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European Imperialism Dbq

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Up until the eighteenth century, Europeans satisfied themselves with trading posts throughout the vast continents of Africa and Asia as well as brief missionary activity. However, burgeoning industrial economies and competition between nations soon gave way to new imperialism. The abundance of natural resources and significant economic opportunities in Africa made it the perfect prototype for new imperialism (Document 6). European explorers were more than eager to trek through uncharted territories and claim it for their monarchs. Meanwhile, priests believed that they carried the responsibility to educate these "savages" and spread Christianity, all in the name of the Lord. Through direct and indirect rule, European imperialism brought an …show more content…
Indirect rule was a way of imperial governing by leaving the local elite in power as long as they submitted to European rule. This helped keep local customs in place as well as reduce the effort necessary to govern the land. Great Britain, in particular, did not want to provide as much resources to govern the land because of their already extensive empire. Raw materials such as timber, palm oil, hides and peanuts were essential to the the industrial economies of Europe and were available in ready supply in West Africa (Spielvogel and Mctighe 231). The purpose of African imperialism was also largely due to desire for the aforementioned natural resources and as long as British received this, they saw no need to resort to direct rule. As a result, Africans under indirect rule did not receive as much of the benefits of civilization, such as railways and industrialization. The capital that fueled indirect rule was actually from the Africans, creating a very negative impact on the indigenous people. Members of the African National Congress noted that the Africans are subject to "backbreaking toil and the poverty" but the fruition of their efforts instead go to the European powers where it is "used for their enrichment and to buy arms to suppress and kill us" (Document 10). This proved that the force that sustained the oppression from Europeans in fact came from the result of the African's own labor. With oppression also can the heavy price of human life, many Africans were killed though direct and indirect means during European Imperialism (Document 5). The uneven spread of power and opportunities, however diluted the power, between Africans led to ethnic tensions which would continue to be a problem long after European imperialism (Spielvogel and McTighe 235).

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