Global Transformations: Industrialization, War, and Empire

Global Historical Forces: Industrialization, Conflict, and Empire

The Industrial Revolution: Transformation and Impact

The Industrial Revolution, sparked by the Scientific Revolution, was a turning point that forever changed how people lived. Inventions like the cotton mill, coupled with available labor, transportation, raw materials, and capital, fueled its rapid expansion. It spread around the world, fueled by imperialism, as new sources of raw materials flowed into various nations in Europe. Governments supported entrepreneurs to establish factories, producing goods from raw materials, yielding capital, and increasing exports.

However, this era also brought significant negative consequences:

• Economic Inequality: A large gap emerged between the rich and the poor. Workers received low wages, while owners accumulated significant wealth, leading to the destruction of the middle class and a society of the very rich and the very poor.
• Environmental Impact: Reliance on oil and coal (fossil fuels) severely harmed the environment.
• Working Conditions: Poor working conditions were prevalent in factories.
• Laissez-faire Policy: The laissez-faire economic policy allowed companies to operate with minimal government intervention, often at the expense of workers and the environment.

World War I: Alliances, Triggers, and Global Conflict

World War I was the first global conflict involving multiple nations worldwide. A primary factor leading to it was a complex series of alliances. The war can be linked back to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. Following this, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia, allied with Serbia, entered the war against Austria-Hungary. Due to the Triple Alliance, Germany declared war on Russia, supporting its ally Austria-Hungary. Great Britain entered to maintain peace in Europe.

Key events that drew the United States into the conflict included:

• Sinking of the Lusitania: The Lusitania, carrying U.S. citizens, was sunk by a German U-boat.
• Zimmermann Note: A memo sent to Mexico from Germany urged Mexico to enter the war against the U.S. in exchange for land. Germany hoped this would create a difficult two-front war for the U.S. Mexico refused, but the U.S. saw this as a direct threat to national security and entered the war soon after.

All these events stemmed from conflicts of alliances and perceived threats, compounded by Europe's great powers being overconfident about their cultural, economic, and military supremacy.

Imperialism: Power, Resources, and Global Expansion

Imperialism is a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. In the 1890s, the U.S. became the most important industrial power in the world, necessitating the acquisition of raw materials from other regions. The U.S. military, especially its navy, was growing and expanding, allowing access to areas previously unreachable by force.

Key factors and justifications for imperialism included:

• Social Darwinism: A belief in the superiority of certain races or nations.
• Exploitation of Africa: The crippling of Africa and the continuation of the slave trade in the U.S.
• Missionary Work: Missionaries also played a role in spreading Christianity, often intertwined with colonial expansion.

Colonialism: Control, Resources, and Ideologies

Colonialism is the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people. The expanding territory of a colonizer projects its power and superiority over the colony. Access to natural resources was a primary driver. India, often called the "Crown Jewel" of Great Britain, was colonized until Mahatma Gandhi's movement for independence.

Many Europeans, particularly missionaries, believed that the development of trade and commerce in Africa was essential for its "civilization." They perceived Africa as "uncivilized" and believed that trade, commerce, and the introduction of Christianity were key to its development, embodying the concept of the "White Man's Burden."