How did industrialization spur European imperialism in the nineteenth century?
European businesses needed larger workforces.
European citizens depended on competition to win better wages.
European nations sought sources of raw materials for industry.
European rulers required more land to house excess populations.
European nations sought sources of raw materials for industry.
Industrialization in the nineteenth century played a significant role in spurring European imperialism. Here is how it happened step-by-step:
1. Expansion of European Businesses: Industrialization led to the growth of European businesses, which increased the demand for resources, markets, and profits.
2. Need for Larger Workforces: As the industries grew, European businesses required larger workforces to operate factories, mines, and plantations. This created a need for more laborers to sustain and expand production.
3. Search for Raw Materials: European nations saw the need to secure sources of raw materials for their growing industries. They sought access to natural resources such as rubber, minerals, timber, and oil, which could be used in manufacturing and fueling industrialization.
4. Competition for Markets: The rise of industrial production generated a surplus that European nations sought to export and sell in global markets. This created a competition for new markets where European goods could be sold, leading to the desire to expand imperial control to secure those markets.
5. National Prestige and Power: European rulers and governments viewed imperialism as a way to exert their national influence and power. The acquisition of colonies and territories was seen as a measure of prestige and a symbol of a nation's strength and dominance on the world stage.
6. Population Pressure: European nations experienced population growth during the industrial revolution, resulting in overcrowding in cities and a surplus of workers. This excess population encouraged European countries to seek new lands where their citizens could migrate and settle, helping to ease social and economic pressures at home.
In summary, industrialization spurred European imperialism in the nineteenth century through the need for larger workforces, access to raw materials, competition for markets, national prestige, and the desire to address population pressures.