Introduction

This blog covers the era of New Imperialism and the expansion of Western. It will cover information from chapter 26 of the A History of Western Society Eight Edition textbook.


Between the years of 1880 and 1914, leading European nations like Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, and Germany reached out to colonize non-Western territories. Their motivations were mostly economical, as these countries sought to gain additional natural resources as well as increase the market for their manufactured goods. Ideas like racism and ethnocentrism became justifications for European expansion. This rush to gain as much territory as possible had enormous political and social implications throughout the world.


By writing this blog, I hope to display the knowledge and understanding I have gained from this chapter as well as draw connections across time between the imperialism of the late 19th century and the foreign policy of world powers today.


Essential Question: What was the "white man's burden?"

The "white man's burden" was the idea that European countries had the responsibility to teach "backwards" countries their "superior" way of living. Europeans believed that their own civilization had reached unprecedented heights, and that they had the unique gift of bestowing their civilization upon others. This included everything from British values and education, to trade, democracy, and Christianity, or even something as simple as soap. The irony lies in that even though Europeans believed they were doing the right thing, going so far as to call it a burden, this idea was actually incredibly racist. Rudyard Kipling, in his poem The White Man's Burden,"  summarizes the feelings of European expansionists in calling the indigenous peoples "new caught, sullen peoples/ Half-devil and half-child."