Essay Outline

Essay option #1
3 reasons
1. Political
2. Social
3. Economic
INTRO
●Several older civilizations were in decline while European nations had grown
●In West Africa, wars among African peoples and the draining effect of the slave trade had
undermined established empires, kingdoms, and city-states
●Newer African states were not strong enough to resist the western onslaught
●Europeans had the advantage of strong economies, well organized governments, and powerful
armies and navies
●Superior technology and improved medical knowledge also played a role
●Advances such as the Maxim gun persuaded Africans and Asians to accept western control.
1. Political
a. Nationalism
i. Wanted to expand borders
ii.Become a stronger nation by becoming a larger one
iii.In addition, as a result of European industrialization, nations had an
increased need for various resources, such as cotton, rubber, and fuel
iv.Moreover, a high level of nationalism was at the time being experienced
across Europe, particularly as a result of Napoleon's Empire
1. As nationalism grew at home, citizens began to desire more troops
for their army, and thus colonies were needed to provide more
troops, as well as naval bases and refueling points for ships.
v.By the late 1800s, a number of nations across Europe possessed new
colonial territories. Belgium had taken the Congo in central Africa. France
controlled Algeria, and Italy controlled Somalia.
2. Social
a. Social Darwinism
i. Definition: It merged Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and
Herbert Spencer's sociological theories to justify imperialism, racism, and
laissez-faire (i.e. conservative) social and economic policies
ii.Ruling a global empire increased a nation’s prestige around the world
iii.Many westerners felt a genuine concern for their “little brothers” beyond
the seas
 1. Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed that they had
a duty to spread their blessings of western civilization.
2. Europeans argued that European races were superior to others, and
imperial conquest and destruction of weaker races were simply
nature’s way of improving human species.
3. This concept was known as Social Darwinism.
3. Economic
a. The industrial revolution created need and desires that spurred overseas expansion
i. Manufacturers wanted access to natural resources such as rubber,
petroleum, manganese for steel, and palm oil for machinery.
ii.They also hoped for new markets where they could sell their factory goods
iii.Steam-powered merchant ships and naval vessels needed bases around
the world to take on coal and supplies.
iv.Trading ports
v.Access to a wider number of countries

Essay option #3
Quote #1: SOCIAL DARWINISM
(relate text in quote to social Darwinism and racial superiority)

Information about social darwinism: Many westerners felt a genuine concern for their
“little brothers” beyond the seas. Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed
that they had a duty to spread their blessings of western civilization. Europeans argued
that European races were superior to others, and imperial conquest and destruction of
weaker races were simply nature’s way of improving human species. This concept was
known as Social Darwinism.Information about social Darwinism. Social Darwinism
definition: Definition: It merged Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and Herbert
Spencer's sociological theories to justify imperialism, racism, and laissez-faire (i.e. conservative)
social and economic policies
Quote #2: IMPERIALISM
(relate text in quote to Imperialism)
Explains that the country of Africa in this case (I believe) is part of the British Empire, not
separate.
“ We think and speak of them as part of ourselves, as part of the British Empire, united to us,
although they may be dispersed throughout the world, by ties of kindred, of religion, of history,
and of language, and joined to us by the seas that formerly seemed to divide us.”
Explains that the country of Africa in this case (I believe) is part of the British Empire,
not separate. Even though the captured people might have differences such as religion
and history and language.
“We feel now that our rule over these territories can only be justified if we can show that it adds
to the happiness and prosperity of the people, and I maintain that our rule does, and has, brought
security and peace and comparative prosperity to countries that never knew these blessings
before.”
This is a STRONG example of how many westerners felt a genuine concern for their
“little brothers” beyond the seas. They believed by dominating them through imperialism,
they were making the country more prosperous and happy.

Essay option #4
DEFINE: new imperialism
Aggressive competition for overseas territorial acquisitions and the emergence in some
colonizing countries of doctrines of racial superiority which purported to explain the unfitness of
backward peoples for self-government.
Causes
1. Political
2. Social

1. Political
a. Nationalism
i. Wanted to expand borders
ii.Become a stronger nation by becoming a larger one
iii.In addition, as a result of European industrialization, nations had an
increased need for various resources, such as cotton, rubber, and fuel
iv.Moreover, a high level of nationalism was at the time being experienced
across Europe, particularly as a result of Napoleon's Empire
1. As nationalism grew at home, citizens began to desire more troops
for their army, and thus colonies were needed to provide more
troops, as well as naval bases and refueling points for ships.
v.By the late 1800s, a number of nations across Europe possessed new
colonial territories. Belgium had taken the Congo in central Africa. France
controlled Algeria, and Italy controlled Somalia.
2.Social
b. Social Darwinism
i. Definition: It merged Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and
Herbert Spencer's sociological theories to justify imperialism, racism, and
laissez-faire (i.e. conservative) social and economic policies
ii.Ruling a global empire increased a nation’s prestige around the world
iii.Many westerners felt a genuine concern for their “little brothers” beyond
the seas
1. Missionaries, doctors, and colonial officials believed that they had
a duty to spread their blessings of western civilization.
 2. Europeans argued that European races were superior to others, and
imperial conquest and destruction of weaker races were simply
nature’s way of improving human species.
3. This concept was known as Social Darwinism.

Essay option #5
1. Direct Rule
a. The French practiced direct rule, where they sent officials and soldiers from
France to administer their colonies. Their goal was to impose French culture on
their colonies and turn them into French provinces.
b.
2. Indirect Rule
a. The British, on contrast, relied on indirect rule, where they used sultans, chiefs, or
other local rulers. They encouraged the children of the local ruling class to get an
education in Britain.
b. While indirect rule was cheaper and easier for colonial powers, and in particular it
required fewer administrators, it did have a number of problems. In many cases,
colonial authorities empowered local leaders, such as in the case of the monarchy
of Uganda. However, if no leader could be found (in the traditional Western sense
of the term), the colonizers would simply elect their own local administrations.

In a protectorate, local rulers were left in place but were expected to follow the advice of
European advisers on issues such as trade or missionary activity. A protectorate cost less
than a colony did, and usually didn’t require a large commitment of military forces.
The sphere of influence was an area in which an outside power claimed exclusive
investment or trading privileges.