Consequences of Great Britain’s Imperialism
Introduction
Imperialism is a popular term for the goal of colonies politically submissive and economically profitable especially in Europe. The European imperialism is also called as the high imperialism to distinguish it from all efforts at the Europe’s conquest before the late 19th century. In terms of politics and economics, the imperialism is a system and pursuits of an empire when at the same time; there is a process of accumulation and acquisition of land resources, labors, and profits. However, even if there is an emerging idea of accumulating and acquisition of resources, there still remains a philosophical view that suggests that the acquired territories are also benefited when it comes to the action of civilization.
The European power of 19th century is the applied word to the Quadruple Alliance powers of Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and later with France (Eloranta, History). In the introduction of the industrialization, the ambition of European powers led to encounter new people (Sage, Imperialism). High imperialism scaled the earlier efforts at conquest. The revolution and industrialization gave way to the aim of preserving the peace and diplomatic agreement that is called Concert of Europe (Eloranta, History). Concert of Europe is a name characterized by an enormous disparity of powers between the colonizers and colonized.
The imperialism that really left a mark in the history of the world also left consequences after the 19th and 20th century. These consequences caused the colonized countries experience different realization since the time they were colonized. It is very evident that the changes appeared and improvement were experienced in building an empire, but the present time is still connected from the past and all that happened in those centuries will reflect in this generation.
Issues on Imperialism
How the European did Managed the Imperialism Possible?
Europeans idea of imperialism is quite unique and somehow risky. The possibility was rated by starting the technology that can definitely provide the efficiency in all parts of the worlds especially in the colonized countries. Out of technology, Europeans crafted steamship and railroads for easy transportation; telegraph cables for the easy transmission of messages; and even rapid-firing rifles and machine guns that can be use in drastic times most especially in wars (Dore & Weeks, Faces).
What Are the Reasons Behind Imperialism?
There are many reasons of imperialism done by the Europeans but some are presented to be valid and still existed in many historical accounts. The search for the new markets is the first considered reason for European when it comes to manufacturing of goods that can answer both the issue of overproduction and under consumption. For them new markets means new consumers (Sage, Imperialism).
Second is the search for other raw materials that are needed in European industry such as oil, cotton, rubber, tin, copper, and gold. When they successfully found a land that can satisfy their need for these raw materials, the European industry will definitely survive. Tailing to this reason is the cheap and profitable labor the Europeans discovered. In those times, there are laborers that are expert in growing cottons and opium.
Then, what is a business industry without an asset? This idea is still applicable until this time ad Europeans are in search for their third reason in finding a cheap and profitable land. The explorers are well-trained to navigate toward the areas where there is a fertile land that suits for their needs.
The fourth in allotted in search for goods that are demanded in their mass consumption market such as coffee, chocolate, teas, bananas, and oranges. And the ultimate goal to acquire their needs easily is colonize the lands they invaded for the sake of their search.
Consequences
The colonies also play a special role in helping the stability of the mother country by providing the cheap raw materials, land, and labor, and providing open markets. In return, the colonies are benefited by providing efficient technology that improves the worth of living in their country. Moreover, the word civilization enters in the view of the colonized countries (Murray, Consequences).
The provided steamships changed the idea in month-long voyages into approximately two weeks. The armaments made the European military conquest easier as well as the effectiveness of the medicines. European opened the eyes of the colonized countries and making them realize that technology is power that is above the natural world and the people. And through this idea, another view was promoted saying that those who wield technology also wield power.
Also, European imperialism contributed in the nationalistic view of all the colonized countries. A strong nation needs nationalism and this idea triggered in creating their own flags, national holidays for their love of the country, and as much as possible improvement in the conditions of the working class by providing them with economic benefits.
The imperialism spread the European political and economic domination not only in their colonized countries but throughout the globe. The economic effect in colonized countries tends to produce one or two primary products with an aim to export them to the mother country. This is also the main aim of manufacturers to market their products in the European central that is why most of them became merchants (Sage, Imperialism). For both producers and manufacturers, serving the mother country is a great honor on their part. This kind of value reveals their importance of nationalism.
Aside from the benefits, the colonized countries or the European nations experience the diplomatic crises due to the competition. The war of nations against nations outside the Europe happened. The term diplomatic is applied because the main purpose of the competition is to serve which results in their own miseries. Also, the concept of race thinking became a transgression for some because of the thinking that other is inherently superiors and others are inherently inferior (Eloranta, History). The discrimination strengthened the human difference in terms of history, language, religion, and culture.
Conclusion
The imperialism that happened in the 19th and 20th century is still connected with the present era and will be reflected in the future. The assessed consequences were divided into two, the benefits of imperialism and the drawbacks it delivered to the colonized country. Since the European minds started the thrust in making the life worth living, the credits will be theirs forever. But the question is, does all of the efforts, especially noted the industrial revolution, of the Europeans promotes better living?
Take the example of creating guns and rifles. If you will think the other story behind it, you will assume that the Europeans only supported the idea of war, the greatest-deadly invention. This leads them to win over and over after the several wars.
But critically assessed the other side, historically, all of the colonized nation of the European powers are developed countries. Why? It is because of the nationalism. The mother country, Great Britain, recognized the existence and importance of the colonized country. If a colonize country or the mother country acquired a new kind of technology, the Europeans share it to the other colonized countries. This economically tactics leads to create progress not only on the side of the mother country, but also on the colonized country. One country should be left out in the improvement and progress of all.
Works Consulted:
Dore, Liz & Weeks, John. “The Changing Faces of Imperialism” NACLA Report on the Americas, (1996): 30, No. 2, p. 10. Web: www.questia.com. 03 Dec 2009.
Eloranta, Jari. “History 5106-375: European Imperialism”. Appalachian State University, 2009. Web: http://www.appstate.edu/~elorantaj/europeanimperialismlecture10.pdf. 03 Dec 2009.
Murray, Craig. “The Consequences of Imperialism”. Craig Murray Organization UK, 25 Jan. 2009. Web: http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/01/the_consequence.html. 03 Dec 2009.
Sage, Elizabeth. “What was Imperialism, and What Effects Did it Have?” Whittier Academic, 2009. Web: www.web.whittier.edu/academic/.../worldhistory/Imperialism.pdf. 03 Dec 2009.
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