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What is nationalism?

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Nationalism is when people who are linked through shared language, religion, or social customs believe in their own greatness, often tied to a desire for territory and power.

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How did nationalism contribute to the second wave of imperialism?

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Nationalism led to increased competition among imperial states to build large empires, driven by the desire to be seen as a great power.

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What was Social Darwinism?

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Social Darwinism was a theory applying Darwin’s idea of survival of the fittest to human societies, used to justify imperialism and racism, suggesting non-western races were less evolved.

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How did Social Darwinism contribute to imperialism?

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European states used Social Darwinism to justify taking over less industrialized nations, believing they were "fitter" and entitled to dominate the "unfit."

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What was the civilizing mission?

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Imperial nations believed it was their duty to develop the people they conquered, often through converting them to Christianity and educating them in Western-style schools.

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Why did the Belgian Congo go from private control to state control?

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King Leopold II of Belgium’s brutal exploitation of the Congo led the Belgian government to take control of the colony to stop the atrocities.

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What was the Berlin Conference?

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The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) was a diplomatic meeting where European powers divided Africa into colonies without African input, often combining rival groups and separating unified ones.

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What were settler colonies?

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Settler colonies were territories like Australia and New Zealand, where European settlers populated the land, displacing indigenous populations and spreading diseases.

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How did the United States participate in imperialism in the 19th century?

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The U.S. expanded its territory through westward expansion (Manifest Destiny) and later took control of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War.

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How did Russia expand in the 19th century?

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Russia expanded by conquering Siberia and other neighboring territories, with an ideology of Pan-Slavism, aiming to unite all Slavic peoples.