Second Industrial Revolution: Energy, Transport, and Imperialism
The Second Industrial Revolution: New Energy Sources and Industries
The Second Industrial Revolution saw the rise of new energy sources, such as electricity and oil, replacing steam and coal. Electrical energy proved to be clean, easily adaptable to machinery, transportable over long distances, and economical. It found applications in communications, industry, illumination, leisure, and transportation. Oil was utilized for lighting, heating, and transportation.
The collaboration between companies and universities, particularly in the USA and Germany, fueled this progress. This partnership resulted in significant technological advancements and the emergence of new productive sectors.
Improvements in Transportation
Innovations in urban transportation were driven by electricity, leading to the development of trams and metropolitan railways. Maritime transport was enhanced by steamships and the opening of oceanic canals. These advancements reduced travel times, encouraged migration, and stimulated European maritime commerce.
The automobile was improved thanks to the invention of the internal combustion engine, tires, and the use of petroleum. Aviation also began to develop, initially with military applications.
Imperialism and Its Causes
Imperialism is a system based on the political, economic, and cultural dominance of some countries over others. Several factors contributed to European hegemony during this period:
- The Second Industrial Revolution divided the world into industrialized and non-industrialized nations.
- Europe experienced significant financial development, trade expansion, technological advancements, and demographic growth.
- An agricultural crisis in Europe, caused by competition from imported wheat from the U.S. and Russia and overproduction leading to lower prices, necessitated changes in the production system, including technical innovation, corporate concentration, and market expansion.
Ideological, Political, and Demographic Factors
- Political: European powers sought to expand their areas of influence to increase their power, hinder the expansion of rivals, and emulate the behavior of hegemonic nations.
- Ideological: Racism, nationalism, and the belief in the right of some countries to “civilize” others played a significant role.
The Distribution of the World
Dismemberment of Africa
Initially, Europeans only had coastal factories in Africa. However, economic, political, scientific, humanitarian, and religious interests led to increased involvement. Key projects and events included:
- British projects aimed to connect Cairo and Cape Town by rail and dominate the eastern side of the continent.
- The French sought to control territories from east to west.
- The Belgians initiated the exploration of the Congo.
- German traders pushed their government to take an interest in central Africa.
The Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference, convened by Bismarck, was attended by 14 countries. Its purpose was to prevent conflicts between European powers over the division of Africa. The agreement included:
- Free navigation and trade on the Niger and Congo rivers.
- Conditions for occupying a territory in Africa (effective control and notification to other powers).
The Impact on Colonized Peoples
Colonization had profound consequences for the indigenous populations:
- Economic exploitation: Expropriation of lands, replacement of traditional crops with extensive monoculture plantations of valuable products for the European market, and the imposition of a monetary economy.
- Demographic growth: Reduced mortality due to medical advances brought by Europeans, leading to an imbalance between population and resources.
- Social disruption: The breakdown of tribal structures and the artificial integration of ethnic and religious groups into colonial territories, often leading to conflict.
- Acculturation: Loss of cultural identity due to the imposition of the colonizers’ culture and language.