Chapter 25 Discussion

How does the civilizing mission correspond with current Western thought?

MINEEEEEEEEEEEE

The civilizing mission corresponds well with current Western thought. The civilizing mission was the “civic duty” of Europeans to go and help out non-Europeans, or non-Westerners. Their mission was to civilize them, hence the term “civilizing mission”. Europeans viewed non-Europeans as barbaric and uncivilized creatures; they almost saw them as animals. Few Westerners saw the equality between all people in Africa and Asia, but most were still sticking to previous knowledge of the inhumane non-Europeans. I think Europe sees itself as the father/mother of the rest of the world just because of their civilizing mission. They believed that they had to help out the rest of the world and bring them to order, and I still feel like they remain with that thought today. Westerners view themselves as better than the rest of the world because they believe that they have better things and better manners, but their conceitedness is what ruins them. If it wasn’t for African rubber, Indian cotton, and Chinese tea and silk, there wouldn’t be much good in Europe. They took from others; they took away culture, freedom, goods, and much more. Although current Western thought is about bringing equality and such, I still feel as if they believe in what they did during the civilizing mission.



Why would Western countries not invest in their own colonies?

The Europeans sought to get as much as they could from their colonies, like the Belgians in the Congo. They cared nothing for improving the natives' lives, though they used that as an excuse more often than not. They were looking for profit or power but not for the welfare of the "barbarians".
Question: Why did Japan adapt so much faster than China to the influx of the Westerners?

Mine!


I don't think that they were accepting. It was pretty much forced upon them. They didn't have much of a choice. The people of the Japan and the Europeans didn't mix either. It was very much a trade-based deal. Japan wasn't ever formally occupied by any one country either because of the Open Door Policy. Maybe deep down inside they realized that trading with other countries is better than being an isolationist country or refusing to trade then being devastated by a greater power. Thats the only thing I can come up with.

What were the main motives for New Imperialism? Which do you think was the number one motive or the one most commonly used?

moin

New imperialism was greatly inspired by the ideas of social Darwinism, or that the Europeans were a more developed and superior race than others. They had a right to go into other countries and teach the heathen people the developed and modern ways of society according to this philosophy. Also, most countries wanted to expand and strengthen their empire which could no longer be done within the European continent. Although they didn't want to set up formal colonies in these other countries, the Europeans just wanted the resources and work available from the people already living in these regions.

How did botanists contribute to the New Imperialism?

Mine.

The botanists helped the New Imperialism in various ways. They helped by introducing the rubber trees which gave Great Britain a lot of money and profit. They also started botanical gardens, where plants native to one region could grow someplace else, making it cheaper to produce the plant and increase their profit. Botanists also changed the agriculture of colonies by telling them what to produce based on what the home country needed.

How did missionaries influence the non Europeans? Did they successfully achieve their goals?

Mine!!

Small Evangelican groups began to form in non western areas once the british sent missionaries in their territories. The london and baptist missionary societies also left there mark on the non western world. the Christians of europe felt is was thier duty to bring their religion to the non western world. overall the British sent the Evangelicans, the French sent Catholic missionaries, and the Germans sent Protestant missionaires. And even though they often competed with eachother they all left a mark in the non western world by establishing their religion wether it be a small or large region.

How did the new inventions in the Military effect the style of warfare?

MINE!

Several technological changes improved the warfare but the development of the machine gun was big. It became the most important weapon used in war and it killed tens of thousands of Europe's enemies. Although discoveries such as these were the primary reason for Europe's success in instances such as Kitchener's victory in Sudan, the Europeans believed they were successful because of their racial superiority.


What was Leopold's actual attraction to the Congo? Was invading the Congo really a humanitarian act?

mine
For leopold Africa was simply an economic and or political endeavor in which he could gain money through the harvesting of rubber. For leopold the act of humanism he was supposedly doing for Africa was just a cover up for what he really wanted and that was to gain power through the capitol received from the Congo. Since Belgium is virtually land locked and very tiny it would be the only rational thing leopold could do to expand his empire into africa for capitol gains in order to keep up with the rest of europe and the civilized world as they go through the second industrial revolution.

Question: What were the causes and effects of the Boxer Rebellion.

This one's mine.

The Boxer Rebellion started because of Chinese resentment towards the Europeans who were taking advantage of the weakened Qing dynasty. The Boxers were especially angry with the missionaries who were trying to impose Western culture on them. In response to the Boxer Rebellion, the Europeans forced China to pay large reparations and execute the officials who had helped the Boxers. This marked the beginning of the end of the Qing dynasty and showed how much influence the Westerners had over China.

Question: What was the idea of polygenesis and how did it contribute to the Europeans' racism?

Mine!

Polygenesis, the idea that all species came from the same gene pool, allowed European peoples to believe that they were above the "backwards" people. The Europeans thought that if we all came from the same gene pool, and we are more industrialized and civilized than they are, then we must be superior to them. This lead to the ideas of social Darwinism spreading through Europe.

question: What were ways that Leopold II gained control of the Congo region of Africa?