nent. Steam engines served as a way to move up rivers and carry arms, which was known as “Gunboat Diplomacy”. Science and biology created solutions for diseases. The discovery of quinine allowed Europeans to now travel deep into Africa and take direct control over a majority of the continent. Advances like the breech loaded rifle and the machine gun helped in making imperialism possible as well. These new improvements made expansion easy and cheap. On the other hand, Political leaders pressed the “new imperialism” to distract society from domestic problems and rally them around national unity (class notes). These technological developments and other influences triggered a rush to seize territory and the rise of European colonization. Europeans now attacked Africa with physical force and direct control rather than gaining resources by negotiating trade agreements. These advancements now made the old trading colonies extremely important for political and diplomatic reasons. Every powerful country used their colonies for “national security, military purposes, and international prestige” (textbook pg 877).“New imperialism” also brought new attitudes and theories about new European expansion. Many were convinced it was Europe’s responsibility to Europeanize the globe because they were industrially superior to any other country or continent. It provoked ideas such as Social Darwinism, which meant the strongest country would survive and dominate the rest. Also, the theory of the three G’s, Gold, God, and Glory motivated society to believe “new imperialism” was a good idea. In which, Gold stood for economic profit, God signified Christianizing new lands, and Glory represented national power and unity. Along with theories of “new imperialism” there were also critics. “Radical English economist,” J.A. Hobson, criticized that the hunt f...
