Imperialism in our context refers to an era during the 19th century after the Industrial Revolution when more industrialized Western nations, including those in Europe and the United States, took control of other non-industrialized nations, or colonies, around the globe. The primary motives of the Western nations can be grouped as political, economic, religious, ideological, and exploratory. Generally, Western nations took advantage of the pre-existing authority of local leaders (indirect rule) and/or exerted control through coercion and force (direct rule). In most cases, Western nations brought modernization and infrastructure developments to their colonies, but often at a high cost to the local people and their traditions. Eventually, most colonies either gained or were granted independence, but many of these new nations are still struggling to achieve stability and self-sufficiency as compared to the countries that used to control them during the Age of Imperialism. In this WebQuest, you will act as part of a team of reporters on the staff of the Imperial Times. You will research Imperialism in regards to a specifec area or event. Your group's task is to build newspaper based on your research for submission for publication to the Editor, Mrs. Windle. 

"Let us not be misled by names. Imperialism is not a question of crowns and scepters, of names and titles. It is a system of government. Where a man or body of men, an Emperor, a President, a Congress, or a Nation, claims the absolute right to rule a people, to compel the submission of that people by brute force, to decide what rights they shall have, what taxes they shall pay, what judges shall administer their laws, what men shall govern them,--all without responsibility to the people thus governed--this is imperialism, the antithesis of free government." 

(Anti-Imperialist League, 1901)

 

"The Opposition tells us that we ought not to govern a people without their consent. I answer, The rule of liberty that all just government derives its authority from, the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self- government. I answer, We govern the Indians without their consent, we govern our territories without their consent, we govern our children without their consent. I answer, How do you assume that our government would be without their consent? Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, humane, civilizing government of this republic to the savage, bloody rule of pillage and extortion from which we have rescued them? " 

(Albert J. Beveridge, "March of the Flag," 16 September 1898).