many factors drove imperial expansion. The newly

Question

discovered continents of the
world offered huge wealth, for example, but once this was realized, traders preferred to do business under their own administration. When Britain seized South Africa, it was because they wanted to deal with the British, rather than native Africans or the Dutch Afrikaner settlers, called Boers. These new worlds provided exotic luxuries, such as spice from the Indies, tobacco and silks, and, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution (see pp.292- 95), a steady supply of raw materials such as cotton. It also became apparent that they were an abundant source of cheap labor.
Another factor in imperial growth was the political rivalries of the major European powers. French imperial ambitions were designed to restore France's reputation after the crushing defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (see pp.306-07). For Germany, the colonies
were a symbol of prestige. In some cases, colonization was simply a matter of claiming a nation before another power could get there. This was particularly so in the "Scramble for Africa" (see pp.360-61).
There were also strong ideological motives. Many felt it their duty to spread Christianity, believing it was, in the poet Rudyard Kipling's words, the "white man's burden" to "civilize" the native population.
European success Europeans had the men, money, ships, and guns to succeed in their ambitions, and military superiority helped invading nations to subdue local resistance. The colonial nations found Australasia and North America sparsely inhabited. But elsewhere, such as India,
discovered populous nations with sophisticated systems of government already in place. This necessitated a different approach to colonization. Communities of merchants were established, with garrisons to protect them, and only rarely did the colonists take formal
control. In India, British control of the country (see pp.352- 53) by the British East India Company only occurred after a long period of trading.
C As you read, record your notes in the space below. Your notes should focus on key ideas and defining terms you do not know. they written like an 8th grader

Answer 1

Notes on Imperial Expansion

• Wealth and Trade: The discovery of new continents brought enormous wealth. Traders wanted to do business under their own control instead of dealing with local people or other colonizers.

• South Africa Example: Britain took over South Africa to manage trade themselves rather than relying on native Africans or Dutch settlers (Boers).

• Exotic Products: New lands offered valuable products like spices, tobacco, and silks. The Industrial Revolution increased the demand for raw materials, like cotton, which these regions could supply.

• Cheap Labor: Colonies provided a source of inexpensive labor, which was attractive to European powers.

• Political Rivalries: Major European countries wanted to expand their empires to outdo each other. For example:

  • France: Wanted to restore its prestige after losing the Franco-Prussian War.
  • Germany: Saw colonies as a sign of national pride.
  • "Scramble for Africa": A race among European powers to claim African territories before others could.

• Ideological Motives: Some Europeans believed it was their duty to spread Christianity and "civilize" native populations, often referred to as the "white man's burden" (quote by Rudyard Kipling).

• Military Superiority: European nations had strong armies, money, ships, and weapons, which made it easier for them to conquer other nations.

• Varied Approaches: The way Europeans colonized different places changed based on the local situation:

  • In Australasia and North America, there were fewer people, making it easier to take control.
  • In India, there were already large populations and advanced governments. The British initially focused on trade through the British East India Company before gaining control.

Key Terms

• Colonization: The act of taking control of a foreign territory.
• Merchants: People involved in trade.
• Garrison: A military post or troop stationed in a specific area for defense.
• British East India Company: A trading company that played a key role in the expansion of British influence in India.

Summary

The European imperial expansion was driven by the search for wealth and resources, political competition among nations, and a belief in spreading European culture and Christianity. Different regions required different strategies for colonization, with military strength helping to subdue resistance.