Native American Imperialism Research Paper

Words: 1348
Pages: 6

Imperialism is a policy or strategy that countries use to gain power. Imperialism occurs when a country extends its power and influence or takes control of another country, which is typically considerably less developed and powerful. Imperialism is commonly used via colonialism or military superiority through exploitation. Examples of this include the Belgian invasion of the Congo, which was caused by the want and need for rubber in Europe for newly invented tires. And the British’s rule in India, which was caused by the British’s expansion of power and Asian trade. Imperialism is historically regressive for at least one nation involved, which is evidenced by its perpetuation of economic inequality, the deterioration of cultural identities, and the instigation of conflicts. To start with, …show more content…
The imperialist force typically believes in its cultural superiority and inflicts its traditions on the imperialized state, which corrodes cultural identities. This suppression can take many forms, such as banning foreign languages, traditions, and different religions. An example of this would be the European colonization of the Americas. During this time, Native American religions and cultural practices were prohibited and often violently suppressed by the public and militia. Another reason for cultural deterioration is social fragmentation, which is defined by the developed social and political divides caused by imperialism. These divides, commonly along ethnic and religious lines, lessen cultural communication which causes the creation of cultural narratives. This weakens the bond between society and blurs cultural identity and heritage, which makes it increasingly difficult to preserve traditions and practices. For example, in colonial India, the British used a divide-and-rule policy, exploiting social, religious, and linguistic