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Imperialism and Nationalism -- the 'isms' that gave rise to the First World War
What was the cause of the conflagration known as the 'war to end all wars' that nearly destroyed the entire world during the first part of the 20th century? According to Vladimir Lenin, imperialism alone was the root cause of World War I. The founder of the modern Soviet Union argued that competition for land and resources inevitably let to armed conflict between the capitalist nations of Western Europe. However, although nationalism was a key factor in the development of World War I, an equally critical factor was the nationalism in the colonized nations that imperialism spawned, and the secret alliances contracted between various imperial powers out of fear of one another's concealed might.
In his speech, "The Maintenance of Empire" in 1872, the then-British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli stated to the assembled, "gentlemen," that "there is another and second great object of the Tory party. If the first is to maintain the institutions of the country, the...
As is also evidenced in the issue that eventually divided the Liberal Party of England in "The Boer War Defended" (1900) by Joseph Chamberlain as well as "The Boer War Criticized" (1900) by David Lloyd George, although there was some sympathy for those living in colonized nations who wished to be free of the imperial yolk, and anger and fear regarding the dangers entanglements abroad caused British troops, the more pressing fear of losing the economic and political advantage of having an empire outweighed such concerns.
This was not true simply for England, however, but for all European imperial powers. But there was another -ism at stake in the development of World War I, one equally as important as imperialism, and that was nationalism. This was not simply the nationalism of the imperial nations but also the nationalism that rose up…
Works Cited
Chamberlain, Joseph. "The Boer War Defended." 1900.
Disraeli, Benjamin. "The Maintenance of Empire."1872.
George, David Lloyd. "The Boer War Criticized." 1900.
Hobson, John Atkinson. "An Early Critique of Imperialism."
960). Just as American Imperialists exerted violent pressure to keep control of the islands they wished to inhabit, exploit and control for their own self-interest, the Japanese Imperialists exercised an equal and "undeniable harshness" in its reign over Korea (Schmid, p. 960). But the killing of persons was not the only way to exert power. There was also the killing of a sense of nationalistic pride. Nationalism, it should be
Imperialisms in Congo Imperialism in Congo The concept of Renewed Imperialism was prominent during the nineteen century. This period saw many European nations invade Africa and scrambled for nations that they were able to colonize. The effects of this period are still being felt by many African countries up-to-date as is the case with Congo. The influences of the colonizers are thought to have caused varied levels of destruction to many communities
Imperialism The notion that whiteness was a superior state to blackness and all shades between, the notion of cultural superiority was already firmly entrenched by the time of the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893. Barely cloaked under seemingly benevolent messages of cultural diversity were clear messages related to the American intention to imperialize and colonize. The establishment of a European cultural hegemony was already under way with the rapid expansion of
However, to do so would be to engage in a horrible revisionist version of history. The development of modern America was based on the concept of manifest destiny and would not have occurred without the systemic deprivation of the rights of indigenous people. Attacking Native Americans, killing off tribes, killing off of buffalo for sport and thus depriving tribes of their food sources, and forcing Native Americans into reservations
E. industrialized (Greenberger, 2004) The appearance of uncivilized territories convinced many expansionists they had a God-given mission to take new territory and to spread Christianity and the benefits of European culture. The colonial powers did provide some benefits, one might say, as a result of this assumption. The powers "built new communications and transportation systems, established universities, and introduced modern medical practices." By making the colonized look, dress, behave, and hopefully
2. What significant tool did the imperialists use to colonize the mind of Africans? Document 3 The resolution of the All-African People's Conference, held in Accra, Ghana in 1958, "condemns colonialism and imperialism" based on these premises. Whereas all African peoples . . . deplore the economic exploitation of African people by Imperialist Countries, thus reducing Africans to poverty in the midst of plenty . . . Whereas fundamental human rights, freedom of