Imperialism ap world

Empires, Colonialism, Imperialism, Decolonization, and Globalization 1900 to Present


The outgoing colonial administrations of Britain and France wanted to ensure continued European domination on the Middle East; therefore they wanted the region to be weak comparable to Britain and France.

The British and French were wary of the hundreds of millions of Arabic speakers and others who comprise the Middle East's population; they wanted to ensure the region remained divided and weak, rather than united and strong.

The British and French injected systemic weakness into the region by severing economic relationships between port cities such as Beirut, and large, workshop based cities such as Damascus.

Although the French and British created certain countries, such as Lebanon, with a democratic government, others, such as Iraq and Jordan, were created to be hereditary monarchies; democratic governance was therefore not an all important prerequisite.

The British and French wanted the Middle East to be as weak and poor as possible, expansion into other regions of the world that shared certain Middle Eastern cultural traits, such as religion or language, was absolutely the last th

Economic Imperialism Between 1750 and 1900 for AP World History


We have already seen how colonial powers benefited from their domination over their colonies. In this topic, we will explore different ways these powers engaged in economic imperialism to maintain their advantage in trade. Read the Google Slides to learn about economic imperialism between 1750 and 1900.

Illustrative Examples


The Opium Wars



Port of Buenos Aires



Cotton from Egypt and Southeast Asia



Palm Oil from Sub-Saharan Africa



Copper from Chile


Economic Imperialism

Between 1750 and 1900, economic imperialism surged as powerful European nations sought to expand their wealth and influence across the globe. This era was characterized by the aggressive pursuit of economic domination through colonization, trade, and exploitation of resources in regions across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. European powers such as Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands established colonies and trading outposts, often through force or coercion, to secure access to valuable resources like gold, silver, spices, and raw materials. These imperialist ventures were fueled by the rise of industrial capitalis

Imperialism



Content Overview



Unit 6: c. 1750-1900





Causes of Imperialism




Summary: Imperialism was a result of European economic & political supremacy due to the Industrial Revolution




Economic Causes of Imperialism 




Europeans colonized other lands to get their raw materials to use in industrial factories





Markets for Industrial Goods





After making industrial goods (with raw materials from the colonies), Europeans would sell them in the colonies (for a huge profit)




Political Causes of Imperialism 




Europeans wanted more land so that their people could migrate there





Colonizers wanted to build military bases throughout the world in strategic locations (often did this in their colonies)





Distraction from Internal Turmoil





Some nations had communist movements creating political turmoil → Nations would colonize other lands to distract their people from this political turmoil




Social Justifications of Imperialism 




Europeans wanted to spread Christianity throughout the world (to their colonies)





Europeans believed the natives of the colonies were "uncivilized" and needed the Europeans to "civilize" their


State Expansion and Imperial Strategies

Between 1750 and 1900, state power expanded and shifted through various processes. European powers and emerging industrial states consolidated and extended their control over vast territories using a range of strategies:



Colonialism
: Powers like Britain and France established direct control over foreign lands, displacing indigenous populations and reshaping political and economic systems to serve imperial interests.


Imperialism
: Beyond colonies, states dominated regions politically, economically, and militarily. This often involved controlling trade, extracting resources, and asserting political hegemony.


Industrialization
: The demand for raw materials and new markets drove imperial expansion, particularly in Africa and Asia.


Nationalism
: National pride and the belief in cultural superiority fueled efforts to expand empires and "civilize" subject peoples.


Warfare and Diplomacy
: Imperial expansion was accomplished through military conquest, treaties, and negotiation, with rival powers often clashing over strategic regions.


Imperialism in Africa

European imperialism in Africa intensified in the 19th century, dri