Unit 7CAPITALISM AND IMPERIALISM

Almudena Corrales Marbán

4th graders

(ESO)

Social Studies

Department

Almudena Corrales Marbán

VOCABULARY

https://quizlet.com/almusociales

imperialism (imperialismo)

consumer society (sociedad de consumo)

rivalry (rivalidad)

colonise (colonizar)

chancellor (canciller)

expansionism (expansionismo)

assembly line (trabajo en cadena)

racial segregation (segregación racial)

1. THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN WORLD 1870-1914

In the period between 1870 and 1914, the foundations of today’s world were stablished.

• Europe experienced a period of tense international relations due to rivalries between European countries, particulary Germany and France.

• Spain became a second-class power after it lost its remaining colonies in 1898.

• The industrialised countries of Europe started producing manufactured goods in enormous quantities. At the same time, they began colonising countries and regions which had plenty of raw materials.

• The rise of consumer society resulted in greater social inequalities. Upper and middle-class improved their standards of living while the working class suffered the effects of the economic crisis. DOESNT IT SOUND FAMILIAR?¿?¡¡¡

• Artists experimented with new styles like modernism and impressionism, influenced by the exotism of African and Asian regions.

The rise of consumer society resulted in greater social

inequalities

Have a look to these cartoons

MODERNISMIMPRESSIONISM

Alphons Mucha, Princess Hyacinth, Czech Republic, 1911

Antoni Gaudi, La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, 1882

Claude Monet, The Japanese Footbridge, 1899

The Swing (La Balançoire), 1876, oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris

2. THE CONSEQUENCES OF FINANCE CAPITALISM

The rise of finance capitalism between 1870 and 1914 had both positive and negative consequences.

1. Consumerism: a new culture of consumerism developed, as people demanded more manufacture goods. Business also started to use advertising to increase sales and profits.

2. Economic instability: in periods of economic crisis, there was less demand of goods. This reduced business profits, resulting in factory clousures, high unemployment and social conflict.

3. International trade: there were improvements to transport systems, including roads and railways. In addition, modern vehicles were beginning to be used, such as cars, lorries and steamships. Both these developments facilitated the expansion of international trade.

4. Trade imbalances: industrialed countries bought raw materials in less developed countries and colonies at low prices, and used them to make manufactured goods. Then they sold these goods in less developed countries and colonies at high prices.

5. Increased industrial productivity: factories began to use the assembly-line system of production (remember Modern Times film!). This improved productivity and provided more of the new manufactured goods which consumers demanded.

3. THE TURN-OF-THE CENTURY WORLD ECONOMY

By the turn-of- the century, three countries were the world’s biggest industrial producers.

GERMANY

Germany was Europe’s leading industrial producer. This was due to its powerful iron and steel industry, which made use of technological advances like the Bessemenr converter. The electrical and chemical industries also played an important role.

THE UNITED STATES

The United States industrialised rapidly in the second half of the 19th century. Increased immigrationg from Europe provided an expanded work-force for industry, and contributed to the country’s westward expansion towards Pacific, also thanks to railway.

JAPANJapan did not have many bussinessman or investors who could start new industries. As a result, the Japanese government built its own factories, established banks and introduced measures to increase the country’s exports. This is known as the Meiji Revolution (1898-1912).

To know more about the Meiji RevolutionWhen the Meiji emperor was restored as head of Japan in 1868, the nation was a militarily weak country, was primarily agricultural, and had little technological development. It was controlled by hundreds of semi-independent feudal lords. The Western powers — Europe and the United States — had forced Japan to sign treaties that limited its control over its own foreign trade and required that crimes concerning foreigners in Japan be tried not in Japanese but in Western courts. When the Meiji period ended, with the death of the emperor in 1912, Japan had

· a highly centralized, bureaucratic government;· a constitution establishing an elected parliament;· a well-developed transport and communication system;· a highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions;· an established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology; and· a powerful army and navy.

Japan had regained complete control of its foreign trade and legal system, and, by fighting and winning two wars (one of them against a major European power, Russia), it had established full independence and equality in international affairs. In a little more than a generation, Japan had exceeded its goals, and in the process had changed its whole society. Japan's success in modernization has created great interest in why and how it was able to adopt Western political, social, and economic institutions in so short a time.

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm

4. IMPERIALISM. The Colonial Empires.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of developed countries took control of other regions and lands all over the world. These lands became colonies and formed part of the various colonial empires.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

The British Empire was the largest colonial empire. It included colonies in North America, Asia, Africa and

Oceania. Its most important possessions were India and

Australia.

THE FRENCH EMPIRE

The French Empire was not as extensive as the

British Empire. It included colonies in Africa and Asia.

5. THE CAUSES OF THE IMPERIALISM

Colonies provided industrialised

countries with cheap raw materials.

Colonies also provided new markets where industrialised

countries could sell the manufactured goods which they produced at home.

Colonies were also a symbol of

international prestige. Imperial

expansion could make a country

more powerful in international

terms.

6.THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE IMPERIALISM

Imperialism had important consequences that still affect the

world today.

Colonies were controlled by the

minority that imposed European

culture. Native people had second-class status and racial segregation was

common.

Rivalry between the imperial

powers was one of the causes of the

First War War.

The world economy became extremely

imbalanced because the wealthy nations controlled industry and trade,

and exploited less developed countries.

racial segregation