GACE History Practice Exam

The significant effect of 19th-century imperialism was indeed the ending of localized wars in many regions. During the 19th century, as European powers expanded their empires, they often established control over vast territories. This expansion frequently brought about a degree of stability in formerly fragmented regions, where local conflicts had been common. The establishment of colonial rule often imposed a stronger centralized authority that could suppress tribal, ethnic, or regional conflicts that had previously led to localized wars.

In addition, imperial powers sometimes promoted a sense of peace and order in the areas they controlled to facilitate trade and resource extraction, as well as to establish administrative systems. While this peace was often not genuine and came at the cost of local autonomy and freedoms, it had the effect of reducing the scale and frequency of wars within the territories under colonial rule. This does not negate the various conflicts generated by colonial practices themselves, but rather highlights how imperialism could paradoxically bring about a degree of localized stability in the short term.