European imperialism and the late nineteenth-century race for colonies

Race for Colonies in the Late 19th Century

Although European imperialism had started in the 15th century when a number of European powers such as Spain, Portugal and Great Britain began to look for new settlements around the world, another great race for colonies occurred in the late 19th century. This time around, other countries such as the United States and Japan also joined Europe in the race. Some of the major reasons for the establishment of colonies in the late 19th century and specific examples of such colonies are outlined below.

Industrial Revolution:

The industrial revolution in Europe and the United States had greatly increased their technological and military power by the second half of the 19th century. Japan, too, had embarked on a path of rapid modernization in the mid-nineteenth century. As a result, several countries in Europe (including England, France, Germany and Italy), the U.S. And Japan enjoyed a big technological and military edge over the rest of the world by late 1800s. Such a marked difference in powers of nation-states has its own momentum leading to domination of the weaker nations by the stronger. This, perhaps, was the major reason for the spurt of colonization at the end of the nineteenth century.

Need for Finding Markets:

Another reason was the need for finding markets for the surplus goods produced in Western countries as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

There was no better way for creating captive markets in different parts of the world than establishing colonies.

Racism:

The sense of racial superiority, particularly among the white people, also played a part in colonization. Most white men believed that they were superior to people of other races. Writers such as the Englishman, Rudyard Kipling propounded the theory of the "White Man's Burden" whereby the white people had an obligation to spread the "blessings" of their superior civilization to the "savages" in the rest of the world.

Many among them also sought to spread their Christian religious beliefs among "heathens" believing Christianity to be the only true religion. Another variation of the racism that also contributed to the trend of colonialism was the popularity of Social Darwinism -- a theory that advocated the inevitability of "survival of the fittest" and the white Europeans considered themselves more fit in the struggle for survival.

Population Growth:

European population had increased more rapidly than other parts of the world in the decades before the end of the nineteenth century. Population pressures and improved means of transportation made it possible for people from Europe to venture out to distant lands. This, by itself, created a reason for colonization.

Specific Examples of Colonies Gained in the Late 19th Century

American Colonies:

Using a movement for independence in Cuba from the Spanish colonizers as an excuse, the U.S. annexed a number of foreign territories including Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico in the late 19th century.

European Colonies:

Africa was targeted for colonization by European powers in the late 19th century. Britain occupied Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda; France made its thrust into West Africa and occupied Senegal, Mali, Niger and Chad, while Germany made a grab for Southwest Africa, Togoland, the Cameroons, and Tanganyika.

Japan:

Japan began to establish its colonies in the same period and occupied Taiwan & Korea.

Conclusion

Colonization of foreign lands by the dominant powers of the day reached a crescendo in the late 19th century when several European countries, the U.S. And Japan began a scramble for annexing more territories. As we saw in this essay, there were several reasons for the phenomenon including the marked difference in the technological and military power of the industrialized and the non-industrialized countries, the need for finding markets, and racism.

4. Fascism and How fascist Governments Came to Power in Italy and Germany

Fascism, as a political ideology, became popular in the post World War I Europe mainly due to the fear of Bolshevism and the apparent failure of the laissez faire economy. Fascists succeeded in gaining power in important European countries such as Italy and Germany, and implemented a totalitarian ideology triggering wars and persecutions. This essay briefly describes fascism and explains how fascist governments came to power in Italy and Germany.

Conclusion

Fascism was a totalitarian political ideology that had its moment in history in early 20th century. It was greatly discredited following the defeat of Germany and Italy in World War II but still finds support among racist right wing groups in several parts of the world.

This reason for colonization is emphasized by the Marxist writers, while apologists for colonization dispute this by arguing that colonization was largely benign, in fact beneficial for the colonies.

The Japanese were non-white but were equally racist and considered themselves to be vastly superior to other Asian people of the region.

The white Americans, being descendents of white Europeans, were included in this category

The term fascism has been derived from the Italian word fascio which means bundle or a group

For example, Hitler identified the Jews as responsible for the predicament of the Germans

Mussolini is reputed to have been ideologically shallow and supremely opportunistic; when asked to define Fascism, he once responded: "I am Fascism."

Socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti was an outspoken critic of Mussolini and was murdered by the Blackshirts themselves