Motives to Imperialism

th th
During the 19 and 20 centuries (1800s-1900s) European nations used their overwhelming technological
superiority to create massive colonial empires. These empires included parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East,
and the islands of the Pacific. Some were so large it was said that the sun never set upon them, meaning that
there was always at least one part of their territory in daylight. The creation of empires through the seizure of a
country or territory by a stronger country is called imperialism.

Directions: Read through each of the 6 documents, and answer the questions based on the documents. Use
your understanding of Imperialism, and your Imperialism notes for help when answering the questions. Please
change your font color.

I. ANSWER: What factors drove the Europeans to create these empires?

DOCUMENT 1 OF 6
Economic Factors
SOURCE: Economic factors were among the most important motivations for powerful countries to create
empires. The following is an excerpt from an appeal from Jules Ferry (a French statesman) to the French
monarchy to build a second colonial empire in 1890.

“Colonial (Imperialist) policy is the child of the industrial revolution. It is necessary for wealthy
countries where capital (money) is plentiful and accumulates (grows) fast, where industry is
expanding steadily, where even agriculture must become mechanized in order to survive. Exports
(goods sold to other countries) are essential for public prosperity (wealth). Both demand for labor
and the opportunity for capital investment (starting new businesses) depend on the foreign market.

All over the world, beyond the Vosges (a French mountain range) and across the Atlantic, the
industrial revolution has resulted in an increasing volume of manufactured goods, the
disappearance of traditional markets, and the appearance of fierce competition.

The European consumer-goods market is saturated (full); unless we declare modern society
bankrupt and prepare for its destruction by revolution, new consumer markets will have to be
created in other parts of the world. Colonial policy is an international manifestation
(representation) of the laws of competition.”

ANSWER the following questions:

1. Why does France need to find new consumer markets for their exports?
France needed to find new markets because they were producing so many goods they needed a new market to
sell them in.
2. How is Imperialism tied to the industrial revolution? It is tied together because when a country is growing
fast and mass producing goods they need more resources to help their country.
3. Based on this document, how did economic factors drive Imperialism? He is saying that wealthy countries
 need to expand to all markets and we must continue to increase labor and goods for competition and make
more money.

DOCUMENT 2 OF 6
Exploratory Factors
SOURCE: Imperialism brought European explorers into contact with new lands full of exotic plants and
animals they had never before seen, many of which served medicinal or scientific purposes. The British explorer
David Livingstone was the first European to travel through Africa. Below is an image of the map he created
during his travels, as well as his account of the uses of native plant life dating from 1857.

“There are numbers of other medicines in use

among the natives, but I have never been able
to find out which were useful and which were
of no value. We find a medicine in use by a
tribe in one part of the country, and the same
plant used mby a tribe a thousand miles away
for the same medicine. This surely must be a
result of some natural virtue in the plant. As we
still have no cure for cholera and some other
diseases, it might be worth the investigation of
those who visit Africa to try and find other
remedies.” – David Livingstone

ANSWER the following questions:

1. Who is David Livingstone? What country is he from? Where did he go? He is the first European to travel
through Africa. He is from Britain. He traveled through Africa.
2. What discoveries does Livingstone describe? Why might these discoveries be important? His discoveries
included people from different places thousands of miles away from each other using the same medicines. They
might be important to discover new remedies or medicines to help cure diseases because as of now they did not
find a cure.
3. Based on this document, how did exploratory factors drive Imperialism? This could drive imperialism because
they could try and make new medicines and remedies and sell them globally.
 DOCUMENT 3 OF 6
Social Factors

SOURCE: Many Europeans held the racist ideology, or belief, that they were better than other peoples. They
believed it was their right and duty to bring “progress” and “civilization” to “primitive” countries. Below is
a political cartoon titled “the White Man’s Burden” published in Judge Magazine in 1899. It shows
personifications of Great Britain and the United States carrying baskets of Chinese, Africans, Arabs,
Filipinos, and other native peoples up a mountain towards “civilization.”

