Informal imperialism uses indirect means of control, usually economic but frequently with a lurking military threat, to control a nation or territory.” (Cleary) Informal imperialism spreads control more delicately through huge loans that cannot be settled, possession of property or private business, or compelling countries to settle on unfair commerce agreements. However, Informal imperialism is just as dominating as formal imperialism. The method and philosophy of imperialism do not mainly focus on political domination, but preferably, conquest over expansion. Western Imperialism motives were often for economic growth, but non-economic motives were as equally …show more content…
Important political leaders regarded imperialism as primarily an economic advantage and a way to maximize popular support within its nations. They wanted to expand their territories to grow their economy, protect ports, fuel their navies, and raise colonial armies to fight. Western political superpowers established international markets that could support their country’s manufactured products abroad, for instance, new soil to produce cash crops like tobacco and obtain raw materials such as rubber and petroleum that could be transported back to domestic factories, turned into manufactured goods, and sell to colonies. Missionaries believed that non-economic motives were much more important. “Religious followers often attempted to convert natives to a different religion and led the charge to stop the slave trade, however, French missionaries in Vietnam during the same time period, demanded their country to take over a nation.” (Cleary) Western citizen believed in the economic and non-economic motives of imperialism which “European expressed as the "three G's": God, gold, and glory.” (Butler) "Colonies in South America provided gold and silver. Those in the Caribbean produced sugar, a virtual "white gold", for European markets. West African colonies provided slaves for the Caribbean sugar plantations.”