WHY DO COUNTRIES IMPERIALIZE OTHERS?
The reasons countries imperialize is because of E.M.P.I.R.E. Economic, Military, Political , Ideological, Religious, Exploratory. The economy was one of the causes for imperialism because as technology advanced other countries were technologically behind. For example, Belgium had guns while the Congolese had bows and arrows. The Congolese were behind in military advancement. The reason why countries were starting to get imperialized was because of something called Social Darwinism which includes the ideas of Ideological and Religious. This concept basically meant that because someone was of different skin color they were discriminated and looked down upon. For example, Belgium wanted to imperialize them for the motives that they needed to have a better religion such as Christianity and needed to be taught how to act like humans and not animals. Nationalism was also a great deal because this idea of taking over other people would not exist without a form of hyper-nationalism that runs through the country. Because of Nationalism, countries want to look more powerful than others so they decide to imperialize. Exploring was a great deal of fascination to the people as well back then so traveling far was promoted.
How are they able to?
The reason why countries were able to imperialize others were because of G.G.S. This is an acronym that stands for Guns, Germs and Steel. It is a silly acronym but it explains how imperialist countries were able to imperialize perfectly. Because of all the technological advancements the countries had prior to the thought of imperialization, they had advanced weaponry for example the machine gun. They did not only advance in weaponry but they had also advanced in Medicine and in modernization such as transportation as well. The way their medical advancements helped was because people had already become immune. For example, the European imperialist troops brought over diseases to the African countries. The Europeans were not affected though since they were immune to the stuff they had brought over, but the Africans took heavily losses and lost morale in general since their people were dying so they were even easier to imperialize. Steel was important because steel in general is a very solid, dependable item needed to construct many modern structures to improve life efficiency, but it was specifically used for railroad tracks. Specifically, railroads were constructed all over Africa so that the imperialist troops could receive reinforcements etc. and fight more efficiently.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST REASON?
As stated before, there were many reasons as to why these countries start to imperialize. Some countries wanted to imperialize for different reasons but I think that they all share one common urge that pushes them to send out their armies. In my opinion, this greatest reason Ideology. The only reason why countries want to take over other countries is because they want to become stronger and look more powerful compared to other countries. Without the idea of nationalism, countries would have no motive for imperialization as a whole. The artifacts I had researched were pictures of how these imperialist counties acted towards the people they were imperializing. According to the Artifacts 1 and 2 below, they both depict the imperialists white man as the stereotypical mean, snooty, arrogant person who is to educate the Native dark skinned people. Artifact 1 was created in 1900 and Artifact 2 was created in 1899. Artifact 1 emphasizes the violent attitude the imperialists had by showing how the Native is mourning the death of his family, and Artifact 2 emphasizes how people are looked down in general but specifically children. The Ideology of Nationalism is why this happens. The imperialists are proud of their race and way of life so they believed that they should spread it around by any means necessary. With this idea of nationalism, they were inspired to take over other countries to make their own country stronger as well by gaining more workers, resources, and territory. Without the concept of Ideology, countries would have no motivation to imperialize and all of the other facts in E.M.P.I.R.E would not matter.
Artifact 1
The comic listed has dialogue as shown:
THE STRANGER: How long have you been civilized?
THE NATIVE: Ever since my home was burned to the ground and my wife and children and shot.
This artifact tries convey the message that the imperialists' way of "educating" these Natives is by force and is very cruel. It also shows that the imperialists believe they are superior which is a perfect example of Social Darwinism.
This document was made in October 18,100 and drawn by Frederick Thompson Richards and was published by the Life, Life Publishing Company in New York.
I believe that Frederick Thompson Richards views the imperialism as a bad thing and does not support these imperialists because he depicts the Imperialist as a snooty, arrogant man in a suit which gives a negative connotation.
THE STRANGER: How long have you been civilized?
THE NATIVE: Ever since my home was burned to the ground and my wife and children and shot.
This artifact tries convey the message that the imperialists' way of "educating" these Natives is by force and is very cruel. It also shows that the imperialists believe they are superior which is a perfect example of Social Darwinism.
This document was made in October 18,100 and drawn by Frederick Thompson Richards and was published by the Life, Life Publishing Company in New York.
I believe that Frederick Thompson Richards views the imperialism as a bad thing and does not support these imperialists because he depicts the Imperialist as a snooty, arrogant man in a suit which gives a negative connotation.
ARTIFACT 2
This picture is named "School Begins." It was created by Puck in 1899.
The caption says: "Uncle Sam (to his new class in Civilization)-- Now, children, you've got to learn these lessons whether you want to or not! But just take a look at the class ahead of you, and remember that, in a little while, you will feel glad to be here as they are!"
This artifact is a picture of Uncle Sam in a classroom teaching a bunch of dark skinned students who seem very scared and unhappy. The purpose of this artifact is to show how America is bossing other people around and are trying to "civilize" these people which show the ideas of Social Darwinism and the Ideologies that these imperializing countries think they are better. The creator is against the idea of imperialism it seems because of the fact that Uncle Sam looks mean and the students that are supposed to look innocent and happy are terrified.
The caption says: "Uncle Sam (to his new class in Civilization)-- Now, children, you've got to learn these lessons whether you want to or not! But just take a look at the class ahead of you, and remember that, in a little while, you will feel glad to be here as they are!"
This artifact is a picture of Uncle Sam in a classroom teaching a bunch of dark skinned students who seem very scared and unhappy. The purpose of this artifact is to show how America is bossing other people around and are trying to "civilize" these people which show the ideas of Social Darwinism and the Ideologies that these imperializing countries think they are better. The creator is against the idea of imperialism it seems because of the fact that Uncle Sam looks mean and the students that are supposed to look innocent and happy are terrified.