Summary
Highlights
The second wave of imperialism (1750-1900) shifted its focus from the Americas to Africa and Asia. New players like Germany, Italy, Belgium, the United States, and Japan joined the long-standing imperial powers such as Great Britain, France, and the Dutch, while Spain and Portugal saw their influence decline.
One method of imperial expansion involved states taking over privately controlled colonies. A prime example is the Belgian Congo, initially King Leopold II's private entity. His brutal exploitation for raw materials, especially rubber, led to public outrage and the Belgian government assuming direct control in 1908. Similar transfers occurred with the Dutch and British East India Companies.
European states expanded their power in Africa through both diplomacy and warfare. The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) is a key example of diplomacy, where European powers partitioned Africa among themselves without African representation, leading to long-term ethnic conflicts. Warfare was also a significant method, as demonstrated by France's invasion and colonization of Algeria after a minor diplomatic incident, despite prolonged resistance.
Settler colonies were another method, where an imperial power claimed territory and sent its own people to live there, creating an outpost of their society. Great Britain established settler colonies in the South Pacific, specifically Australia and New Zealand. These led to the displacement and decimation of indigenous populations through disease and conflict.
Emerging imperial powers expanded by conquering neighboring territories. The United States pursued westward expansion, driven by 'Manifest Destiny,' displacing indigenous peoples onto reservations and forcibly assimilating them. Russia, influenced by Pan-Slavism and a desire for great power status, expanded its territory into Central Asia and towards the Pacific. Japan, after its rapid industrialization during the Meiji Restoration, also joined the imperial club by expanding its influence over Korea, Manchuria, and parts of China.