5. Why, and with what effects, did nations gain and expand their overseas empires in the nineteenth century?
By the start of the 20th Century, Europeans and Americans had secured influence across all continents of the world. In some cases this meant directly ruling other nations as 'colonies'; in other cases it meant securing influence over the nations' domestic and foreign policies. This drive to gain more land and power was motivated by many different factors but in all cases the impact on the lands which came under European or American control was profound.
This unit will look at why there was such an increase in imperialism in the 19th Century - particularly the end of the 19th Century - and the impact that this drive for imperialism had on the countries and peoples involved.
5a.What were the motives behind European imperialism?
In the 19th Century the idea of having an empire was something that many European countries viewed an important extension of their national power. It was something that many countries regarded as something...
5b. What were the motives behind US imperialism?
Throughout much of the 19th century the US pursued a policy of isolationism. Up until the 1880s it had promoted a policy which would avoid involvement in overseas conflict; however it also wanted to prevent...
5c. Why was there a 'Scramble for Africa'?
Between 1880 and 1914, the whole of Africa was divided up between European countries. The only independent states left were Abyssinia and Liberia. Why did such a dramatic transformation to a continent...
5d. Case studies of French, British and Belgian imperialism
Each European government ruled the colonies in different ways. The British and the French had very different ways of ruling and different aims for their colonies; meanwhile the Belgian Congo was ruled...
5e. The British in India
The first British in India came for trade and it was the East India Company rather than the British government which led the way in opening up India and gaining territory to aid trade.
5f: The Spanish-American War and growth of US imperialism
You have already read about the arguments in the US for greater imperialism in the style of the Europeans. These arguments came to a head in the growing conflict between the US and Spain over control...