New imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led European powers to compete for colonies in Africa and Asia, creating tensions. These tensions were demonstrated in the First and Second Moroccan Crises between France and Germany over influence in Morocco. While they did not directly cause World War I, new imperialism and the resulting economic and strategic rivalries helped strengthen alliances like the Entente Cordiale and the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. These shifting alliances transformed local conflicts into a global war.

1. Made by –Sukhanpreet

2. Some historians have always believed that New
Imperialism played a large role in the origins of
WWI. It created tensions amongst the European
powers that was just shimmer under the surface.
Because of this, when looking at the origins of the
Great War, it would unwise to neglect new
imperialism’s impact

3. There were many reasons that were blamed for beginning
WWI. When the Treaty of Versailles was formulated, it was
obvious that the people of time placed the blame squarely
upon Germany. Yet in hindsight, history revisionism has
shown that other issues had also played a tremendous part
in the origins of the war. Often, the French desire to re-capture
Alsace-Lorraine and avenge its Franco-Prussian
War defeat or the naval arms race begun by the British gets
the blame. Others targeted issues that were boiling over in
the Balkans that ultimately provided the final spark with
the Serbian assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke
Franz Ferdinand. These states are only a few of the many
that had responsibility for the war.

4. However, if one looks carefully behind the curtains at the
political atmosphere, new imperialism were the primary
motivation behind each state’s interest in the war. Yet,
nationalism seems to be blamed much more often than
new imperialism. Perhaps this is because of modern
western powers are ashamed of their imperial past.
Countless reasons can explain why new imperialism does
not receive the blame it deserves for its part in the origins
of WWI. Hence, in this article, I will seek to provide an
overview of how antagonism developed during these
overseas expeditions contributed to the breakout of
World War One.

5. New imperialism was the competition for colonies between
the European powers during the late 19th and early 20th
century. This renewed struggle for colonies had its seeds
sown during Congress of Vienna where agreements were
made that brought about a change in European policy – the
most significant of which was the establishment of the
balance of power through European states. Because of the
Napoleonic Wars’ devastation upon much of Europe, the
Congress tried to equalize national military strength in
hopes of preventing the rise of another aggressive invader.
This effectively ended the major battles on the continent of
Europe for the remainder of the century. Instead, wars were
fought throughout Africa and Asia over potential colonies
and skirmishes broke-out between the European powers.

6. The Purpose of Colonies of
the New Imperialism
With the exception of Austria-
Hungary, new imperialism was
entrenched in the policies of all the
European powers. This frenzy to
acquire colonies was due to the
potential financial and psychological
benefits that colonies provide.
• Financially speaking, the colonies
can help European nation’s name
economy by firstly providing the raw
materials necessary for
industrialization which were lacking
in continental Europe.
•Secondly, after using the raw
materials to produce the
merchandise, the colonies provided a
market where the European nations
can sell their manufactured goods.
Hence, new colonies can begin an
exploitive cycle where the
•European nations take resources
from their colonial subjects then
profits exportation of completed
goods

7. •Besides the economical benefits of the colonies, glory
would also come to the colonizing nation. The European
states had always been vain and concerned with their
national prestige.
•Colonies, assets of the parent nation, contributes to this
prestige.
•An example of this would be India; as a British Colony,
the Indian peninsula was called the “brightest Jewel of the
Imperial Crown.” With Britain as a colonial frontrunner in
the 19th century, other nations quickly followed suit and
acquired large swaths of land by occupying previously
independent foreign lands as colonies. The lure of prestige
is especially important to the two recently formed states–
the Italian and the German Empire respectively.

8. Despite being termed a great power after its unification, it was
technologically inadequate compared to the other European
great powers particularly in the southern region of the boot to
the south of Rome. To strengthen its position as a European
power, Italy began its own campaigns to take colonies including
the invasion of Abyssinia, modern day Ethiopia. This new colony
provided salt and prestige for the newly formed Italian Empire.
On the other hand, Germany, (formerly known as Prussia) had
been a great power even before its unification. Hence, unlike
Italy, Germany’s efforts at colonization were not simply for the
sake of territorial gains. Rather, the Germans occupied colonies
that were of strategic importance in hopes of weakening the
British Empire. This was motivated by Kaiser Wilhelm II’s
ambitions to have a place in the sun similar to that of the British
Empire.

