The arguments for imperialism
The British Empire was justified by its supporters in terms that many people today would consider racist, in that they assumed the moral,cultural and intellectual superiority of white Europeans, and they further assumed that this alleged superiority gave them the right to rule other peoples. The ideology underpinning the empire can be summarised as follows :
The British Empire was justified by its supporters in terms that many people today would consider racist, in that they assumed the moral,cultural and intellectual superiority of white Europeans, and they further assumed that this alleged superiority gave them the right to rule other peoples. The ideology underpinning the empire can be summarised as follows :
- The British were Christian. Christianity was the one true faith. Therefore the British had a moral and religious duty to spread Christianity.
- Britain had achieved a high level of scientific and technological development. They considered science and tehcnology unquestionably good. Therefore Britain had a moral duty to educate other peoples in science and technology and so improve their quality of life.
- The British considered their own form of government to be the best; therefore they had a moral duty to govern peoples they considered incapable of good self-government.