IDEAS that Justified IMPERIALISM [AP World History Review—Unit 6 Topic 1]

Unit 6: New Ideologies and the Second Wave of Imperialism

Introduction to New Ideologies

• The discussion begins with an overview of the second wave of imperialism from 1750 to the 1900s, emphasizing its distinct ideologies.

• Previous Western European powers focused on building maritime empires, dominating trade in the Indian Ocean, and colonizing the Americas.

Nationalism as a Driving Force

• Nationalism emerged as a significant ideology during this period, promoting a sense of commonality among people based on shared language, religion, and customs.

• This shift marked a change from loyalty to sovereign rulers (kings or emperors) to loyalty towards one's nation due to Enlightenment ideas and industrialization.

• Nationalistic desires led to unification movements in Italy and Germany, fueling imperial ambitions as nations sought greater power status through territorial expansion.

Scientific Racism's Role

• Scientific racism became prominent during this era, positing that humans could be hierarchically ranked by race using pseudo-scientific methods.

• Unlike previous religious divisions between Christians and non-Christians, scientific racism attempted to classify humanity based on race.

• Practices like phrenology were used to justify racial superiority claims; for instance, larger skull sizes were incorrectly linked to intelligence and capability.

Social Darwinism's Influence

• Social Darwinism applied Charles Darwin's theories of natural selection to human societies, suggesting that only the "fittest" would survive in social contexts.

The Ideologies Behind New Imperialism

The Justification of Western Industrial Societies

• The notion that Western industrial societies are the most suited for the global environment stems from their historical wealth and power, leading to a belief in their superiority.

• This ideology suggests that just as strong animals survive by consuming weaker ones in nature, powerful nations have the right to dominate weaker nations.

The Civilizing Mission

• A key ideology contributing to new imperialism is the "civilizing mission," where Western societies felt a duty to bring their civilization's benefits to what they perceived as "lower civilizations."

• This mission often involved converting colonized peoples to Christianity and restructuring colonial governments based on Western models.

Cultural Suppression and Education

• Alongside religious conversion, there was a significant effort by imperial powers to impose Western-style education on colonized populations, aiming to suppress indigenous languages and cultures.

Conclusion: The Stew of Ideologies