India was recognized as a 'jewel in the crown of England' primarily because India helped Britain maintain an industrialized economy. India provided a cheap source of labour following the abolition of slavery. For example, in 1858-1859 53,000 Indians were sent overseas as indentured labour. Britain’s interest in India rapidly increased after the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial revolution created a demand for raw materials and new markets. Raw materials like rubber from Congo, diamonds from South Africa, cotton from India and Persian oil were exceedingly valuable to European businessmen. Without abundant raw materials, Europe’s industrialized economy would almost certainly weaken, sooner or later. These valuable ‘necessities’ contributed to the growth of Imperialism in India and other resourceful countries.
In conclusion, the economic requirements of European countries helped catalyze imperial expansion in the second half of the 19th Century. The stable supply of raw materials and new markets, through increased overseas expansion in the second half of the 19th century, helped sustain capitalism and avoid a workers’ revolution. Moreover, Europe’s Industrialization caused a higher demand for abundant raw materials, which were not available in their home country. They also required new markets to sell their industrialized goods.
2. Choose one area, in which there was imperialist expansion (i.e. China, India, Africa) and explain why the above reasons may have been important for causing imperial expansion in this area.
There were numerous interlinked reasons for imperial expansion in China. The power supplied by The Industrial Revolution and the Western idea of ‘progress through change’ were Britain’s motives for colonizing China. Moreover, Britain’s sensations of culture superiority and her economic necessities were other reasons for overseas expansion in this area.
Nationalism, or commonly referred to as ‘pride in one’s country’, is deemed a predominant cause for imperialism in China. The British were proud of their country’s achievements, which usually included taking over foreign territories. Therefore, influence and control over China heightened patriotism and loyalty amongst Britain’s local population. In addition, it lessened the prospect of a civil uprising or revolution in Britain itself. As a result of Britain’s growing patriotism, they appeared to regard themselves as the ‘superior race’ and viewed China’s population as being inferior to their own. For example, signs outside restaurants were quoted ‘No dogs, no Chinese people’. In consequence, Britain deemed that it was their obligation, as a dominant nation, to bring sensibility, western culture and industrialization to a ‘barbaric’, uncivilized country, like China. This concept is universally recognized as ‘White Man’s Burden’ and was vital in the causation for imperial expansion in China
Examples of Western influences are apparent by the influx of Christian missionaries, and the construction of Christian churches and railways in China, in order to promote their ethnicity. Initially, China refused to implement western ideas and technology because they too felt superior. They saw themselves as the ‘Middle Kingdom’ and remained a ‘closed’ city for centuries before. Hence, the pace of Western modernization was slow. After the opium wars, China recognized that the West were military unconquerable and that to defeat them, China had to strengthen itself. This transition from major resistance to partial opposition helped maintain commerce, in the West. However, this only occurred after both Opium Wars took place, and China faced huge indemnities (unequal treaties).
The economic requirements of Britain to sustain an industrialized economy were important in the causation for imperial expansion in China. Specifically, China has a massive population, therefore is a large potential market that provides vast economic gains. In addition, China had raw materials, like tea, silks, porcelain and spices, which were not available in Europe. Ultimately, ‘good’ relations enabled the attainment of raw materials to produce manufactured merchandise and new markets. However, good relations were hard to obtain. Due to Britain’s Industrial Revolution, new technological advances came about, thus increasing efficiency of weaponry. At that time, Britain had the most powerful navy in the world. This superiority gave Britain the extra confidence to advance into China.
Britain fought wars to secure trading privileges in this area. The Opium Wars (1839-1842, 1856-1858) were a series of intense battles fought primarily over free commerce. The wars resulted in the surrender of Hong Kong and other treaty ports on Chinese soil. By the end of the 19th Century, other nations, like Germany, Russia, Japan, and the United Stated had all wanted trading ports in China to maintain their industrialized economy. Russia controlled Manchuria and Port Arthur, Japan in Korea and Germany was in the Shantung peninsula. Overall, the results of the Opium Wars further confirmed Britain’s core motives for imperial expansion in China. Britain’s motives are summed up in a British slogan, ‘Trade not Rule’. Furthermore, the excessive colonization of weaker countries was a symbol of power and prestige, thus increasing Britain’s motives for further expansion.
However, Britain’s motives began to change. The Opium Wars and the unequal treaties China unwillingly signed, displayed Britain’s contentment to hold a few ports and to dominate China commercially. After the Opium Wars, Britain gradually began to introduce social and religious reforms, due to their increased racial superiority. Examples of the reforms imposed on China are referred to in earlier paragraphs. In a nutshell, this illustrates how Britain’s motives changed overtime. Initially, Britain’s motives were to gain territory and trade, however with time, they then attempted to change the Chinese way of life (i.e. religion; from Confucian to Christianity)
Chinese harbors were considered as reliable stations for coal refueling. These stations were vital to the operation of a powerful navy. Moreover, there were other strategic justifications to why European powers desired control over specific Chinese territories. For example, Japan and Russia conveyed immense interest in Korea because it had valuable mineral resources and Korea had access to Manchuria. Russia was also interested in Port Arthur because it gave them an ice-free port in the Winter. Overall, strategic positions in China were motives for imperial expansion in this area.
To conclude, there were numerous motives behind imperial expansion in China. Feelings of nationalism and superiority evoked Britain’s obligation to help inferior China become a dominant, ‘civilized’ nation. In addition, China’s abundance of raw materials (i.e. silk and tea), its strategic ports and huge potential market intrigued Britain to want to gain these economic advantages.
