Thesis Statement
Economic factors were primarily responsible for Britain’s imperialism during the 18th century because the European nation’s economy grew rapidly during the industrialization period. Consequently, Britain had to colonize different regions of the world, especially Africa, with the intent of deriving raw materials from the colonies, ship it back to Britain where it would be processed, then finally export it back to the markets located in the colonies.
Body
Modern historians define imperialism as the acts of the powerful nations of seizing land from backward societies and using it for their own economic advantage. Joseph Mitchell believes economic factors played a key role in the rise of British imperialism throughout the 19th century. He notes several factors affected the nation’s economy causing imperialism for economic survival. For instance, competition with France, Germany, Spain and Italy over natural resources led to the scramble of Africa between the years 1870 – 1914. This period was characterized by the invasion, occupation, colonization and annexation of resource rich regions in Africa by the European power in what would come to be described by historians as the age of New Imperialism.
Ward (44), notes that around 1750, Britain’s colonial power was equivalent to that of the Dutch republic, Portugal, and France. However, by the 1850, its overseas colonial empire was unrivalled, thanks to the industrial revolution that bore the need to have enlarged markets and supply of raw materials which stimulated the need to colonize Africa and the Far East, for instance India.
Webster (13), notes that opponents against the view that British imperialism was driven by economic motives cite the spread of technology, religion, and education as the primary motives for the imperialism witnessed during the late 18th and the 19th century. The author notes that the highly Industrialized Britain and Europe as a whole required a highly specialized world, in which some regions would produce raw materials, others would concentrate on agriculture to produce food for its proletariat, and the entire world would serve as a market for industrial goods manufactured back in Britain. Britain took this part because its enlightened economists such as Adam Smith noted that no industrial state could attain self-sufficiency by relying entirely on itself. Equally important, for this to be achieved, Britain had to recast the world in its own image by creating infrastructure and institutions in the colonies that would make it easier to explore resources and conducted trade. Similarly, the natives in the colonies would have to be educated and encouraged to shun their primitive traditional practices. This is why missionaries were sent to Africa to convert the natives to become Christians. Therefore, the author rests his case that Britains imperialism was not purely motivated by economic factors, but also by the need to spread the western culture.
Conclusion
Both proponents and opponents regarding the debate on whether Britain’s imperial rule was guided by economic objectives have presented adequate evidence to support their stand. However, for the sake of this paper, our thesis stated Britain’s imperialism was primarily motivated by economic factors. Based on the evidence presented in the first place, for instance the scramble for Africa by the Europe powers, we conclude that Britain’s imperialism witnessed during the 18th and the 19th century was majorly motivated by economic factors, though other small factors arguably played a smaller role.
Work Cited
Mitchell, Helen B, and Joseph R. Mitchell. Taking Sides: The Modern Era to the Present. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.
Ward, J R. "The industrial revolution and British imperialism, 1750-1850." Economic History Review 47.1 (1994): 44 - 65. Print.
Webster, Anthony. The Debate on the Rise of the British Empire. Manchester [u.a.: Manchester Univ. Press, 2006. Print.
