In the years leading up to 1850, European powers sought to introduce the world to unchartered lands and unimaginable opportunities for adventure. The Age of Discovery during the early modern period in Europe posed as an age that redefined the idea of exploration. Since the age of discovery, principles such as capitalism and imperialism became the foundation for colonization after 1850. After 1850, it became apparent that interests in overseas empires was ultimately inevitable as Europe began to industrialize and gain military and technological power. European powers became dangerously ambitious towards the end of the 19th century as Europe sought to establish its godly presence. As Europe Competed with North America for world dominance, the powers were inspired to display strength and power. The desire to overtake overseas empires came with economic and political benefits. European powers sought to claim overseas empires after 1850 with hopes of retaining national and economic power through expansion and exploitation of resources.
The desire to expand in overseas empires grew as competition became a heavy force among major European powers. As pressure rose to become the best world entity, European powers scrambled to claim different territories overseas. Aside from competition, defeat encouraged expansion among powers such as the British. For example, by the nineteenth century, British power and expansion in America began to fail as a result of the American revolution. This humiliating loss became established in British history as the British colonies in America “could not compare in size, wealth, population, or civilization …as New Spain or Peru.” This harsh reality regarding Great Britain’s failed efforts to establish and sustain the American colonies called for redemption. Also, as a rivalry grew between France, the British were inspired to colonize more overseas empires successfully. Therefore, Great Britain relied on expansion in overseas empires to prove their power. As a result, Great Britain saw interests in regions such as northern and eastern Africa. Vulnerability and aspiration set the foundation for “New Imperialism” in the late nineteenth century. The Scramble for Africa highlighted the efforts of “New Imperialism” of the late nineteenth century, which had the goals of strengthening and expanding Europe. The race to claim Africa began with King Leopold II’s efforts to “sign treaties with the chiefs, and claim territory for the association” . At the time, Belgium was a relatively young country, and its overly ambitious ruler, King Leopold II set out to expand as the country began to industrialize quickly. Following this expedition, Belgium rose to power as they successfully established prominence in the Congo. King Leopold II channeled his desires to not only claim territory for Belgium, but he also wished to establish Belgium’s presence that would cause a ripple effect among other European powers. Following this triumphant effort to claim the Congo, the rest of Europe set its eyes on the rest of Africa. The Berlin Conference of 1884 highlights the European powers’ motives to seek overseas empires at the time. France, Britain, Germany, and Italy set out to claim African territory that would in turn, frighten their competition. When one country claimed a territory, a reputation for power and glory arose. It is clear that the competition between the powers was defined by the expansion of the European powers.
Political power and claimed territory simply was not enough for the European powers. European powers continued to claim overseas empires to exploit their resources for their own benefit. Following the Industrial Revolution in the mid-nineteenth century, Europe had advanced tremendously. Technological advances and the development of a capitalist economy called for support from overseas markets and resources. Jules Ferry claims that “imperialism involved the aggressive search for, and international conflict over territory or spheres of influence providing markets and outlets for investment”. The European powers were highly concerned with increasing their capital. In doing so, all powers partook in an economic competition, turned rivalry. For example, France, like other European powers began to embark on a mission to gain economic power. France’s Indochina became a valuable economic possession in the 1880s that brought great wealth. According to Jules Ferry, French colonialism in Vietnam must be justified by the fact that “the law of supply and demand, freedom of trade, the effects of speculation…reaches to the ends of the earth” . The French saw that Vietnam had great potential to support a capitalist economy. To support this economy, it was clear that a supply of resources had to meet the demand for them. Vietnam’s richness in arable land also included a predominantly impoverished population. The French clearly demonstrated the benefits of “The White Man’s Burden” as By the late 1800s, the French exploited the Vietnamese people and their resources mercilessly. They perceived the Vietnamese as savages who would confide with western power. By taking up “The White Man’s Burden”, the French maximized Vietnam’s potential for economic boom by implementing forced labor in factories and plantations with little wages. Forced labor became a cheap and efficient means of production that allowed France to make a substantial profit. Besides a labor source, the French “also constructed factories and built mines to tap into Vietnam’s deposits of coal, tin and zinc. Most of this material was sold abroad as exports”. As many nations began to industrialize, a great demand for these resources, especially coal, rose. The utilization of these valuable resources allowed France to increase its exports as demand grew. In addition, the implementation of tariffs and a tax system played a role in “improving to the utmost the political and economic management of their own land, confining themselves to such accessions of territory as are justified by the most economical disposition of a growing population”. The tariffs not only provided organization, but it also posed as another source for profit. Besides gaining economic power from the colony, the French maximized their profits by increasing the prices of goods that were imported into the colony. France’s approach to claiming Vietnam for economic purposes mirrors the efforts by Belgium and Great Britain to discover resources such as ivory and labor in the Congo and India, respectively. Non-western societies and vast amounts of land were attractive characteristics for economic growth that European powers felt the need to take advantage of in overseas empires. Thus by the end of France’s reign in Vietnam, France rose to be one of the richest entities in the world.
In conclusion, following the industrial revolution in the 1840s, European powers began to advance at a rapid rate; faster than ever before. As technological and military advancements came about, the development of a capitalist system encouraged european powers to conquer overseas empires. In order to keep up with this rapid development, european powers developed a sense of greed and unrelentless ambition. European powers sought to colonize non western societies in search of a cheap labor resources that can be sold as foreign imports that could support their growing society. Also, as each country experienced progress, the pressure to rise in power resulted in tough competition to be the most powerful force. Aside from economic gain, european powers were inspired to colonize overseas empires due to egotistical aspirations to increase in eminence. The more territories a country conquered, the more glory and power were awarded. Although the conquering of overseas empires brought about political and economic advantages, colonies suffered from the burdens of european power. European power essentially created a vile legacy in overseas empires highlighted by their brutal and brash rule.