New Imperialism

Questions:

1. The European powers were greatly expanded due to their economic motives. They constantly found that neighboring countries and continents had very useful resources. In order to expand, it was necessary to take over these countries and take what they had. As Americans we called it ‘manifest destiny.’

2. The term “the scramble for Africa” meant that the European powers realized the value of Africa and went to take control of it and make use of it. Also, several claimed parts of it by making treaties with African chieftains. These however, were not really valid, seeing as parts were dually claimed and purchased by different European countries.

3. European imperial expansion should not be explained only in economic terms, or else the value of human nature and greed playing a part in it would be lost.

4. The major powers acquired new colonies between 1870 and 1890 to try and become more powerful than their rivalries. They grasped onto any country with raw materials and resources. This way they could expand their markets and economy.

5. “New Imperialism” was a nicer way to say that there was a major race for power and this meant taking over countries to use their resources.

6. The first theory states that the purpose for expansion was merely due to the race for power. The second however, states that the reason for the expansion was the overpopulation of these major powers.

7. After 1880 the “scramble for Africa” continued because it was “necessary” to civilize the Africans and conform them to a specific set of beliefs and customs in order to make the colonization complete.