9. They did so by taking African colonies that were located
between separate British colonies making inland
transportation between the two impossible. Such tactical
actions sparked numerous conflicts, diplomatic and
military, between Germany and other powers already in
Africa. The importance of confrontation between the
states towards originating of the First World War cannot
be overstated.

10. AGE OF IMPERIALISM

11. Economic Rivalries
There were economic conflicts between Germany and
Britain from 1890 onwards. Since 1871 Germany had been
experiencing a period of rapid industrialization, and by
1890 the products of her industry were competing with
British manufactures everywhere in the globe and German
merchant ships threatened Britain's carrying trade.

12. There were also economic struggles between Germany
and France. In 1870 France had already lost two of her
coal producing provinces--Alsace and Lorraine to
Germany. From 1871 onwards, France had to import coal
from other countries.
Thus France had to compete with Germany in Morocco
because the place was rich in mineral resources.
Germany and Austria also rivalled with Russia in the
Balkans for commercial privileges. As early as 1888
Germany began to build a railway in the area. Austria
regarded the area as a field for profitable investment and
as a big market for her manufactured goods. Russia also
hoped to control the area because half of her exports
passed through this area.

14. New Imperialism’s Role in Leading to War
Because of the interest in land grabs that arise out of
new imperialism, I had always believed that it was
partly responsible for triggering of the First World
War. With different European nations all vying for
land, it was impossible for the relationships between
the European powers not to become strained. Similar
interests in the expansion of their empire all but
guarded that conflicts were bound to erupt. This
antagonism caused was best demonstrated by the
brinkmanship between Germany and France over
Morocco.

15. This altercation occurred when the United Kingdom
officially recognized the French sphere of influence and
supported its wish to establish a protectorate in Morocco in
1905. This enraged Germany who also held ambitions in the
area leading to a series of escalating incidents. This
altercation was called the First Moroccan Crisis and led
Europe precariously close to a continental war before
France agreed to attend the Algeciras Conference set to
begin on Jan 16th, 1906. The events are as follows:
- June 15th France cancelled all military leave
- June 22nd Germany threatened a defensive alliance with
the Sultan of Morocco
- Dec. 30th Germany calls by its reserves
- Jan. 3rd France moves troops to the French-German
border

16. Moroccan political and financial affairs. France, on the
other hand, conceded to the return of control of the
Moroccan police. This agreement ensured peace for
the next few years; however, it strengthened the
Entente Cordiale agreements signed by the British and
the French in 1904 – the alliance that would play a
significant role in starting WWI.
However, in a few short years, another diplomatic issue
arose with the onset of the Second Moroccan Crisis in
April 1911. German gunboat Panther arrived in
Morocco amidst the rebellion against the Sultan in July
which antagonized the French greatly.

17. Because of the presence of military forces from both
sides the two states got even closer to war. The only
thing that halted stemmed the aggression from both
sides was a German financial crash leading to mass
hysteria. Although a peace agreement was eventually
reached with France giving Germany its Neukamerun,
a French colony within French Middle Congo. Such
clashes are amongst one of many reasons is one of the
many nudges that eventually sent the world into war.

19. Conclusion
Many different problems and all the European states
involved could be held somewhat accountable for the
onset of WWI. Yet, one of the lesser mentioned of the
many problems that led to conflict was new
imperialism and disregarding its culpability would be a
complete disregard to the affairs that were happening
in Europe. Yet, for a rivalry between particular nations
to truly become global, large alliances would need to
be pitted against each other. New imperialism and its
byproduct, for example the

20. Moroccan Crises, led to the development of both the
strengthening of the original Entente Cordiale and the
alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary. Hence,
despite the underlying friction between the European
powers, the greatest political motivation behind WWI
was new imperialism. Overall, bad decisions were made
on all sides and with constant conflicts resulting from
imperialistic ambitions, there was little possible outcome
aside from total war.