. Brainstorm with a partner why each of these would lead European countries to colonize Africa. Then trade papers with the person behind you. I will call on random people to read the examples they give.

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Africa in 1878 Describe in less than 10 words the presence of Europeans in Africa in 1878.

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Africa by 1914 What were the ONLY independent countries in Africa by 1914?

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On your sheet of paper, with 2-3 minutes, brain storm, then write down how you think European countries took over such a vast area as Africa in so short a period of time…

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Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun, and they have not. -Hillaire Belloc The Maxim Machine gun, invented by Hiram Maxim was the main tool which Europeans used to subdue peoples who resisted Imperialism.

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The Economics of Imperialism. Modernization required raw materials. This was an age of Social Darwinism and intense Nationalism. European states viewed the world as a form of evolutionary struggle where only the strong survived. ***With a partner, what kind of materials do you think a country would need to “survive” in an intensely competitive and often violent world? Africa was a source of profit for the export of manufactured goods. European governments, to satisfy their own populations used exploitative measures to force African peoples to buy goods.

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Write down the definition of nationalism on a piece of paper. Remember the two parts. Explain how the second part can lead to justifying colonization or conquering other people.

Slide9: 

On a piece of paper, answer the following questions: When was Evolution discovered? Where was Evolution discovered? What is evolution?

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Social Darwinism: A 19th century pseudo-science which, until the end of the Nazi regime in 1945, had a great deal of currency in European circles. It taught that some races were inherently superior and that nations/races were, like the broader biological world, engaged in a “Darwinian” struggle. In this worldview the strong survived and ruled the weak. One Social Darwinist summed it up as such:

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“Within the human species, nations are locked in a struggle for survival. Everywhere, civilized nations are supplanting barbarous nations. Advanced civilization, obviously, has inherited valuable traits from its ancestors. Underdeveloped cultures, except in hostile climates, will soon die off. Therefore, natural order obligates powerful, civilized nations to appropriate the limited resources of the weak.”

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On your sheet of paper, write down what you think the most dominant religion in Africa was. Discuss with a partner for 60 seconds. I will call on someone to respond.

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The combination of religion and social Darwinism…. “The two great ideas of mankind are Christianity and civil liberty. The Anglo-Saxon civilization is the great representative of these two great ideas. Add to this the fact of his rapidly increasing strength in modern times, and we have a demonstration of his destiny. The time is coming when the pressure of population will . . . force the final competition of races. The United States will assert itself, having developed aggressive traits necessary to impress its institutions upon mankind. Can anyone doubt that the result of this competition will be the survival of the fittest?” On your paper, write which elements of the causes of Imperialism are contained in this passage written by Josiah Strong—an American clergyman. Make sure to write down which parts of this passage contain those elements.

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Review: The Four Causes of Imperialism… Economics: Need for raw materials and markets to sell manufactured goods. Nationalism: Hyper intense rivalry between European states. Social Darwinism: A belief in the superiority of individual European nations over other European nations, and over African peoples combined with a view of an “only the strong survive” mentality of world nations. Religion: A belief in the need to evangelize non-Christian African peoples. Know the following terms for the future: Maxim Machine Gun Genocide