EQ:
What motivated imperialism, and why did it boom in the late 1800s and not earlier?
Hypothesis:
Economy, culture, and politics are three key factors in imperialism. Of the three, economic actions is the main motivation for imperial expansion and colonial establishments in Asia and Africa. There are more benefits for the country as the country gains new goods, ports, and territory. These may not only increase a country’s wealth, but may increase an individual’s wealth as well. Imperialism did not boom before the late 1800s because it would be prior to the Industrial Revolution. The expansion in colonies occurred after the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution provided the colonies with new advanced technologies, such as new guns, railroads, and steamships, which easily helped the colonies to impose imperialism to new territories much easier. Industrialization also requires several raw materials in order for it to be made into a manufactured product. The high demands of products requires a higher demand for raw materials, which motivated others to seek for new resources in other places and setting up colonies there. This is why imperialism didn’t bloom until the late 1800s because of the new benefits people would gain along with the motivations and needs from industrializing that lead to imperialism.