zuai-logo

New Imperialism: Motivations and Methods

Benjamin Wright

Benjamin Wright

4 min read

Listen to this study note

AP European History: Imperialism - The Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's get you totally prepped for the exam. We're going to break down imperialism, focusing on what you really need to know, and make sure you're feeling confident. Let's dive in!

Old vs. New Imperialism: What's the Difference? 🤔

Key Concept

Understanding the shift from old to new imperialism is HUGE for the exam. It shows up in both MCQs and FRQs.

Old Imperialism (16th - Early 19th Century)

  • Motivations: "God, Glory, and Gold" - primarily economic gain, establishing colonies, and resource extraction.
  • Methods: Military force, trading posts, forts, and exploitation of indigenous populations.
  • Focus: Primarily on establishing physical colonies for trade and resource access.

New Imperialism (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)

  • Motivations: Economic, political, and cultural domination of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
  • Methods: Military bases, economic control, market expansion, and political influence.
  • Focus: Expanding influence rather than just physical control, driven by national rivalries and strategic advantage.
  • Justification: Social Darwinism and the concept of cultural and racial superiority.
Memory Aid

Think of OLD imperialism as the Original, Limited, Direct conquest for resources. NEW imperialism is Nationalistic, Expansive, Widespread influence.


markdown-image


**Caption:** A visual comparison of the scope and reach of Old vs. New Imperialism. Note the shift from coastal trading posts to widespread territorial control.

Motivations for New Imperialism: Why the Rush? 🌍

Economic Motivations 💰

  • Raw Materials: Demand for cheap resources, crops, and labor to fuel mass production.
  • New Markets: Creation of guaranteed markets for manufactured goods, leading to huge profits.
  • Low Production Costs: Exploitation of colonized regions for cheap labor and resources.

Religious Motivations ⛪

  • Protestant Missions: Modeled after Catholic missions, Protestant missionaries sought to convert indigenous populations.
  • Westernization: Missionaries often worked with colonial powers to spread Western cultural values.

Political and Strategic Motivations 🗳️

  • Power Display: Colonies were seen as a symbol of national power and prestige.
  • Military Bases: Colonies served as strategic military locations.
  • Economic Control: Use of black markets and railroads to control local economies.
  • Technological Advantage: Use of modern weaponry like the minié ball bullet, machine guns, and breech-loading rifles.
Memory Aid

Remember E.R.P. for the motivations: Economic, Religious, and Political.

Methods of New Imperialism: How Did They Do It? 🛠️

Free Trade Agreements

  • Market Infiltration: Introduction of cheap goods to create demand and establish economic influence.
  • Examples: Vaccines, weapons, textiles, and other manufactured products.
  • Spheres of Influence: Direct or indirect control over a nation’s politics, economy, religion, and society.

Social Darwinism and Justification

  • **"White Man's Burden

Question 1 of 11

What was the primary focus of Old Imperialism? 🤔

Expanding political influence

Establishing physical colonies for trade and resources

Promoting cultural values

Military domination of Asia