Imperialism: Scramble for Africa Imperialism = the seizing of countries to create an empire

Imperialism:Imperialism:Scramble for Scramble for

AfricaAfricaImperialism = the seizing of Imperialism = the seizing of countries to create an empire countries to create an empire

Africa Before ImperialismAfrica Before Imperialism

• Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity– Many different ethnic groups & languagesMany different ethnic groups & languages– Various religious beliefsVarious religious beliefs

• Varying GovernmentsVarying Governments• Africa controlled their own Africa controlled their own

specialized trade networksspecialized trade networks• Europeans had been in Africa Europeans had been in Africa

since 1450s but only along coastsince 1450s but only along coast– Traveling to interior was Traveling to interior was

difficult, disease discouraged difficult, disease discouraged explorationexploration

Why Imperialism?Why Imperialism?• Economic factorsEconomic factors

– Industrialization Industrialization need to find more need to find more resources for productionresources for production

– Competition between countries (for Competition between countries (for wealth) wealth)

• Political factorsPolitical factors– NationalismNationalism– Competition between countries Competition between countries

(for power)(for power)

Why Imperialism?Why Imperialism?

• Cultural factorsCultural factors Belief in European Belief in European superioritysuperiority– Social Darwinism = those fittest for Social Darwinism = those fittest for

survival enjoyed wealth & success, were survival enjoyed wealth & success, were superior to otherssuperior to others

– ““Civilize” or “Westernize” nativesCivilize” or “Westernize” natives– Religious motivesReligious motives

•Spreading Christianity Spreading Christianity justification? justification?

Britain Led in Colonization – Why?Britain Led in Colonization – Why?• In the mid-1800s, Britain was the most powerful nation in In the mid-1800s, Britain was the most powerful nation in

the worldthe world- - Factories produced more Factories produced more

goodsgoods- British Navy guarded the - British Navy guarded the

oceans to transport their oceans to transport their goodsgoods

- British banks loaned $ to - British banks loaned $ to fund colonizationfund colonization

• Other countries followed Britain’s Other countries followed Britain’s lead & came to see colonies as lead & came to see colonies as necessary for their economic necessary for their economic well-beingwell-being

• Countries that had no colonies set out to acquire themCountries that had no colonies set out to acquire them

European Interest in AfricaEuropean Interest in Africa

““Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

Belgium & the CongoBelgium & the Congo• King Leopold II of BelgiumKing Leopold II of Belgium• Commissioned Henry Stanley to get land in Commissioned Henry Stanley to get land in

Congo Congo – Signed treaties w/local chiefs to get Congo River Signed treaties w/local chiefs to get Congo River

ValleyValley

• Abolish slave trade? Promote Christianity? Abolish slave trade? Promote Christianity? – Brutally exploited Brutally exploited

AfricansAfricans

• Land taken away Land taken away from Leopold IIfrom Leopold II

NO!NO!

Cecil Rhodes, Cecil Rhodes, Confession of FaithConfession of Faith, , 18771877

“ “I contend that we [Britain] are I contend that we [Britain] are the first race in the world, and the first race in the world, and the more of the world we the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the inhabit, the better it is for the human race…It is our duty to human race…It is our duty to seize every opportunity of seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most more of the best, the most human, most honourable race human, most honourable race the world possesses.”the world possesses.”

How did Imperialism Develop?How did Imperialism Develop?

• I.R. led to superior technologyI.R. led to superior technology– Better weapons Better weapons – Better communication w/distant coloniesBetter communication w/distant colonies

• Europe’s strong governmentsEurope’s strong governments– Ability to manage overseas territoriesAbility to manage overseas territories

• Africa was…Africa was…– Disunified (local tribal conflicts)Disunified (local tribal conflicts)

• New drug quinine protected New drug quinine protected Europeans from malariaEuropeans from malaria

How did Imperialism Develop?How did Imperialism Develop?

• Berlin Conference Berlin Conference – Euro countries met to divide Euro countries met to divide

AfricaAfrica– African rulers not invited!African rulers not invited!

