ImperialismHonors World Studies 2011 - 2012

English Colonies before the Industrial Revolution

• England had many colonies around the world, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

• Canada eventually became a dominion, a land that is self-governed in domestic affairs but still part of the British Empire

• Australia is used as a penal colony, but both ex-convicts and free settlers developed a sheep herding economy. • Britain pushed off the Maoris and

Aborigines, the Native habitants of Australia and New Zealand • Both colonies became democratic

dominions of the British Empire.

Imperialists Divide Africa

• Europeans had very little control in Africa prior to the mid-1800se because travel was so difficult and because Africans controlled most of the trade.

Motivations for Colonization of Africa

• Greed, Nationalism, racism, and missionary work motivated European colonization • Many Europeans believed in Social

Darwinism • Superior weapons, the steam engine,

medicines, and African rivalries helped Europeans dominate Africa. • In 1884-1885, 14 European nations

met at the Berlin Conference to divide Africa.

Why did Europeans want Africa?

• Europeans took advantage of Africa’s vast natural resources especially diamonds in South Africa.

• South Africa was initially inhabited by Africans known as the Zulu. They are eventually absorbed by the British.

• Europeans used four methods to control their colonies

• 1. Colony- land governed by a foreign power.

• 2. Protectorate- land with its own government but still controlled by an outside power.

• 3. Sphere of Influence- land with an outside power having control of the economy

• 4. Economic Imperialism- land controlled by external private companies rather than a country

• Some countries such as Britain and the US used indirect control- local leaders control the colony and learn how to be future leaders

• Most countries used direct control where they personally ruled the colony.

Effects

• Many Africans resisted colonial rule, despite a lack of weapons and organization.

• Ethiopia is the only nation to remain free of European dominance

• Colonialism had both positive (hospitals, schools, less fighting) and negative (lost land, independence, and new diseases) effects