What drove European imperialism in the late nineteenth century, and how did it affect Africa and Asia?
Apply social science skills to understand the impact of European imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries: the economic, political, and ideological motives, the domination of Africa and Asia (the Scramble for Africa, British India, French Indochina), and the responses and resistance of colonized peoples (WHII.12).
A standards-level answer on the age of imperialism for the Virginia World History SOL: the economic, political, and ideological motives, the European domination of Africa and Asia, and the responses and resistance of colonized peoples, with worked exam questions.
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What this topic is asking
Standard WHII.12 covers the impact of European imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when European powers came to control most of Africa and Asia. The standard asks you to explain the motives for imperialism (economic, political, and ideological), the domination of Africa and Asia (the Scramble for Africa, British rule in India, French Indochina), and the responses and resistance of colonized peoples. Imperialism reshaped the world map and the global balance of power, and the tensions it created among European powers helped lead to World War I.
What imperialism was
The motives for imperialism
The domination of Africa and Asia
European powers came to control most of Africa and much of Asia.
- The Scramble for Africa was the rapid division of almost the entire African continent among European powers in the late 1800s. At the Berlin Conference, Europeans drew colonial borders with little regard for Africa's peoples, languages, or kingdoms, problems that would outlast colonial rule.
- In Asia, Britain ruled India (the "jewel in the crown" of its empire), and France controlled Indochina (modern Vietnam and neighboring lands). Other powers carved out spheres of influence in China and elsewhere.
Imperial rule extracted resources and reshaped economies to serve the imperial power, often disrupting local societies.
Responses and resistance
Try this
Q1. Give the economic, political, and ideological motives for European imperialism. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Economic: raw materials for industry and new markets for goods. Political: national rivalry, power, and prestige (and strategic territory). Ideological: ideas of superiority, a "civilising mission", and spreading Christianity.
Q2. Explain what the Scramble for Africa was and one lasting problem it caused. [Short explanation]
- Cue. It was the rapid division and colonization of nearly all of Africa by European powers; a lasting problem was that Europeans drew borders (at the Berlin Conference) without regard for African peoples and kingdoms, causing later conflict.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of VDOE exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
VA SOL WHII (MC)1 marksA major economic motive for European imperialism in the late nineteenth century was the desire to (A) end all trade; (B) obtain raw materials for industry and new markets to sell manufactured goods; (C) give away colonies; (D) stop the Industrial Revolution.Show worked answer →
The correct answer is (B). The Industrial Revolution drove imperialism: industrialized nations wanted raw materials (such as rubber, cotton, and minerals) to feed their factories and new markets in which to sell their manufactured goods. Economic gain was a central motive.
Why the others are wrong: (A), (C), and (D) all contradict the historical record; imperial powers sought to expand, not end, trade and colonies. Markers reward identifying the search for raw materials and markets as the economic motive.
VA SOL WHII (MC)1 marksThe 'Scramble for Africa' refers to (A) a famine in Europe; (B) the rapid division and colonization of nearly all of Africa by European powers in the late nineteenth century; (C) a gold rush in Australia; (D) the unification of Germany.Show worked answer →
The correct answer is (B). The Scramble for Africa was the rapid division and colonization of almost all of Africa by European powers in the late nineteenth century, with borders often drawn by Europeans (notably at the Berlin Conference) without regard for African peoples.
Why the others are wrong: (A), (C), and (D) describe unrelated events. Markers reward identifying the rapid European colonization and division of Africa.
Related dot points
- Apply social science skills to understand the Industrial Revolution: its origins in Britain, the new technologies and the factory system, the social and economic effects including urbanization, child labor, and the rise of the middle class, and the responses including labor unions and the ideas of capitalism and socialism (WHII.9 and WHII.10).
A standards-level answer on the Industrial Revolution for the Virginia World History SOL: its origins in Britain, the factory system and new technology, the social and economic effects such as urbanization and child labor, and the responses including labor unions, capitalism, and socialism, with worked exam questions.
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