![Picture](/uploads/5/0/0/2/50022659/2646480_orig.jpg)
As the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, European countries began imperializing and colonizing in a manner different to what had been happening before. New Imperialism was all about economics and maximizing profits. In order to maximize profits, economic expansion needed cheap sources of labor, natural resources, including precious metals and land and control of markets to sell their products.
Colonies were also seen as a source of cheap raw materials, as the rapidly industrializing countries needed fuel to run their factories and steam engines and raw resources to convert into finished products. The colonies, especially India (due to its large population) also provided companies with a source of cheap labor and millions of workers.
The British government and private companies started to look for new markets to sell their goods, because due to the rapid production of goods in factories, there was a need for new places to sell British goods. This led to the scramble for Africa, and Britain's wish to control China’s economy.
Europe, Britain in particular, had another motive for looking to colonize other nations. They had a growing population as everyone moved to the cities looking for factory jobs, which paid more than farming. Colonizing other nations would reduce the number of people in cities and provide profits to the mother country.
"The colonial system was the spinal cord of the commercial capitalism of the mercantile epoch."
Eric Williams
Colonies were also seen as a source of cheap raw materials, as the rapidly industrializing countries needed fuel to run their factories and steam engines and raw resources to convert into finished products. The colonies, especially India (due to its large population) also provided companies with a source of cheap labor and millions of workers.
The British government and private companies started to look for new markets to sell their goods, because due to the rapid production of goods in factories, there was a need for new places to sell British goods. This led to the scramble for Africa, and Britain's wish to control China’s economy.
Europe, Britain in particular, had another motive for looking to colonize other nations. They had a growing population as everyone moved to the cities looking for factory jobs, which paid more than farming. Colonizing other nations would reduce the number of people in cities and provide profits to the mother country.
"The colonial system was the spinal cord of the commercial capitalism of the mercantile epoch."
Eric Williams