Question

How did communication technology like the telegraph affect the introduction of new imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

It confused military maneuvers and coordination.
It was unreliable and had little impact on imperial expansion.
It hindered imperialism by enhancing the spread of local cultures.
It made distant communication instant, making governing colonies easier.

Answer 1

It made distant communication instant, making governing colonies easier.

Briefly: the telegraph dramatically sped up transmission of orders, intelligence, and commercial information across empires, improving military coordination, administrative control, and economic integration. This rapid communication helped metropolitan governments direct colonial officials, coordinate fleets and troop movements, and integrate colonial markets into global networks—facilitating, rather than impeding, New Imperialism.