Embracing Social Darwinism (19th Century)

This section explores how Britain’s religious beliefs shaped the nations imperial attitudes in the 19^th Century. During the 19th century, Britain experienced a surge of confidence in its position as a global power. This sense of national pride and superiority, bolstered by advancements in industry, technology, and military power, contributed to a widespread belief that Britain was uniquely equipped to dominate the world. This belief in British exceptionalism shaped how the British interacted with other nations and justified the expansion of the British Empire, particularly in Africa and Asia.

A key aspect of this belief was the notion that Britain’s culture, government, and religion were superior to those of other nations. Protestant Christianity was viewed as the highest form of faith, while British political systems and societal structures were seen as models for the rest of the world to follow. This sense of superiority informed the policies of British businesses, the Church, and the government, all of whom were eager to spread British influence across the globe.

The Three Cs: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilisation

In the middle of the 19th century, the missionary and explorer David Livingstone became one of the most prominent advocates of these ideas. He famously articulated a vision for British imperialism based on the so-called "Three Cs" – Christianity, Commerce, and Civilisation – which encapsulated the perceived benevolent motives behind British expansion.

• Christianity: The belief that Protestant Christianity was the superior religion was a driving force behind British missionary work, particularly in Africa. Many British Christians, inspired by their faith, campaigned against the transatlantic slave trade in the early 19th century and sought to end slavery within Africa itself. They believed it was their duty to bring Christianity to African peoples, whom they viewed as in need of spiritual guidance.
• Commerce: British merchants saw imperialism as an opportunity to establish profitable trade links with African rulers and peoples. While the British often justified their presence in Africa as a means of bringing economic development, in reality, African peoples were often exploited in trade deals. British merchants sought to extract resources from Africa and establish profitable markets for British goods, with little regard for the well-being or fair treatment of the local populations.
• Civilisation: The British firmly believed that their way of life – encompassing everything from governance to social structures and cultural norms – was superior to that of other nations. This belief in racial superiority was supported by the rise of Social Darwinism, a distorted interpretation of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which was applied to human societies and used to justify imperial domination.

Social Darwinism and the Justification for Imperialism

Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, published in 1859, proposed that species evolved through a process of natural selection, where the fittest survived and reproduced. While Darwin’s theory was meant to explain biological evolution, it was later misinterpreted and misused by others, such as Francis Galton, to justify social and racial hierarchies. The theory of Social Darwinism suggested that just as animals and plants evolve and adapt to their environment, human societies were subject to the same natural laws. It was claimed that European races, considered the ‘fittest’, were destined to dominate and civilise less-developed races, who were seen as inferior.

Social Darwinism became a powerful ideological tool that supported the expansion of the British Empire. It provided a pseudo-scientific justification for the exploitation of non-white peoples around the world, particularly in Africa and Asia, where European powers sought to expand their empires. According to this view, imperialism was not only justified but was a moral duty, as Europeans were seen as fulfilling their role in the natural order by ‘civilising’ the supposedly inferior races.

The White Man’s Burden

The concept of the "White Man’s Burden" was central to the ideology of British imperialism. This phrase, coined by the poet Rudyard Kipling in his famous 1899 poem of the same name, suggested that it was the duty of white Europeans to bring civilisation, culture, and Christianity to the rest of the world, particularly to the peoples of Africa and Asia. The poem framed the colonisation of these regions as a selfless act, in which Europeans were burdened with the task of "civilising" indigenous populations who were portrayed as primitive or uncivilised.

The idea of the White Man’s Burden became a rallying cry for many who supported the expansion of the British Empire, encouraging a sense of moral superiority and a sense of obligation to rule over non-European peoples. This paternalistic view of empire framed colonisation as an act of benevolence, even though imperialism often involved the exploitation and subjugation of local populations.

The Role of British Business and the State

As the 19th century progressed, British imperialism became increasingly entwined with economic interests. The expansion of the British Empire provided new markets for British goods and access to valuable raw materials, such as rubber, cotton, and minerals, which were critical to the Industrial Revolution. British businesses played a significant role in this expansion, investing in overseas colonies and working in tandem with the government to protect their commercial interests.

The British government, meanwhile, saw empire as a way to secure its global dominance, both economically and politically. The belief in British superiority justified aggressive expansionism, as the government sought to establish new colonies and maintain control over existing ones. This period of imperialism led to the creation of a vast empire, stretching across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, and solidified Britain’s position as one of the most powerful empires in history.

Conclusion

The belief in British superiority and the embrace of Social Darwinism played a central role in the expansion of the British Empire during the 19th century. British imperialists, inspired by ideas of racial and cultural superiority, justified their domination of Africa and Asia by claiming they were bringing Christianity, commerce, and civilisation to the “uncivilised” world. The concept of the "White Man’s Burden" framed imperialism as a moral obligation, while the misapplication of Darwin’s theory of evolution provided a pseudo-scientific justification for the exploitation of non-white peoples. These ideas, though rooted in racism and a distorted understanding of science, had a profound impact on British policies, businesses, and colonial ventures, shaping the trajectory of the British Empire for decades to come.