Essay on New Imperialism
European imperialism accelerated between 1870 and 1920, because of economic, political, and social forces. Industrial revolution helped advance the European nations through technology. Economic forces such as survival of the fittest, political forces such as growing powers of governments, and racism were most responsible for new imperialism. Industrial revolution gave Europeans advantage over colonies with their weapons, ships, and army. Europeans could go to any country fear it with its guns and take over. One Example of it is given in document 8. Letter by Phan Thanh Gian, governor of Vietnamese state to his administratiors in 1867.”Now, the French are come, with their powerful weapons of war, to cause dissention among us…No one can resist them.” European military superiority among colonies played a huge role in new imperialism. It was a strong political type force. Another example of the political forces would be, survival of the fittest. In document 5, William L. Langer says, “But the economic side…must not be allowed to obscure the other factors. Psychologically speaking… evolutionary teaching was perhaps most crucial.” This is saying that, the economy should not be allowed to hide other factors. He claims that Survival of the fittest only brought out competition and struggle. Survival of the fittest was a huge economic force; it stands alone and is successful. Europeans always wanted more and more money. Bankers and industries were very interested in new imperialism. It gave them loads of money. Economical side worked together with political side giving everyone benefits. Usually politicians were colonizing countries for money, not just power. It shows that politicians were economists at the same time.Document 1 says