France’s Colonial Expansion in Africa and Asia

French politician Jules Ferry fueled his country’s quest to compete in the European race to conquer foreign territory at the end of the nineteenth century. Discuss what the arguments for and against colonialism were.

Jules Ferry believed that imperialism and colonialism were not only economically necessary but morally justifiable. Why does Jules Ferry consider colonial expansion to be an economic necessity? Why is colonial expansion justified beyond simply economic reasons? How does Ferry appeal to nationalist sentiment to defend his stance? What is the basis of his critics’ arguments against imperialism?