Imperialism in the 19th century:

(i) In the 19th century the more industrialised states had power over the people and resources of the industrialised world.

(ii) Many inhabitants of the industrialised countries believed that colonialism was beneficial for the countries that were being ruled and that the inhabitants of the backward' countries were being 'civilised' by foreign rule.

(iii) Liberals in the ruling countries were divided over how the dominance of their countries over the colonies should be maintained. Not everyone thought that direct political rule was necessary. but none were willing to let go of the benefits of colonialism and the control over resources in the colonies.

(iv) In Germany the liberals argued that their country's industrial power depended on taking more colonies.

(v) In the US many liberals said that their country had no moral right to rule over Cubans and Filipinos, but hardly any US citizens criticised their government's interventions in Latin America.

(vi) British, French, German, Belgian and American capitalists invested heavily in economic activities both within and outside the formal empires. They therefore supported as well as influenced the foreign policies of their respective countries and pushed for colonial domination of the rest of the world - countries comprising Africa, Latin America and Asia.

(vii) The political groups in 1900 that had the most consistent anti-imperialist views were the socialists, who believed that colonialism benefited only the ruling classes everywhere and was not in the interest of the working people anywhere. Therefore, the working classes of all the countries needed to unite to overthrow this imperialist domination by a few countries.