The West Moves East By the late 1800s, European nations like Great Britain and France were growing more powerful. One way to gai
n power was to take control of other parts of the world. Europeans had set up trading posts in Africa and Asia in earlier centuries. However, European countries were no longer happy to just trade with foreign lands. They wanted to own and control the areas. In the 1880s, European imperialism increased in Africa and Asia. Imperialism is when a country rules over foreign lands. Although African and Asian armies fought the Europeans, they could not stop the invaders. The armies and navies of the Western countries were too powerful. Also, several old civilizations like the Ottoman Empire in Africa and Asia were losing power. Because the areas were weakened, it was easier for Europeans to take control of them. The Europeans took over the places they conquered in Africa and Asia and set up colonies. There were several economic reasons why Western powers wanted to control foreign lands. Manufacturers needed new places to get natural resources, like rubber and oil. They also wanted new markets to sell their goods in. In addition, military and merchant ships needed places around the world to refuel. European nations thought that ruling colonies all over the world increased a nation’s worth. Countries competed with each other to become the most powerful nation. For example, when France moved into West Africa, Britain and Germany quickly invaded nearby areas. They took the lands to build up their own empires while slowing down the French. Many Westerners thought they were helping the people in Africa and Asia. Some believed they had a duty to spread the blessings of Western civilization to other lands. These blessings included medicine, law, and Christian religion. Many Europeans thought Westerners had a humanitarian responsibility to bring civilization to primitive people. Missionaries, doctors, and colonial offi cials worked to spread European ideas in the foreign lands. Not all Westerners liked the idea of imperialism. Anti-imperialists said that Westerners were hypocrites. Western nations were moving toward democratic government at home but ruling colonies in an undemocratic way. The anti-imperialists did not think it was fair. They also said that imperialism helped Europeans get rich at the expense of native peoples. However, the imperialists were the stronger voice. By 1900, most parts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia were governed by European imperialist powers. **** Place an X next to your Answer Choice on the line provided before options A,B,C,D**** 1. In the 1880s, European imperialism increased in ___________. ______ A. Africa and Asia ______ B. Africa and South America ______ C. North America and Asia ______ D. Africa and Antarctica 2. ___________ was losing power in the late 1800s. ______ A. Great Britain ______ B. France ______ C. The Ottoman Empire ______ D. Germany 3. Western powers wanted to take over foreign lands because ___________. ______ A. they needed new places to get natural resources ______ B. they wanted new markets to sell their goods in ______ C. ships needed places around the world to refuel ______ D. all of the above 4. ___________ said that the way Western nations were ruling colonies was unfair. ______ A. Imperialists ______ B. Anti-imperialists ______ C. Westernists ______ D. Psychologists 5. By ___________, most parts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia were governed by European imperialist powers. ______ A. 1850 ______ B. 1880 ______ C. 1900 ______ D. 1980 6. European countries wanted to take over foreign lands for ___________ reasons. ______ A. economic ______ B. political ______ C. humanitarian ______ D. all of the above 7. Many Europeans thought they had a responsibility to bring ___________ to primitive people. ______ A. civilization ______ B. food ______ C. armies ______ D. children 8. List two economic reasons European nations wanted to take over areas in Africa and Asia. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ True/False During this sections you will decide if each statement is true or false, and write “true” or “false” in the blank. ______ 1. European imperialism decreased in Africa and Asia in the 1800s. ______ 2. Imperialists wanted to take over foreign lands. ______ 3. By 1900, most parts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia were governed by European imperialist powers. ______ 4. France, Britain, and Germany wanted to keep their empires small. ______ 5. Anti-imperialists thought imperialism was fair.
