Imperialism Dbq Essay

1047 Words5 Pages

In history, it is evident that Imperialism has direct implications of industrial advancement; however, when discussing the topic of moral stature, it is clear that imperialism is a damaging force. Document 1, document 2, and document 7 all discuss the industrial aspect of imperialism. Document 1, written by Parker T. Moore, a white man, talks about exporters and manufacturers. Moore states that colonial markets require political control and imperialism to thrive. The British come in and set up their markets, pushing the natives away. This is a way of industrial advancement, but certainly not moral. Document 2 discusses how tropical—and uncivilized—nations and modern nations have a mutualistic and symbiotic relationship. The foreigners come …show more content…

Document 7, written by Romesh Dutt, and Indian, explains how the Englishmen had brought them the greatest gift: peace. The westerners brought education, science, and social systems. This passage was written by someone who was being conquered, so he has a unique perspective. His optimistic outlook on the industrial advancement is prominent in the passage. All the rest of the documents discusses the moral implications of industrialism. For example, document 3 is a political document depicting a general being pulled by natives. The general represents the industrialists with their military power, while the natives are forced to pull him. The natives do all the work while the general sits back and relaxes. Document 4 is a poem written from the perspective of an African. In the poem, the White Man kill a boy’s father, seduce his mother, and work his brother to death, with the audacity at the end to command the boy to get the White Man a drink. This poem perfectly shows the outlook of some of the natives. The White Man, imperialists, barge into a county and take advantage of the natives. There is no moral advancement here; in fact, there is moral degradation in …show more content…

This is absolute moral destruction on the side of the natives. Imperialists make them feel inadequate and irresponsible, which is no way to be forced to live. Document 6, written by an egocentric Briton. Cecil Rhodes blatantly states that “[Britons] are the finest race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race…more Angle Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honourable race the world possesses” (Rhodes). If this is not the most egocentric, racist statement, then imperialism has positive moral outcomes. This statement shows how imperialism causes not only moral harm to the oppressed, but to the oppressor as well. Rhodes has an ego larger than the territory Britain conquered. Document 8 is a picture. The picture shows a slave being flattened in a machine, with money coming out, and a white man pouring a small amount of water in his mouth. There is also a priest or religious figure in the corner. This is a metaphor to the imperialistic attitude. The Westerners come in and abuse the natives for the sole purpose of monetary value, completely supported by the religious