Positive And Negative Effects Of American Imperialism

World History 2- SSTH 032 060- Project 3

Colonialism and Imperialism affected our world both positively and negatively. On one hand, Imperialism has often been linked with racial segregation, manipulation, and hardship. On the other, it has been said that many colonial powers contributed much in terms of schools, roads, railways, and much more. Whether this time period was constructive or harmful, it has played a large part in shaping our lives today.

European Imperialism started long before the 1800’s. Imperialism means that one country controls all political, economic, or cultural life in another country or region. Europe successfully did this in the Americas and established colonies in South Asia, Africa, and China. Their primary drive

This brought about additional expansion overseas because of the promise of profit from harvesting these resources. Europe wanted more markets of consumers so they could sell more goods and benefit from this growing need. Instead of multiple countries benefitting from this, the Europeans felt superior; therefore they did not care if other countries gained anything. The belief of being superior to another group, typically pertaining to race or economic privilege is called Social Darwinism. This illogical belief was rapidly spreading through Europe. As Europe’s influence and power grew tensions began to arise between many other

At first, the trading was mainly of China’s tea and India’s cotton, but soon China’s demand for India’s wares greatly diminished. So the British begun selling Opium, a strong natural drug, to China’s merchants. Soon, merchants and consumers alike were becoming addicted to this drug and the demand for it brought much profit to Britain. The Chinese government eventually banned and destroyed all the Opium in China. The British were infuriated that their new source of revenue was being ruined, so the Opium Wars began. Up until 1899, various wars continued between China and various European supremacies. Soon, China’s rights were almost completely gone. The United States set the Open Door Policy into effect. This policy required China to give equal rights to all other countries in terms of trade and access to their markets. Although the Chinese thought this was unfair, they hated the extraterritoriality the Europeans demonstrated in their ports. This meant that foreigners, (typically the Europeans) were basically exempt from Chinese law. Only a representative of their own country could try them, which typically ended in either partial or complete dismissal of the offense. The struggle for any rights to be given back to the Chinese was a lingering and wearisome process. During this time period, however, all of Asia remained predominantly under French, British, and American control. Asia was the continent