Question

the passage argues that imperialism created both progress and serious consequences for colonized regions (land taken over by other countries). was imperialism more harmful or more helpful overall, according to the author?
in your response:

• take a clear position (more harmful or more helpful)
• use two quotes from the text as evidence
• explain how the quotes support your conclusion

you can use these sentence starters:
i believe that imperialism was more...
the quotes that show this include...
these quotes prove my point because...
passage: from factories to flags
1 in the late 1700s, life in many parts of the world began to change faster than it ever had before. for generations, families had worked at home or on farms, producing just enough food or goods to survive. then machines powered by water and steam entered the scene, and everything sped up. this period of rapid change became known as the industrial revolution. while it began with inventions like the spinning jenny and steam engine, its effects reached far beyond factories and cities. in fact, the industrial revolution set off a chain reaction that helped lead to a new era of global control known as imperialism.
2 as factories grew, so did their needs. machines required huge amounts of raw materials such as cotton, coal, rubber, and iron. at the same time, factory owners wanted to sell their finished products—textiles, tools, and machines—to as many people as possible. however, many european countries did not have enough natural resources within their own borders, nor did they have unlimited customers at home. as a result, industrialized nations began looking outward, beyond europe, to solve these problems.
3 this search for resources and markets pushed powerful countries to expand influence over other regions. imperialism, the policy of extending a nations power controlling land or people elsewhere, became a solution. european nations claimed ries in africa, asia, and the middle east, often arguing that they were bringing s, technology, or civilization. many of these areas were really taken because vided valuable resources that could keep factories running and profits high. ports, and mines were built not to help local populations, but to move k to industrial nations.

Explanation:

To answer the question about whether imperialism was more harmful or helpful, we analyze the passage. First, take a position (e.g., more harmful). Then, find two quotes: 1) "Many of these areas were really taken because they provided valuable resources... ports, and mines were built not to help local populations, but to move goods back to industrial nations" shows exploitation. 2) "the Industrial Revolution set off a chain reaction that helped lead to a new era of global control known as imperialism" implies imperialism was driven by industrial needs, not local benefit. Explain how these quotes support the position (exploitation of resources, lack of benefit to locals shows harm).

Answer:

I believe that imperialism was more harmful. The quotes that show this include "Many of these areas were really taken because they provided valuable resources that could keep factories running and profits high. Ports, and mines were built not to help local populations, but to move goods back to industrial nations" and "the Industrial Revolution set off a chain reaction that helped lead to a new era of global control known as imperialism". These quotes prove my point because the first quote shows that colonized regions were exploited for resources to benefit industrial nations, with infrastructure built for the colonizers' gain, not the locals. The second quote shows imperialism was a result of industrial needs, implying it was a tool of control, not help, for colonized areas.