THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
THE SCRAMBLE FOR
AFRICA
Essential Question:What was the impact of European imperialism in Africa?
From 1880 to 1914 European nations used imperialism to dominate the continent of Africa
The arrival of Europeans changed Africa
Before Europeans, Africa was divided into tribal clans
…and powerful Islamic kingdoms
During the Age of Exploration, Europeans explored the African coast
…and brought African slaves to their
colonies in the Americas
THE EVENT THAT SPARKED EUROPEAN INTEREST IN AFRICA
Henry Stanley, sponsored by the King of Belgium, explores Africa and sets up treaties with the local chiefs.
Other European nations do the same. They all “scramble” to get a piece of Africa.
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
The arrival of Europeans changed Africa
The Industrial Revolution led to imperialism in Africa in the mid-1800s
The first Europeans to explore the interior of Africa were missionaries and explorers
In the 1870s, the discoveries of a
missionary named David Livingstone
increased European interest in Africa
Reports of large deposits of natural
resources and the rise of nationalism in
Europe set off a race for African coloniesSocial Darwinism, steamboats, and
industrial weapons encouraged the
conquest of Africa
Industrial nations wanted:
■ Raw materials
■ Natural resources
■ A cheap labor supply (now with slavery disappearing)
■ New marketplaces for manufactured goods
AFRICA had all of these things
MOTIVES FOR IMPERIALIZING AFRICA
The race for African colonies was so fierce that Europeans became afraid wars would break out
In 1884, 14 nations met at the Congress of Berlin to “set the rules” for colonizing in Africa
Quick class discussion:What kind of rules do you think they came up with?
Any nation could claim land in Africa by notifying other
nations and showing it could control the area
No African nations were invited to attend. No concern was given to ethnic divisions in Africa
By 1914, Europeans controlled 90% of Africa
France took most of west Africa
Belgium claimed the Congo in central Africa
Germany had many colonies
throughout Africa
These nations used African colonies
to gain diamonds,tin, gold, rubber
and built cash-crop plantations
KING LEOPOLD II of
BELGIUM: ONE OF THE
WORST MASS MURDERERS OF
THE 19th
CENTURY
“THE RAPE OF THE CONGO”Under Leopold’s orders, the Belgians stripped the Congo of natural resources, especially rubber
Leopold used a private mercenary force, Force Publique, to make Congolese Africans cut down rubber trees and give them to the Belgians
Leopold ordered that those who failed to meet the rubber quotas set by the Belgian officers were to be whippedor have their hands cut off
“THE RAPE OF THE CONGO”
“THE RAPE OF THE CONGO”
In the 23 years (1885-1908) Leopold II ruled the Congo he ordered the massacre of 10 million Africans by cutting off their hands and genitals, whipping them to death, starving them, working them to death, and burning entire villages. It was all done simply to make Leopold richer.
The most dominant imperial power in Africa
was Great Britain
British industry fueled demand for raw materials
Britain seized control of South Africa from
the Dutch
In 1882, Britain seized control of
the Suez Canal from a French company
Many citizens in England dreamed of a British colony from “Capetown to Cairo”
England
South Africa
Egypt
India
Britain claimed colonies in Egypt and in East Africa
His DeBeers Company created diamond mines
in South Africa
The most important empire-builder in Africa
was British businessman, Cecil Rhodes
Rhodes gained new colonies for Britain in
southern Africa
Rhodes used his wealth to build railroads and
telegraph lines in Africa
CECIL RHODES:
THE ULTIMATE IMPERIALIST
“If I could, I would claim
other planets.”
What was the impact of European imperialism in Africa?
Europeans introduced new technologies like
railroads, telegraph lines, and steamboats…
…but transportation routes only connected areas that benefited
European businessmenEuropeans brought an
end to the slave trade… …but Africans were paid low wages and exploited
What was the impact of European imperialism in Africa?
Europeans built schools,churches, and hospitals…
…but Africans were taught European culture
Africans were unable to rule themselves,
participate in voting, or learn professional skills
In South Africa, the British segregated society, dividing Whites and Blacks. This system was called apartheid, which
remained in place for over 100 years
Europeans profited off Africa’s raw materials
and cheap African labor
CLASHES IN AFRICA
There were several resistance movements among the Africans against Europeans.
Also, despite the rules set by the Congress of Berlin, some European nations had conflictswith each other over African territories.
Africans rebelled against European rule, but were defeated due to advanced European weaponry
ADVANCED EUROPEAN WEAPONRY
THE MAXIM
MACHINE GUN
ZULUS VS. BRITISHThe Zulus were a powerful African nation, once led by a great chief named Shaka in the early 1800s
In the late 1800s, the Zulus could not keep out the British invaders
The Zulus resisted, but Zulu shields andspears were beaten by superior weaponry
The Zulu Nation fell to British control in 1887.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF FAILED AFRICAN RESISTANCE
➢Nigerians resisted the British, but were beaten
➢Algeria and West Africa resisted the French for years
➢ East Africans put faith in a spiritual defense against the Germans, believing their gods would turn German bullets into water
➢ Resistance fighters armed with spears and magic water were mercilessly slaughtered by German machine guns
➢ The result: 75,000 were killed and the “Magic Water” Rebellion was crushed
ONE SUCCESSFUL AFRICAN RESISTANCE
ὲ Ethiopia, led by Emperor Menelik II, was successful in resisting the Europeans.
ὲ Italy tried to take over, but Menelik had built up a huge arsenal by buying weapons from France and Russia.
ὲ Menelik declared war and defeated the invading Italians with modern weapons
ὲ Ethiopia remained independent.
Africa remained under the control of
European imperialists from the 1880s until the 1950s and 1960s
IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE IN AFRICA
POLITICAL MAP OF AFRICA ETHNIC/TRIBAL MAP OF AFRICA
HOW DO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO MAPS CAUSE A PROBLEM?
IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE IN AFRICA
NEGATIVE IMPACTS➢ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES: the colonial powers
divided Africa into roughly 40 nations. The boundaries gave NO consideration for the African people.
➢The boundaries split up many tribes, and also combined tribes that historically DID NOT GET ALONG with each other.
➢This is still a problem today: Africa is plagued by warfare and genocide, partly brought on by these unnatural boundaries.
IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE IN AFRICA
MORE NEGATIVE IMPACTS➢Loss of land and independence
➢Many Africans died from European diseases
➢Thousands died resisting the Europeans
➢Famines resulted from Europeans forcing the African farmers to grow cash-crops (cocoa, tobacco, rubber) instead of food
➢Traditional culture was broken down
IMPACT OF COLONIAL RULE IN AFRICA
POSITIVE IMPACTS➢Local warfare was temporarily reduced
➢Humanitarian efforts improved schools, hospitals, and sanitation; this resulted in longer life spans and better literacy
➢An infrastructure was put in place: railroads, paved roads, dams, telephones, and telegraphs
THE BOTTOM LINE…
For Africans, were
there more
POSITIVE EFFECTSor more
NEGATIVE EFFECTS?
How does the cartoonist portray Africans and Europeans?