The New Industrial World

UNIT 4 - IMPERIALISM

The Nation-State•The trend in Europe had been toward the dismantling of the old Empires and the formation of Nation-States•This process was not completed by the formation of Italy and Germany, these were only examples•Nationalist movements continued in most of the old empires

Nation-State•With the formation of the nation-state came a paradigm shift•The idea of the nation-state was based the notion that the ability to compete for power was necessary to survival•This was the beginnings of the philosophy of Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism•Social Darwinism played a major role in the colonialist policies of Europe in the late 19th century. •Social Darwinism agreed with a massive race to colonize Africa and Asia. •Colonization wasn’t new, of course, European countries had been colonizing parts of the globe since the 1500’s when the Spanish conquered most of Central and South America.

Nation-State•As time went by it became more and more apparent that the strength of a nation’s economy was related to the strength of the military•This pressed the nations of the world to work to protest their economic interests

The Changing Role of Empires•When the colonial age began the need for colonies was mainly to collect raw materials such as fish and lumber•This would then be shipped back to mother countries to fuel industry•Colonies were expensive to run and to protect•This was proved by the American Revolution and War of 1812

The Changing Role of Empires•As Britain's place in the world changed so to did the use of its empire• In the early 1800s Britain was the most powerful nation in the world•Britain produced over one third of all of the industrial products in the world•With this kind of economic power Britain had little use for its colonies

Continued•In fact during this period many of the colonies were being encouraged to combine and become self-governed•This attitude changed by the late 1800s as German and American manufacturing increased Britain’s share of the world market dropped•By 1900 British factories were only producing a fifth of the world share of goods

Continued…•Not only was there more competition but foreign nations were now taxing British goods in an effort to stimulate their own industry•Britain was forced to find new markets that would be open to British goods•The answer was the former colonies

Continued….•British colonies served several purposes•Markets for goods•Source of raw materials•Protected trade routes•Once again colonies were seen as necessary for survival and a measure of a country’s prestige

Video• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8OEuj6-pVg&feature=related

Assignment• Read pg. 553- 558• Do focus questions on pg. 553• Answer section Review Questions 1-5 on pg. 558• These are due next class