ANSWER the following questions:

1. Explain the cartoon. Who are the two men carrying the baskets? Who are in the baskets? What are they
moving towards? How are the people in the baskets portrayed? The cartoon portrays the US and Britain rising
to the top while carrying less fortunate countries. The two men appear to be uncle sam and the John Bull. in
the baskets are people from less established countries such as chinese,africans,and,filipinos, and other native
peoples. They are climbing to the top.
2. Based on the cartoon and the source information, what is the “white man’s burden”? How do you think the
native peoples viewed this idea? The white man's burden would mean we were responsible in helping their
countries also get to the top and teach them how. It doesn’t look like the native people were happy to be there.
3. Based on this document, how did ideological factors drive Imperialism? This cartoon means the Us and
Britain thought it was their duty to help and civilize less fortunate countries.
 DOCUMENT 4 OF 6
Political Factors

SOURCE: The race for colonies also grew out of a strong sense of national pride. This was because of the
rise of Nationalism, the extreme loyalty and pride in your nation, that grew in Europe between 1815 and
1848. Europeans came to view an empire as a measure of national greatness. Below are quotations from
Cecil Rhodes, a British man, and Jules Ferry, a Frenchman, explaining their views on Imperialism.

“I contend (argue) that the British are the “Nations are great in our times only by the
finest race in the world, and the more of the actions that they take. It is not simply by the
world we inhabit, the better it is for the peaceful shining of our traditions and our
human race. It is our duty to seize every institutions (society) that France is great at
opportunity to acquire more territory. We this hour. Something else is needed for
should keep this idea steadily before our France: she must be a great country wielding
eyes that more territory simply means more all of her rightful influence over the destiny
of the Anglo-Saxon (British) race, more of of Europe. She must spread this influence
the best, the most human, most honorable throughout the world and carry everywhere
race the world possesses. —Cecil Rhodes, that she can her language, her customs, her
Confession of Faith, 1877 flag, her arms, and her genius”—Jules
Ferry, speech to the French National
Assembly, 1883

ANSWER the following questions:

1. How does Cecil Rhodes view the British? Why does he think they should acquire more land?
2. How does Jules Ferry view the French? Why does he think they should acquire more land?
3. Based on these documents, how did political factors such as nationalism drive Imperialism?
 DOCUMENT 5 OF 6
Religious Factors

SOURCE: The push for expansion also came from missionaries who worked to convert the peoples of Asia,
Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Missionaries believed Christianity would end the “evil practices” of the
natives, including slavery. One of the first missionaries that left Europe to promote Christianity was the
explorer David Livingstone. Below, Livingstone describes his experience trying to convert a tribe of Africans
to Christianity in 1857.

“I was especially surprised that the chief was all too happy to embrace Christianity at my
suggestion. During the space of two and a half years he continued to preach to his people his full
conviction (belief) in the truth of Christianity, acting at the same time in an honest and moral
manner in all relations of life. He felt the difficulties of his situation (converting the natives)
long before I did, and often said, ‘Oh, I wish you had come to this country before we became
entangled (stuck) in the meshes (traps) of our customs!’ One reason why we had no volunteer
converts was the hunger from drought, which was associated in the natives’ minds with the
presence of Christian instruction; and someone is not likely to convert to a creed (new set of
believes), which seems to result in an empty stomach.”—David Livingstone

ANSWER the following questions:

1. According to Livingstone, what is the chief’s reaction to Christianity? What is the reaction of the rest of the
tribe? Overall, how would you say Livingstone views the tribe of Africans?
2. How do the missionaries in the above image seem to be treating the Africa children?
3. Based on these documents, how did religious factors drive Imperialism?

DOCUMENT 6 OF 6
Military Factors

SOURCE: Colonies served both a key strategic purpose for army and navy bases, as well as sources for
more troops. Pictured below is a political cartoon from 1901 in which Columbia (the female personification
of America) puts on the hat of “world power.” Quoted below is a letter from Commodore Dewey to U.S.
President McKinley explaining why the United States needs to take over the Philippines.

“Mr. President,

The United States needs the Philippines. The

islands in question are needed to maintain our
navy, if the Pacific states and our commercial
interests in the Pacific are to be protected.
Only a navy will allow this nation to extend its
influence, and also act as a first line of
defense. The position of the United States,
between the two Old Worlds (Europe) and the
two great oceans has ended our self-imposed
isolation. We must either expand to protect our
western borders or pay the consequences.

—Commodore Dewey, 1898”

ANSWER the following questions:

1. In the political cartoon on the left, what is on Columbia’s hat? What is on her belt? What do these items
symbolize?
2. In the quote on the right, why does Dewey say the U.S. needs the Philippines? Explain
3. Based on this document, how did military factors drive Imperialism?