The Second Industrial Revolution and Imperialism: A Global Perspective
Posted on Aug 6, 2024 in Geography
1. The Second Industrial Revolution
New Technologies and Innovations
- Energy: Electricity and oil
- Industries: Chemical, aluminum, automotive
- Appliances and Tools: Light bulb, radio, telephone
New Methods of Production and Organization
- Taylorism: Scientific management of production
- Industrial Concentration: Cartels, trusts
Advancements in Transportation
- Transcontinental railways
- Suez and Panama Canals
2. Leading Industrial Powers
- United States
- Germany
- United Kingdom
3. Types of Colonies and Their Characteristics
| Colony Type | Type of Government | Other Characteristics |
|---|
| Colony | European governors | Native populations relegated to low-level official positions |
| Protectorate | Indigenous government | Europeans controlled the army and foreign policy |
| Dominion | Self-government | Great Britain granted autonomy to these territories, often former settler colonies |
| Overseas Territory | – | They were considered extensions of the metropole, such as French provinces |
| Concession | – | Area assigned to a metropolitan company for economic exploitation |
| Strange Enclave | – | Small territory with unique legal or political status within a larger entity |
4. Consequences of Imperialism
| Consequence | Description |
|---|
| Geographical | Borders drawn without regard for tribal, linguistic, or religious differences |
| Demographic | Fewer epidemics and demographic growth, but chronic malnutrition persisted |
| Cultural | Acculturation: Indigenous peoples lost customs and oral traditions |
| Economic | Colonizers imposed their economic interests, often worsening living conditions for indigenous populations |
| Social | Social structures were altered, and ethnic groups were often divided |
5. Correcting Historical Misconceptions
- Impressionism vs. Post-Impressionism: Claude Monet was a prominent Impressionist painter, while Vincent van Gogh is associated with Post-Impressionism.
- Architectural Materials: Steel, not brick, became a dominant building material during the Second Industrial Revolution.
- Technological Advancements: The era saw the rise of radio, not television.
6. Major Metropolises and Their Colonies
- Australia: United Kingdom
- Indochina: France
- India: United Kingdom
- Morocco: France
- Ethiopia: Independent
- Union of South Africa: United Kingdom
- Rhodesia: United Kingdom
- Congo: Belgium
- Egypt: United Kingdom
- Algeria: France
- Angola: Portugal
- Cameroon: Germany
- Rio de Oro: Spain
- Afghanistan: Independent
- Libya: Italy
- Thailand: Independent (maintained its independence through diplomacy)
7. Questions and Answers about Imperialism
- a) What was the Second Industrial Revolution?
- A period of rapid industrial and technological advancements in the late 19th century.
- b) Why did many Europeans emigrate in the 19th century?
- Population growth, economic hardship, and political instability encouraged European emigration.
- c) What major factors triggered the scramble for colonies? What territories were occupied? Which empires were the largest? Why was India so important?
- Economic and demographic factors, rivalry between European powers, and racist ideologies fueled the scramble for colonies.
- Asia, Africa, and Oceania were heavily colonized.
- The British and French empires were the largest and most extensive.
- India was a major market for manufactured goods and a crucial source of raw materials, making it a prized possession within the British Empire.
- d) What types of colonies were there?
- Exploitation colonies (colonies and protectorates) focused on extracting resources, while settler colonies (dominions and overseas territories) involved significant European settlement.
8. Defining Key Terms
- Imperialism:
- The policy of extending a nation’s power and influence over other territories, often through military conquest or economic control.
- Colony:
- A territory directly controlled by a foreign power (the metropole).
- Protectorate:
- A territory that maintains its own government but is subject to the authority and protection of a stronger nation.
- Metropole:
- The colonizing power or the country that controls colonies.
- Acculturation:
- The process of cultural change and adaptation that occurs when different cultures interact, often involving the adoption of elements from the dominant culture.
- Scramble for Africa:
- The rapid colonization of Africa by European powers in the late 19th century, culminating in the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where European nations carved up the continent among themselves.
- Taylorism:
- A system of scientific management developed by Frederick Taylor, emphasizing efficiency, standardization, and the division of labor in industrial production.
9. Identifying Important Figures
- Louis Pasteur:
- A French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his groundbreaking work in vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization.
- David Livingstone:
- A Scottish missionary and explorer who played a significant role in opening up Central Africa to European exploration and colonization.
- Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza:
- An Italian-born French explorer who explored Central Africa and established French presence in the Congo region, leading to the founding of Brazzaville.
- King Leopold II of Belgium:
- The King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, infamous for his brutal rule over the Congo Free State, which he treated as his personal possession, resulting in widespread atrocities and exploitation.
10. Differentiating Key Concepts
- British Empire vs. French Empire:
- The British Empire was the largest empire in history, while the French Empire was the second largest, both with vast colonial holdings across the globe.
- Exploitation Colony vs. Settler Colony:
- Exploitation colonies primarily served as sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods, while settler colonies involved significant European migration and aimed to establish permanent European communities.
- Trust vs. Cartel vs. Holding Company:
- Trust: A group of companies that combine ownership under a single board of trustees, effectively creating a monopoly.
- Cartel: An association of independent companies in the same industry that agree to cooperate to control prices and production levels.
- Holding Company: A company that owns a controlling interest in other companies, giving it the power to influence their management and operations.
- Poor Emigrants vs. Colonial Elites:
- Poor emigrants often left their home countries seeking better economic opportunities or escaping hardship, while colonial elites comprised government officials, landowners, and other privileged individuals who benefited from colonial rule.
