The Second Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Colonial Empires

The Second Industrial Revolution and European Dominance

The Second Industrial Revolution transformed the economy of the major European powers. Technical innovations, new forms of work organization, and the growth of banking allowed a spectacular increase in production and trade, and improved transport. Europe launched the dominance of the world. The most advanced countries established colonial empires.

Key Causes of European Colonialism

The drive toward colonialism was fueled by several interconnected factors:

• Economic Factors: European countries needed, on the one hand, new markets to sell goods at the best price, and on the other, they wanted to invest their surplus capital in other places to obtain higher profits.
• Population Growth: Population growth in Europe led to overpopulation, causing a lack of work and increasing social tensions.
• Political Factors: The Great Powers entered a military and political competition to control geographic areas of economic or strategic interest.

Exploration, Conquest, and Indigenous Resistance

Much of the interior of Africa, Asia, and the ocean was virtually unknown. The European search for territories to expand led to a series of scientific and geographical exploration trips. Once the territory was known, the conquest was easy and quick. The European military and technical superiority was so great that indigenous resistance was quite weak.

The Organization of Colonial Territories

The colony was organized to be controlled and administered by the metropolis.

Types of Colonial Administration

Colonies of Exploitation

These were colonies where the metropolis focused especially on economic exploitation. They had no self-government, and the Europeans exerted a genuine policy of occupation: a governor, numerous military personnel, and administration officials maintained order, while the labor force used to be indigenous.

Colonies of Settlement

These colonies received white people who immigrated permanently. They had a special status with the mother country that recognized them some autonomy in internal government. Within the British Empire, these were called Dominions.

Protectorates

These were territories that, after European occupation, maintained the existing state organization, the local government, and its own administrative apparatus. However, the metropolis controlled them, reserving the functions of defense and foreign policy.

Impact of European Developments in the Colonies

European powers introduced some of their progress into the colonial territories, though often primarily for their own benefit:

• Infrastructure: They built bridges, roads, and ports, which improved infrastructure.
• Economic Changes: They put new land under cultivation and created industries, primarily for the benefit of the metropolis.
• Health and Demographics: The introduction of hygienic measures and the construction of new hospitals caused a decrease in mortality.
• Education and Culture: Schools were established in an attempt at acculturation. Finally, there was an attempt to impose Christianity and Western values, often suppressing indigenous beliefs.