Case Study One
Kristen Shockley
Contemporary History
July 10, 2016

Case Study One
According to Ferry, what recent developments in world trade have made it urgent for France to have Colonies? At the time that this speech was given by Ferry, the importance of free trade was emerging and growing. Ferry gave his speech because at this time, more countries were starting to make trade and exports a priority while France was not. He was placing importance on the fact that France was behind in this aspect and thus missing out on the benefits of trade and exports. If France were to develop more colonies at this time, they would be able to take part and thus send more goods out of their country. Ferry made it clear from this speech that he thinks very highly of his people and thus of his country meaning that he wanted the very best for it. “…Europe and particularly those of our own rich and hardworking Country: the need for export markets” (Ferry, 1884). He felt as though he was in competition with other countries (specifically Germany and the United States) because of their involvement with trade and France’s failure to do so thus far. They were getting to expand their horizons and gather items that weren’t regularly available to them in their own countries. Having the ability to trade not just among neighboring countries, but to countries across the world opened up many doors for the countries involved and ultimately, Ferry felt that they were missing out.
What arguments against imperialism have been raised by Ferry's critics? How does he counter them? As I mentioned in my response to the first question, Ferry clearly stated in his speech that he felt that his race is the superior race and because of this, they have rights over the inferior races. Ferry’s critics respond to him saying this in, what I determined as, a fairly negative way. They pretty much say to