Demand for Raw MaterialsDemand for Raw Materials• Few Africans bought Euro goodsFew Africans bought Euro goods• Euro businesses needed Africa’s Euro businesses needed Africa’s

materials & resourcesmaterials & resources– Congo had copper, tinCongo had copper, tin– S. Africa had gold, diamondsS. Africa had gold, diamonds

• Businesses developed cash-crop Businesses developed cash-crop plantations plantations displaced food displaced food crops grown by local crops grown by local farmers to feed farmers to feed familiesfamilies

Resistance & Conflict Resistance & Conflict

Zulus in South Africa Zulus in South Africa – Zulus were highly disciplined Zulus were highly disciplined

warriorswarriors– Zulus v. British in 1879 Zulus v. British in 1879

•British wonBritish won

Boers in South AfricaBoers in South Africa

Boers (Dutch settlers) v. BritishBoers (Dutch settlers) v. British•11stst Europeans to settle S. Africa Europeans to settle S. Africa were Dutch farmers known as were Dutch farmers known as “Boers” (aka “Boers” (aka AfrikanersAfrikaners))

– Took African’s land & established Took African’s land & established large farmslarge farms

•British clashed w/Boers British clashed w/Boers over policiesover policies

The Boer WarThe Boer War• Boer War (South African War)Boer War (South African War)

– 11stst modern “total war” modern “total war” – – commando raids, guerrilla commando raids, guerrilla tacticstactics

• British defeated the Boers British defeated the Boers – Boer republics joined into self-Boer republics joined into self-

governing Union of South Africa governing Union of South Africa (controlled by Britain)(controlled by Britain)

A New Period of ImperialismA New Period of ImperialismControl TechniquesControl Techniques

• ColonyColony – governed internally by – governed internally by foreign powerforeign power

• Protectorate Protectorate – own internal – own internal gov’t but under authority of gov’t but under authority of foreign powerforeign power

• Sphere of influence Sphere of influence – outside – outside power claims exclusive power claims exclusive investmentinvestment

• Economic imperialism Economic imperialism – – independent but less independent but less developed country is controlled developed country is controlled by private business interests by private business interests

Management TechniquesManagement Techniques• Indirect control Indirect control – gov’t – gov’t

officials are local (not officials are local (not foreign) foreign) self-rule self-rule

• Direct control Direct control – foreign – foreign gov’t officials (out of gov’t officials (out of country)country)– PaternalismPaternalism – provided – provided

their needs but did not their needs but did not give them rightsgive them rights

– AssimilationAssimilation – adopt – adopt European cultureEuropean culture

African ResistanceAfrican Resistance

““Nor is violent physical opposition to abuse and Nor is violent physical opposition to abuse and injustice henceforth possible for the African in injustice henceforth possible for the African in any part of Africa. His chances of effective any part of Africa. His chances of effective resistance have been steadily dwindling with resistance have been steadily dwindling with the increasing perfectibility in the killing the increasing perfectibility in the killing power of modern armament.power of modern armament.

Thus, the African is really helpless against the Thus, the African is really helpless against the material gods of the white man, as embodied material gods of the white man, as embodied in the trinity of imperialism, capitalist in the trinity of imperialism, capitalist exploitation, and militarism.”exploitation, and militarism.”

~ Edward Morel, ~ Edward Morel, The Black Man’s BurdenThe Black Man’s Burden

African ResistanceAfrican Resistance• Many attempts were unsuccessfulMany attempts were unsuccessful

– Inferior weapons, no unityInferior weapons, no unity

• Successful resistance in EthiopiaSuccessful resistance in Ethiopia– Emperor Menelik II played EuroEmperor Menelik II played Euro

countries against one anothercountries against one another– Ethiopia built up weaponryEthiopia built up weaponry– Remained independent from Remained independent from

EuropeEurope

Positive Effects of Colonial RulePositive Effects of Colonial Rule

• Reduced local warfareReduced local warfare• Humanitarian efforts = better sanitation, Humanitarian efforts = better sanitation,

hospitals & schoolshospitals & schools– Life-spans & literacy Life-spans & literacy

increasedincreased

• Brought new Brought new technologies to Africatechnologies to Africa

BUT….BUT….• Mostly benefited European Mostly benefited European

businesses, not Africans’ livesbusinesses, not Africans’ lives

Negative Effects of Colonial RuleNegative Effects of Colonial Rule

• Died from new diseases (smallpox) Died from new diseases (smallpox) & famines& famines

• Breakdown of traditional Breakdown of traditional culturescultures

• Division of tribes, kinship Division of tribes, kinship groups, chiefdomsgroups, chiefdoms