How did nationalism cause imperialism?

Answer 1

Imperialism was basically taking over Another Country and taking Natural Resources and goods from the land. It led to destructive nationalism because many countries wanted the same land and soon war erupted.

Answer 2

To answer this question one must first assess the subtle differences between the terms, 'Nationalism' and 'Imperialism'. Nationalism is the doctrine that your national culture and interests are superior to any other whereas imperilasim is a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries.

Thus, it is easy to assert that nationalism in a country would cause them to want to gain more power - power leads to wealth, more stability and prosperity. As power comes from many things but mostly from wealth as it is a thing that everyone, armies, citizens and governments alike, need. Therefore, we arise to the conclusion that countries in Europe in the early 1900s were looking for ways to further their wealth. The consequences of their quest for wealth can still be seen today, much of the developing world having been pillaged as European powers sought to take over countries in Africa and such to harness their resources.

Imperialism, in this new light, you could consider as a product of nationalism. Indeed if there is no desire to further your country, why would you bother to invade countries?

However, all this argument is based upon event before the 'Great' War although during the war these same aspects can be seen. What else but nationalism, with all Britain's pomp from their golden era bursting forth, caused Britain to go and try to defeat Germany (-and do you not usually fight to conquer and to imperialise). What else but the combined wants of three empires bustling with Nationalist feelings caused the war?

Nationalism could be called patriotism but this suggests love and a feeling of pride in your country. Rather, Nationalism is an intense and lustful desire to further your country-a feeling much more intense.

Answer 3

The imperialism that took place because of industrialization and nationalism was good and bad. On the good side, it helped Europe make better roads, farming conditions and even in the advancement of technology. On the low end or bad side, imperialism and nationalism made the United States destroy Native Indian cultures.

Answer 4

There are several ways that Imperialism led to an increase in nationalism in various places.

1) Exportation of Nationalism: Nationalism as a coherent ideology developed in Western Europe and was not endemic to other regions of the world. Therefore the act of colonizing other areas around the world lead to nationalist ideas arriving in other areas of the world. This is where the Pan-Arab, Pan-Slavic, Pan-African, etc. nationalist ideas come from.

2) Common Colonial Experience: In some cases a common experience of colonization creates a unified nationalism where before you had multiple principalities or kingdoms. The fact that the Indian people who to unite to force out the British put an end to the patchwork of maharajas and resulted in an Indian Nationalism that became the dominant political framework.

3) National Superiority as Expressed through Imperialism: In some imperialist countries, particularly Japan, imperialism caused a surge in nationalist fervor. The strength and imperial success of the country was considered to be a divine endorsement of the country's system of government, leading to increased nationalism.

4) Exhaustion from Imperialism Permitting Local Nationalism: In some cases, local national groups in Europe, like the Irish, were able to realize their centuries-long ambitions for indepence due exhaustion from the imperialist ambitions of their occupying country.

Answer 5

Nationalism created rivalries among European powers and added to the spread of imperialism