Second IR (jan 1, 1870 – jan 1, 1914)

Description:

Shaped nineteenth-century imperialism:
- European imperialism promised to solve the class conflicts of an industrializing society
- Increase in productivity created need for more raw materials in Europe
- Europe needed to sell its products abroad
- European social benefits to foreign markets keep factories working and people employed
- New innovations of the industrial era allowed for overseas expansion: steam-driven ships, underwater telegraph, quinine to prevent malaria and machine guns

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